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NCMA North Texas Chapter
Employment Mentor/Coaching Initiative
Overview:
There is plenty of general advice available
everywhere on how to search or interview for a job…but not as much tailored
specifically to the contracting or purchasing career field. One of the
many benefits of being a member of your local NCMA chapter is a
chapter-sponsored “Employment Mentor/Coach” program. The advice
gleaned from the mentor or coach is specific to our profession and thus
potentially of great value to our members. The people filling our
mentor/coaching roles are seasoned contracting professionals and local NCMA
members who know our business and what it takes to get hired or simply being
promoted in our professional field!
How It Works:
Select North Texas Chapter “Mentor/Coaches” would,
on voluntary and confidential basis, assist other members in the areas of (1)
Job seeking and/or (2) Interviewing. These volunteers would provide their
own tips; advice; or coaching on a one-on-one basis to interested members
contemplating or in the process of seeking new employment or simply looking to
advance in their careers and would like some independent contracting-specific
feedback or advice.
A Typical Scenario
An NCMA North Texas Chapter member is actively
seeking or considering a new job in the contracting field with another company
or agency. However, the member is not exactly sure if a particular job is
right for her or how best to sell her capabilities during an interview for the
job. A mentor can help this member sort through some of the uncertainty by
simply passing along to the member the benefit of the mentor’s experience and
advice.
Through this program, the member makes a request to
the Chapter Employment Chairperson to discuss her concerns and plans with a
Chapter Employment Mentor. The Chapter Employment Chair processes her request
and assigns a mentor from a pre-established pool of volunteers; within three
business days the mentor makes contact with the member seeking help. The
two then set a mutually beneficial time to meet in person or talk over the
phone.
Mentor Qualifications:
Ideally, a mentor would fit either of two
categories: (1) A current or former manager who has had direct experience
hiring contracting professionals or; (2) A successful contracting or purchasing
professional who through their own career has applied for, interviewed, and been
hired a number of times for jobs of increased grade and responsibility.
Mentors who fit either of these models possess real-world experience or insights
that could prove invaluable to others delving into the contracting or purchasing
job market.
Key Ground Rules:
All participation is voluntary; all mentor-member
conversations are confidential; there is no minimum or maximum amount of
conversations or meetings that need take place; mentors provide advice only and
members are not required to follow the advice of a mentor. Additionally,
to prevent potential conflicts of interest, mentors are prohibited from advising
members applying for job openings in the mentor’s workplace.
What’s next?
We need your help to make this initiative available
to the membership and a success! Whether you’re interested in becoming a
mentor/coach or talking advantage of their advice you may sign up at
Mentor/Coach Contract or contact:
Nate Kilgore NCMA NTX Chapter Employment Chair
nkilgore@nish.org/ 817 622-7011 (voice)/817 652-1032 (fax).
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