2020-21 Webinars and Workshops via Zoom
If you’ve lost your job, are looking for additional income, or want to take steps to improve your career prospects in the COVID-19 economy, this series is for you.
From November 2020 through March 2021, the library is offering free interactive webinars and online workshops by leading career advisers. Registration is required. (See sessions below.)
This pilot programming responds to new needs in our community, as the state grapples with economic disruption and high unemployment. In August, the Board of Trustees placed a priority on programming for job seekers and others navigating this challenging economy. The Friends of Rogers Free Library, a 501(c)(3) foundation, generously funded the series.
Free courses. Registration required. Register below.
Series Schedule
January 2021
Tuesday, January 5th at 6 pm
How to Start a Side Hustle
Turning an idea into an income stream.
Saturday, January 9th at 10 am
Job Search Clinic
Customized help for your job search based on your industry and interests.
Thursday, January 14th at 7 pm
Job Club: Career Direction
Small group session for all work backgrounds exploring paths to employment.
Wednesday, January 20th at 7 pm
Managing Stress & Building Resilience: A Drop-In Session
Learn and share ways to address stress and stay flexible amid changing times, led by a holistic career coach.
Thursday, January 28th at 7 pm
Job Club: Resume Writing
Small group session for all work backgrounds focused on resume writing.
February 2021
Tuesday, February 2nd at 6 pm
How to Spot an Opportunity and Innovate
Ways to develop a new business idea or run an existing business in a new way.
Thursday, February 11th at 7 pm
Job Club: Cover Letter
Small group session for all work backgrounds focused on writing a strong cover letter.
Tuesday, February 16th at 6 pm
LinkedIn for Career Building, Networking & Job Search
How to use this powerful social media platform to network for jobs or career moves.
Thursday, February 25th at 7 pm
Job Club: Interviewing Skills
Small group session for all work backgrounds focused on interviewing skills.
March 2021
Wednesday, March 3rd at 7 pm
Managing Stress & Building Resilience: A Drop-In Session
Learn and share ways to address stress and stay flexible amid changing times, led by a holistic career coach.
Tuesday, March 9th at 6 pm
Growing Your Connections
How networking and informational interviews can strengthen your career prospects.
Click on the session title below for more information and to register.
Session Descriptions – January
How to Start a Side Hustle
This workshop focuses on how to turn an idea into an income stream, and draws on real-life examples and case studies. Participants will identify opportunities, resources and steps to start a side hustle. The 90-minute workshop will give you the resources and tangible tools to bring ideas to life. The session does not, however, cover how to create a business plan or teach you how to become an entrepreneur.
Tuesday, January 5: 6 to 7:30 pm
Audience: Unemployed or underemployed individuals, early career professionals and students.
Presenter: Mohamed Kante
Registration open to 100 participants
Mohamed Kante is an award-winning educational practitioner and strategist with more than 10 years of experience. He is an adviser and workshop facilitator with SCORE, a nonprofit resource partner of the U.S. Small Business Administration. Previously, he spent nearly a decade in the private sector at EMC Corp. as an electrical engineer and Dell Technologies as a technical program manager leading teams and overseeing projects in the U.S. and abroad. During this time, he created and implemented leadership development programs, innovation strategies in global manufacturing services and critical business initiatives. He also led several idea development and innovation projects.
Job Search Clinic
This highly interactive webinar for all backgrounds will be tailored to the participants’ job search needs. After surveying participants on their industries and jobs of interest, each one will receive personal keywords to target their individual job search. Participants will exercise their skills in a virtual classroom setting, where they can share their screens and walk through their job search. Registration is capped at 25 participants, with priority given to Bristol residents; those on the waitlist will be notified as openings occur.
Saturday, January 9: 10 to 11:15 am
Audience: All educational and work backgrounds
Presenter: Audra Lavoie
Registration open to 25 participants
Audra Lavoie is a career coach with more than 10 years of experience in both workforce and higher education, working with a diverse range of individuals with varying backgrounds. One of Audra’s great joys is working with the Rhode Island Career Development Association, the state chapter to the national group, and a place for career practitioners to network and participate in professional development. Audra often collaborates, creating workshops, webinars, and series that engage partners and bring a wealth of knowledge to participants. When working with individuals, her greatest reward is being able to normalize the very uncomfortable job search. Audra has a B.A. in journalism and an M.A. in public administration.
Job Club: Career Direction
This first of four Job Club sessions focuses on career direction. The four sessions are designed to help participants move through the job search process, while networking with others and providing peer support. Future sessions cover the topics of resumes, cover letters and interviewing. In each session, we will work as one group and in breakout groups to maximize participation and networking. You can register for one or all four sessions. Registration is capped at 35 participants, with priority given to Bristol residents; those on the waitlist will be notified as openings occur.
Thursday, January 14: 7 to 8:15 pm
Audience: All educational and work backgrounds
Presenter: Audra Lavoie
Registration open to 35 participants
Audra Lavoie is a career coach with more than 10 years of experience in both workforce and higher education, working with a diverse range of individuals with varying backgrounds. One of Audra’s great joys is working with the Rhode Island Career Development Association, the state chapter to the national group, and a place for career practitioners to network and participate in professional development. Audra often collaborates, creating workshops, webinars, and series that engage partners and bring a wealth of knowledge to participants. When working with individuals, her greatest reward is being able to normalize the very uncomfortable job search. Audra has a B.A. in journalism and an M.A. in public administration.
Managing Stress & Building Resilience: A Drop-In Session
Using principles and practices from mindfulness, positive psychology and even neuroscience, we’ll learn and share ways to address our stress and stay flexible amid changing times. Each session will include a short guided mindfulness practice, learning about new tools to help deal with stress, and give participants an opportunity to talk about their challenges and tips on how they stay resilient. These sessions will be especially helpful for those who are in difficult work environments or in the job search process as they will be led by an accomplished holistic career coach.
Wednesday, January 20: 7 to 8:00 pm
Audience: General
Presenter: Sabrina Woods
Registration open to 100 participants
Sabrina Woods is a holistic career/life coach and LinkedIn trainer with 20 years of experience in the career-services field at universities including Harvard, Northeastern and the University of London. She also is president of the Boston-based Career Counselors Consortium Northeast. In her private practice, her joy comes from tapping holistic and mindfulness-based practices while helping people with major career transitions. Sabrina also facilitates workshops and train-the-trainer sessions ranging from Building Resilience and Mindfulness to LinkedIn and Interviewing. Her workshops and webinars combine her insights, enthusiasm and infectious energy. Sabrina has a B.A. in business from Northeastern University and an M.A. in holistic counseling from Salve Regina University.
Job Club: Resume
This small group session focuses on resume writing. It is one of four Job Club sessions from January 14 to February 25. The webinars are designed to help participants move through the job search process, while networking with others and providing peer support. We will work as one group and in breakout groups to maximize participation and networking. You can register for one or all four sessions. Registration is capped at 35 participants, with priority given to Bristol residents; those on the waitlist will be notified as openings occur.
Thursday, January 28: 7 to 8:15 pm
Audience: All educational and work backgrounds
Presenter: Audra Lavoie
Registration open to 35 participants.
Audra Lavoie is a career coach with more than 10 years of experience in both workforce and higher education, working with a diverse range of individuals with varying backgrounds. One of Audra’s great joys is working with the Rhode Island Career Development Association, the state chapter to the national group, and a place for career practitioners to network and participate in professional development. Audra often collaborates, creating workshops, webinars, and series that engage partners and bring a wealth of knowledge to participants. When working with individuals, her greatest reward is being able to normalize the very uncomfortable job search. Audra has a B.A. in journalism and an M.A. in public administration.
Session Descriptions – February
How to Spot an Opportunity and Innovate
This interactive workshop provides tools and techniques to help you develop new business ideas or run an existing business in a new way. You’ll learn the process for design thinking and how to develop a mindset that is customer focused. Participants will emerge better equipped to solve problems in a period of rapid change. Registration is capped at 35 participants, with priority given to Bristol residents; those on the waitlist will be notified as openings occur.
Tuesday, February 2: 6 to 7:30 pm
Audience: Those who want to pursue innovation and customer-focused strategies including early career professionals, unemployed or underemployed individuals, and current students
Presenter: Mohamed Kante
Registration open to 35 participants
Mohamed Kante is an award-winning educational practitioner and strategist with more than 10 years of experience. He is an adviser and workshop facilitator with SCORE, a nonprofit resource partner of the U.S. Small Business Administration. Previously, he spent nearly a decade in the private sector at EMC Corp. as an electrical engineer and Dell Technologies as a technical program manager leading teams and overseeing projects in the U.S. and abroad. During this time, he created and implemented leadership development programs, innovation strategies in global manufacturing services and critical business initiatives. He also led several idea development and innovation projects.
Job Club: Cover Letter
This small group session focuses on writing a strong cover letter. It is one of four Job Club sessions from January 14 to February 25. The webinars are designed to help participants move through the job search process, while networking with others and providing peer support. We will work as one group and in breakout groups to maximize participation and networking. You can register for one or all four sessions. Registration is capped at 35 participants, with priority given to Bristol residents; those on the waitlist will be notified as openings occur.
Thursday, February 11: 7 to 8:15 pm
Audience: All educational and work backgrounds
Presenter: Audra Lavoie
Registration open to 35 participants
Audra Lavoie is a career coach with more than 10 years of experience in both workforce and higher education, working with a diverse range of individuals with varying backgrounds. One of Audra’s great joys is working with the Rhode Island Career Development Association, the state chapter to the national group, and a place for career practitioners to network and participate in professional development. Audra often collaborates, creating workshops, webinars, and series that engage partners and bring a wealth of knowledge to participants. When working with individuals, her greatest reward is being able to normalize the very uncomfortable job search. Audra has a B.A. in journalism and an M.A. in public administration.
LinkedIn for Career Building, Networking & Job Search
Are you on LinkedIn, but haven’t fully tapped the networking aspect of this impressive social media tool? Join us to learn how to use the broad reach of LinkedIn to effectively network for jobs or other career related information and leads. Topics will include:
- Ways to reach out to fellow LinkedIn connections, grow your network, enhance your knowledge about your field and assist you with job leads
- Informational interviewing via LinkedIn – the benefits, and how to make the most of these networking conversations
- Tips on maintaining and strengthening your existing connections, including active engagement on your LinkedIn home page
- The networking philosophy of “How can I help”
You must have or set up a free LinkedIn account to participate. This webinar will briefly cover tips for your LinkedIn profile.
Tuesday, February 16: 6 to 7:30 pm
Audience: Job seekers and those being proactive to learn and grow in their careers
Presenter: Sabrina Woods
Registration open to 100 participants
Sabrina Woods is a holistic career/life coach and LinkedIn trainer with 20 years of experience in the career-services field at universities including Harvard, Northeastern and the University of London. She also is president of the Boston-based Career Counselors Consortium Northeast. In her private practice, her joy comes from tapping holistic and mindfulness-based practices while helping people with major career transitions. Sabrina also facilitates workshops and train-the-trainer sessions ranging from Building Resilience and Mindfulness to LinkedIn and Interviewing. Her workshops and webinars combine her insights, enthusiasm and infectious energy. Sabrina has a B.A. in business from Northeastern University and an M.A. in holistic counseling from Salve Regina University.
Job Club: Interviewing Skills
This small group session focuses on interviewing skills. It is one of four Job Club sessions from January 14 to February 25. The webinars are designed to help participants move through the job search process, while networking with others and providing peer support. We will work as one group and in breakout groups to maximize participation and networking. You can register for one or all four sessions. Registration is capped at 35 participants, with priority given to Bristol residents; those on the waitlist will be notified as openings occur.
Thursday, February 25: 7 to 8:15 pm
Audience: All educational and work backgrounds
Presenter: Audra Lavoie
Registration open to 35 participants
Audra Lavoie is a career coach with more than 10 years of experience in both workforce and higher education, working with a diverse range of individuals with varying backgrounds. One of Audra’s great joys is working with the Rhode Island Career Development Association, the state chapter to the national group, and a place for career practitioners to network and participate in professional development. Audra often collaborates, creating workshops, webinars, and series that engage partners and bring a wealth of knowledge to participants. When working with individuals, her greatest reward is being able to normalize the very uncomfortable job search. Audra has a B.A. in journalism and an M.A. in public administration.
Session Descriptions – March
Managing Stress & Building Resilience: A Drop-In Session
Using principles and practices from mindfulness, positive psychology and even neuroscience, we’ll learn and share ways to address our stress and stay flexible amid changing times. Each session will include a short guided mindfulness practice, learning about new tools to help deal with stress, and give participants an opportunity to talk about their challenges and tips on how they stay resilient. These sessions will be especially helpful for those who are in difficult work environments or in the job search process as they will be led by an accomplished holistic career coach.
Wednesday, March 3: 7 to 8:15 pm
Audience: General
Presenter: Sabrina Woods
Registration open to 100 participants
Sabrina Woods is a holistic career/life coach and LinkedIn trainer with 20 years of experience in the career-services field at universities including Harvard, Northeastern and the University of London. She also is president of the Boston-based Career Counselors Consortium Northeast. In her private practice, her joy comes from tapping holistic and mindfulness-based practices while helping people with major career transitions. Sabrina also facilitates workshops and train-the-trainer sessions ranging from Building Resilience and Mindfulness to LinkedIn and Interviewing. Her workshops and webinars combine her insights, enthusiasm and infectious energy. Sabrina has a B.A. in business from Northeastern University and an M.A. in holistic counseling from Salve Regina University.
Growing Your Connections: Networking & Informational Interviewing
What’s so important about networking or building career connections? People land jobs through people. It is estimated that when it comes to job search, 70% or so of people landed a position through their network. In this webinar we’ll explore what that means to you and give you practical tips that you can use now to continue to strengthen and build your career connections. We’ll help you to answer these questions:
- What kinds of networking should I be doing?
- What’s an informational interview and how can I make the most of them?
- Do I need a pitch or elevator speech? How do I share “my story?”
- Is networking on social media beneficial for someone in my particular field?
Tuesday, March 9: 6 to 7:30 pm
Audience: General
Presenter: Sabrina Woods
Registration open to 100 participants
Sabrina Woods is a holistic career/life coach and LinkedIn trainer with 20 years of experience in the career-services field at universities including Harvard, Northeastern and the University of London. She also is president of the Boston-based Career Counselors Consortium Northeast. In her private practice, her joy comes from tapping holistic and mindfulness-based practices while helping people with major career transitions. Sabrina also facilitates workshops and train-the-trainer sessions ranging from Building Resilience and Mindfulness to LinkedIn and Interviewing. Her workshops and webinars combine her insights, enthusiasm and infectious energy. Sabrina has a B.A. in business from Northeastern University and an M.A. in holistic counseling from Salve Regina University.
Past sessions in the 2020-21 series include:
Monday, November 2nd at 6 pm
Job Search Webinar
How to use search engines, keywords, and time-saving techniques.
Tuesday, November 10th at 6 pm
LinkedIn: Building a Savvy Profile
How to use this social media platform to advance your search.
And for more job search and job skills help, check out our free Lynda.com videos.