On Thursday, September 27th 100 guests gathered for Diverse by Design’s 2nd Annual Jeffersonian Dinner hosted at the home of Tony Spinelli, Per Scholas National Board Member and Chief Operating Officer & President, Cyber Division at Fractal Industries Inc.

The tradition of a Jeffersonian dinner began at the home of Thomas Jefferson in the early 1800s. Gathering together thought leaders and influencers across a broad range of issues, then President Jefferson posed a challenge for the group, and encouraged spirited debate throughout the evening.

In accordance with the tradition, Diverse by Design invited voices across a number of technology industries that included C-Suite leaders, recruiters and hiring managers in cybersecurity, IT and talent development to discuss actionable solutions employers can leverage to build more diverse and inclusive workplaces. The dinner was a starting point to a conversation and a network to foster substantive changes powered by an employer network in the National Capital Region.

The dinner’s host, Tony Spinelli, challenged the group to commit to strengthening their workforce through intentional sourcing, recruiting and hiring practices. Jeff Senne, Managing Director, PwC followed with remarks that included concrete examples for how PwC is challenging their existing structures from leadership to entry-level positions. According to Jeff, each person is responsible for championing inclusion in the workplace. The spirited discussion that followed continued late into the evening. The culminating moment was a “report out” where individual employers and corporate representatives reflected aloud to fellow employers in the room about reframing a “can’t do” attitude into an actionable strategy moving forward. Partners were encouraged to visit Per Scholas’ Silver Spring location following the event to have the opportunity to meet individuals trained in both cybersecurity and IT Support.

Thank you to everyone involved in the event. The evening was made possible by Platinum Level Sponsor Fannie Mae, as well as Silver Level Sponsors Kudelski Security, Synchrony Financial and Farm Credit Financial. For more information about the evening, Diverse by Design or Per Scholas, please reach out to [email protected] or visit the website www.diversebydesign.org.

This September Per Scholas had the pleasure of expanding our yearly Toss for Techs event across Ohio. This was the 3rd year that our Cincinnati site hosted the event and the inaugural year for Columbus.

Toss for Techs is a friend-raiser and a fundraiser. Representatives from local organizations get a chance to meet each other in an informal setting and have the opportunity to discuss what is happening within their community while hearing from Per Scholas students and interacting with Per Scholas staff.

Hiring and retaining reliable talent is a key component to workforce development, and the support that Per Scholas gains from sponsors and individual donors at events like Toss for Techs goes directly to fueling the future tech workforce of their respective cities.

Congratulations to both of our winning teams! In Columbus, the team from TEKsystems won the inaugural event.

In Cincinnati, the team from Scripps continued their winning run of the last few years, and pulled off a three-peat!

Special thanks to all the sponsors of both events, these events wouldn’t be possible without your support and we hope to see you again next year

The Bogey Bar & Grill | CDK Global | CityLink Center | Crown Castle Fiber | Columbus 2020 | First Financial Bank | Immedion | Ingage Partners | Kroger | Lbrands | Lightower | Metro Data Center | Molina Healthcare | Path Forward | Scripps | Vernovis

Once you’ve finished your training and earned your certifications, you’re qualified for a great career, but you’ve still got to put your best foot forward to impress employers. Fortunately, Per Scholas has a team of amazing Career Advancement professionals with years of experience and knowledge to share with Per Scholas students and graduates.

Prior to working at Per Scholas, Diahan Collins worked for JPMorgan as a Team Leader in the Operations Customer Service Department for eight years. She also worked for Young Adult Institute (YAI) as an Employment Training Specialist and Family Service Specialist for over three years, and for FedCap Rehabilitation Services as Job Preparation and Placement Coordinator for a year. Now she helps prepare Per Scholas students for the job market as a Career Advancement Manager in Brooklyn. We asked her to share the most important advice for Per Scholas graduates to remember as they set out to land their next position. Here’s what she said: 

1) Make sure your resume is tailored to the position that you are applying for. Review the job description and key requirements carefully.

2) Make sure you are networking more than you are applying for jobs online. That is, interface with potential individuals who can lead you to an opportunity. Don’t forget about the folks who are already employed in your field. They can be a great help in your job search!

3) Don’t forget about the company that you desire to work for. Go directly to their website and apply.

4) When utilizing LinkedIn, make sure your profile is free of typos and your presentation is professional.

5) Effective tracking tools will help you organize your job search. Keep notes of the companies you have applied for, agencies you have registered with, number of interviews, references, and professional networks.

6) Your Career Coach and the Business Solutions Team are here to assist in your job search.

7) Don’t give up! The more No’s you get will bring you closer to your Yes.