Jeff will engage the audience with a realistic look at independent consulting as a career switch and the steps one must consider before deciding to make that switch.

Opportunities in Consulting is the result of independent consulting personal experiences using the knowledge gained and lessons learned which lead to a successful career switch.  The presentation is built around personal and family experiences which addresses real life situations one faces during a transition…what do I want to do with my career?  Am I doing what I really enjoy?  Am I suited for this “lifestyle”?  How does my career choice affect my family?  Is there another way to make a buck in this ever changing employment environment of short job tenures, age considerations, and work/non-work life balance pressures?

Opportunities in Consulting begins with a review of general assessments.  Things like conducting an honest appraisal of one’s current situation and future direction and expectations.  Next understanding ones skills/qualifications and the role of networking are discussed.  Additionally, sole proprietor experiences and family expectations and business realities of working for ones self are covered.  Finally, sections on consulting agreements, pricing and marketing one self are covered with specific recommendations on how to handle each. 

One will leave with the questions to ask and the tools needed to consider making the switch from the corporate “nine-to-five” world to one of an independent consultant.

Contact Information

Host:  Dave Crook, djcrook@ix.netcom.com

Co-Host:  Jim Kulesa, jpkulesa@gmail.com

Day Meeting Chairperson:  Pat Finnegan, finnegan1pm@aol.com

600 Oak Brook Road (which is 31st St.)
Oak Brook, IL 60523
Tel: 630-368-7708

Directions:

The library is on the north side of 31st Street between Jorie and York. There is a map at:

http://www.oak-brook.lib.il.us/aboutlibrary/directions.shtml

Directions from Library to Mc Donalds:

1120 W 22nd St
Oak Brook, IL 60523

Exit lot, go right (W) to traffic light at Jorie Blvd (forestation) and go right (N). Continue on Jorie until traffic light at 22nd Street and go left (W) under highway and McDonald’s is on right.

Alex Freund, T: 609-333-8866, E: alex@landingexpert.com  

Alex had a long career working for major Fortune 500 companies in the capacity of Corporate Director.  Initially, after graduating from Cornell University's School of Hotel Administration he worked in hotels and hospitals.   Alex has managed some 35 different departments also known as Facilities Administration or Support Services.

Alex has extensive experience with interviewing people.  He has also practical training in career coaching.  Consequently, he formed LandingExpert – Career Coaching services.  He is prominent in a number of networking groups and has helped many job seekers with their career searches, providing them with tools, information, marketing material, and one-on-one preparation for the interview.    Via his website http://www.landingexpert.com/ he offers people in transition and otherwise a comprehensive and updated list of job-search networking groups.  This list is being viewed consistently by over 2000 people per month.  He also writes a blog on http://www.landingexpert.posterous.com/ 

Alex lived in three continents and speaks five languages.  Currently he lives in the Princeton NJ area with his wife and has two grown up children.

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Today's Topic:  Optimizing your Interview Skills

• Where am I? Where am I going?  Do I know how?
• The Interview
• Hiring Managers make decisions based on how well you interview
• The Hiring Manager – this is not about you but about MY needs
• What are the Hiring Manager’s criteria for hiring?
• What is hidden in the interviewer’s question?
• Common Interview Questions - Role-play 
• Questions and Answers

Directions to the Morris County Library
30 East Hanover Ave.
Whippany NJ 07981
(973) 285-6930

Note: This is NOT MorrisTOWN Library! 

Whippany is just outside of Morristown. We do NOT meet at the Morristown Library.

From the North or Rte 80
Get to Interstate 287-

Coming South on I-287, take Exit 36 (the first of 2 Morristown exits going south).
Make a right hand turn onto Ridgedale Avenue.
Continue on Ridgedale Avenue 0.6 mi. and cross over a set of railroad tracks, Warnock Nissan will be on the right and several other auto dealers on the left.
Come to a corner gas station on the right, and make a right hand turn onto Hanover Avenue.
Cross another set of railroad tracks and the Morris County Library is on the left ...
across the street from the Frelinghuysen Arboretum.

At the Circulation Desk, ask for "ChemPharma Meeting Room."

From the South East
Take I-78 to NJ Rte 24 near Springfield-
Go 8.5 Miles North on Rte 24- to Exit 1A (just before rte 24 meets 287 N & S)
At the bottom of the ramp (keep turning right) you will join County Route 511, Whippany Road
which immediately splits (only 100 yards)- take the right fork onto East Hanover Ave- CR 650
(it will feel like a turn back alongside or onto Rte 24)
Go 0.3 mi on East Hanover Ave, to the Morris County Library sign on the right- ..
across the street from the Frelinghuysen Arboretum.
The library is a new, low brick structure in an open area, lots of parking between East Hanover and the building.

At the Circulation Desk, ask for "ChemPharma Meeting Room."

From the South or West
Take Interstate 287 North to Exit 36B.
At the bottom of the ramp take a right onto Lafayette Ave. - Morris County Rte 510
Go 0.3 mi. and make a very hard right hand turn onto Ridgedale Avenue- .
Continue on Ridgedale Avenue for 0.8 mi. ( cross over a set of railroad tracks, Warnock Nissan will be on the right and several other auto dealers on the left).
Come to a corner gas station on the right, and make a right hand turn onto Hanover Avenue - Morris County Rte. 650.
Go 0.3 mi. & across another set of railroad tracks and the Morris County Library is on the left ...
across the street from the Frelinghuysen Arboretum.

At the Circulation Desk, ask for "ChemPharma Meeting Room." 

Directions To Career Concepts’ Blue Bell Meeting Offices

4 Sentry Parkway East (Suite 100)
Blue Bell, PA 19422
610-941-4455

From Wilmington and south:

1. Take I-95 to the Blue Route (I-476) north.
2. Stay on the Blue Route North to Exit #20, Plymouth Road.
3. Make a left at the end of the ramp onto Plymouth Road and follow signs to Germantown Pike West.
4. Make a right onto Germantown Pike and follow it until Walton Road (the 4th light).
5. Make a right onto Walton Road.
6. Follow Walton Road through its intersection with Township Line Road.  Proceed straight through this intersection to the entrance to Sentry Parkway East and make a right.
7. Follow the road to Building Four.  Career Concepts is on the 1st floor.

From Allentown and north:

1. Take the PA Turnpike to Exit 333 (Norristown).
2. After the toll plaza, go straight and make a left at the end of the ramp onto Plymouth Road.  Follow signs to Germantown Pike.
3. Make a right onto Germantown Pike and follow it until Walton Road (the 4th light).
4. Make a right onto Walton Road.
5. Follow Walton Road through its intersection with Township Line Road.  Proceed straight through this intersection to the entrance to Sentry Parkway East and make a right.
6. Follow the road to Building Four.  Career Concepts is on the 1st floor.

From Norristown and west:

1. Take Germantown Pike and head east (toward Philadelphia).
2. Make a left onto Walton Road.
3. Follow Walton Road through its intersection with Township Line Road.  Proceed straight through this intersection to the entrance to Sentry Parkway East and make a right.
4. Follow the road to Building Four.  Career Concepts is on the 1st floor.

From Philadelphia and east:

1. Take the Schuylkill Expressway to the Blue Route (Rte 476) North until it ends.
2. Make aleft at the end of the ramp onto Plymouth Road and follow signs to Germantown Pike West.
3. Make a right onto Germantown Pike and follow it until Walton Road (the 4th light).
4. Make a right onto Walton Road.
5. Follow Walton Road through its intersection with Township Line Road.   Proceed straight through this intersection to the entrance to Sentry Parkway East and make a right.
6. Follow the road to Building Four.  Career Concepts is on the 1st floor.

Susan Morris, M.Ed, CPCC, ACC, is President of the Morris Consulting Group, LLC,

T: 215-880-1913,

E: smorris@morrisconsulting.biz, 

Web: www.morrisconsulting.biz

TOPIC:  "Get the Job Offer!"

Those in job transition in today’s marketplace face unparalleled hurdles, setbacks and frustrations in not getting a job, let alone the “dream” job. Job-seekers know the basics of the job search and are able to get one if not several job interviews but often may wonder: I thought the interview went well. Why didn’t I get that job offer? 

Susan is planned to speak from about 2:00pm to 3:30pm. 

Directions to the Morris County Library
30 East Hanover Ave.
Whippany NJ 07981
(973) 285-6930

Note: This is NOT MorrisTOWN Library! 

Whippany is just outside of Morristown. We do NOT meet at the Morristown Library.

From the North or Rte 80
Get to Interstate 287-

Coming South on I-287, take Exit 36 (the first of 2 Morristown exits going south).
Make a right hand turn onto Ridgedale Avenue.
Continue on Ridgedale Avenue 0.6 mi. and cross over a set of railroad tracks, Warnock Nissan will be on the right and several other auto dealers on the left.
Come to a corner gas station on the right, and make a right hand turn onto Hanover Avenue.
Cross another set of railroad tracks and the Morris County Library is on the left ...
across the street from the Frelinghuysen Arboretum.

At the Circulation Desk, ask for "ChemPharma Meeting Room."

From the South East
Take I-78 to NJ Rte 24 near Springfield-
Go 8.5 Miles North on Rte 24- to Exit 1A (just before rte 24 meets 287 N & S)
At the bottom of the ramp (keep turning right) you will join County Route 511, Whippany Road
which immediately splits (only 100 yards)- take the right fork onto East Hanover Ave- CR 650
(it will feel like a turn back alongside or onto Rte 24)
Go 0.3 mi on East Hanover Ave, to the Morris County Library sign on the right- ..
across the street from the Frelinghuysen Arboretum.
The library is a new, low brick structure in an open area, lots of parking between East Hanover and the building.

At the Circulation Desk, ask for "ChemPharma Meeting Room."

From the South or West
Take Interstate 287 North to Exit 36B.
At the bottom of the ramp take a right onto Lafayette Ave. - Morris County Rte 510
Go 0.3 mi. and make a very hard right hand turn onto Ridgedale Avenue- .
Continue on Ridgedale Avenue for 0.8 mi. ( cross over a set of railroad tracks, Warnock Nissan will be on the right and several other auto dealers on the left).
Come to a corner gas station on the right, and make a right hand turn onto Hanover Avenue - Morris County Rte. 650.
Go 0.3 mi. & across another set of railroad tracks and the Morris County Library is on the left ...
across the street from the Frelinghuysen Arboretum.

At the Circulation Desk, ask for "ChemPharma Meeting Room."