EDI and Prudential organize networking opportunity for job searchers as U.S. economy sags

With unemployment reaching a 26-year record high of 9.7 percent, Executive Development Institute (EDI) alumni and friends attended a "Leadership Together" kick-off networking meeting this month to tackle the challenges of job searching.

Sponsored by Bellevue's EDI and Prudential Insurance Company of America, over 50 participants engaged in an interactive exchange on tips for standing out from the competition in early September.

EDI is a non-profit organization which partners with businesses in the Pacific Northwest to provide culturally-tailored leadership programs for Asian Pacific and Hispanic emerging leaders and managers.

Lynn Takaki, 1994 EDI graduate and vice president of human resources for Precor, Inc. was the featured speaker and shared some insights on networking, interviewing and job search strategies. In light of cultural values common to Asian Pacifics, she stressed the importance of being an "A" player, outlining tips for asking, asserting and affiliations.

"Go out of your comfort zone and ask about opportunities. Assert what you need and be clear about your goal. Maintain and value your affiliations as 70 percent of landing a job is attributed to networking," said Takaki who is also a former career counselor and consultant.

Participants were comprised evenly of job seekers, career "transitioners" and supporters of those looking for resources and opportunities. They shared creative approaches to networking and interviewing and explored options including pursuing a corporate job, choosing an entrepreneurial track or getting involved in the community through non-profit organizations.

EDI and Prudential plan to continue organizing these alumni networking events to offer venues for career networking and support for each other as part of the EDI alumni community.

Since its inception in 1994, EDI has graduated more than 400 Asian Pacific professionals from its Leadership Discovery program. This year, EDI is piloting a new version of Leadership Discovery, which has been culturally tailored for Hispanic professionals, and last year launched Leadership Navigation, a program for mid- and senior-level Asian Pacific professionals. Major community and business sponsors for EDI include Prudential, KeyBank, Boeing, Nordstrom, Puget Sound Energy, Weyerhaeuser, and Nikkei Concerns.

For more information about the Executive Development Institute, visit www.ediorg.org.

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