Kenton County Public Library

The Covington Branch is open for voting from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. and regular library hours from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Parking is available in the library lot. Validation tickets for the Midtown Garage are available while supplies last and are for library patrons only. Voting-only visitors are not eligible for validation. Don't have a library card? Stop by the circulation desk with your ID—applying takes just a few minutes. Not sure where to vote? Check here: https://lnkd.in/ePKQwcm #kentonlibrary #voting #electionday #publiclibrary

Dembele Birama followed his older brother and has emigrated to the United States from Mauritania, hoping to ultimately create a better life for his family. Dembele speaks 5 languages and is enrolled in Gateway Community & Technical College’s ESL classes. Instructors Patti Ottino and Nancy Noll have been invaluable to him. To practice his English better, Dembele joined the Northern Kentucky Accountability Group as a Hospitality Volunteer. Over the past several months, his command of the English language, absorption of the skills needed to find a job here and friendships have dramatically increased. When his legal paperwork came through and he could officially join the ranks of the employed in America, Dembele immediately started applying his new job search skills to his search. Career Navigator Linda Lane helped him update his resume. Dembele has landed at Jabil as a Quality Control Inspector, choosing second shift to maintain his GCTC class schedule. He also picked up a weekend job working as a ramp agent for DHL. Dembele’s work ethic is amazing! Even with his busy schedule, he is always willing to do just about anything to help us as a KCPL Volunteer STILL. Congratulations to you, Dembele! We look forward to meeting your young family when you are able to bring them here, too, someday soon! Please note you that you can potentially join Dembele at Jabil by attending their Career Open House on Tuesday, November 5th at the Hilton Hotel, 7373 Turfway Road, in Florence, KY from 8AM-5PM. To register for job search classes in this post and others, go to https://lnkd.in/gVbcy_iH. #NKYAGCelebrations #JobSeekerTips #KCPL #NKYAG #JobSearch

Denise Byrum discovered NKYAG in early 2021 after her position as Manager of the Research Department at Shriners Hospital was eliminated. The role had been “a unique blend of her scientific and business expertise, and she worried she might never find that niche again. However, NKYAG’s resources, including the library’s excellent classes and the guidance from guest speakers helped her stand out.” Denise approached her job search methodically, using what she called “the DNA of a job search—to Differentiate, Network, and Act.” Networking proved pivotal, leading Denise to secure a long-term contract with Thermo Fisher Scientific through NKYAG alum Adam "AJ" Clinkenbeard. When the role ended, she returned to NKYAG, retaking classes and adapting to the 2024 competitive biotech job market. A high-velocity learner, she dove into recommended books: Coming Back! by Fawn Germer and Recalculating by Lindsey Pollack, which gave her the motivation to push forward. Encouraged by Volunteer Coach Joe Binder, she used WIOA funding to earn her Lean Six Sigma Black Belt from Breakthrough Performance Group. Denise received valuable guidance from other coaches, particularly Hildy Bonhaus, Lisa Swanson, Ken Wocher, and Jason D. Nahrgang, SPHR. This support was critical, especially after advancing through multiple interviews for 10 different roles without securing a position because she had been targeting the wrong level. During his Fundamentals of Networking class, John Rhoads, PCC encouraged her to just keep persevering. Instructor Dr. Angie Taylor advised her to emphasize her transferable skills more during networking sessions and interviews. Denise has landed the role of Senior Director, Operations and Organizational Development at Wood Hudson Cancer Research Laboratories in Newport. She collaborated with the board chairman to create this new position, designed to continue the 43-year legacy of the organization’s founder. Denise is eager to contribute to groundbreaking cancer research while helping to revitalize the organization. Denise will share more about her career journey at the Job Search Focus Group on November 4th at 9AM. Congratulations, Denise! To register for job search classes in this post and others, go to https://lnkd.in/gVbcy_iH. #NKYAGCelebrations #JobSeekerTips #KCPL #NKYAG #JobSearch

Veronica Vargas gave up her job in the Chicago area to move to Northern Kentucky to be closer to her husband’s family while raising children. Herself born and raised in San Antonio, Texas, Veronica is bilingual in Spanish, completed her MBA during Covid and is a terrific Project Manager. At a networking event, she met Carrie Salo who introduced her to the Northern Kentucky Accountability Group and the Job Search Focus Group. Veronica was able to land some great conversations with premier employers, but felt woefully unprepared when she got to the panel interview stage. She started taking KCPL job search skills classes, finding the Interviewing Skills, Transferable Skills & Core Skills Workshops extremely helpful. She also upped her game with Exploring O*Net Online, Using Data Axle to Build a Target Company List, Managing Applicant Tracking Software, Lean Six Sigma White Belt and the LinkedIn Profile Series. Reading Nailed It! Ten Keys to Crushing the Interview by Matt Marvin was a game changer. Veronica met with Volunteer Coach Joe Binder for support and relied on Programmer Mikaela Brungs and Career Navigator Alisha Copley for answers to research questions. By the time Veronica got to me, I had proof that she was a dedicated professional. Veronica was an easy person to connect to NKYAG alumni including Trish McLellan at Worldpay to learn about getting a PMP certification. Trish was impressed with Veronica at their informational meeting and suggested she apply for an opening there. With Dr. Angie Taylor’s guidance on how she presented her crosswalk in meetings and Coach John Yockey’s mock interview prep, Veronica successfully landed at Worldpay as a Project Manager. Congratulations to Veronica! Whew! Her pace would make many people tired! Way to go! To register for job search classes in this post and others, go to https://lnkd.in/gVbcy_iH. #NKYAGCelebrations #JobSeekerTips #KCPL #NKYAG #JobSearch

After 30+ years of working full time in the corporate world in accounting and later as a business analyst and product owner, Margaret Monroe, better known as Peggy, was devastated to be downsized. Fortunately, that all changed when Peggy traveled 8 minutes from home to the Erlanger Library and NKYAG. Peggy took the “Mastering the Art of Informational Meetings” class early on and started applying what she learned immediately. She thought about places she wanted to work and networked to find a contact. Peggy asked for 30 minutes of their time, completed 6 of these meetings and never had a request turned down. Peggy notes, “People are amazingly gracious. The first interview was the most nerve wracking even though it was with a person I had worked with many years ago, at an organization I had often dreamed of working: NKU. I love higher ed and thought it might be a good fit for me. That meeting went well, and I felt I was off to a good start.” Peggy attended every KCPL job search skills class at least once and most twice. Once her mental state shifted from hopelessness to “I believe I can do this and nothing is going to stop me from getting another role, AND that role is going to be in the non-profit world,” Peggy was on her way. Peggy’s style was to gather data, synthesize it and then act, and at about 4 months in, she felt things start to come together. Peggy was attending KCPL classes, participating in Wednesday NKYAG sessions, and taking Gale Courses to continue to update her skillset. The interviews started to line up. Peggy is excited to announce that she has landed at her dream organization, Northern Kentucky University as a Grant & Contracts Officer. The person she had her first informational interview with told her about the job opening. Peggy was particularly appreciative of Dr. Angie Taylor's time in helping her understand that she did have Core Skills that are needed and valued in the workplace in both corporate and non-profit organizations. Also, instructor Karen Cornelissen for teaching her how to put together a cover letter which made all the difference. Peggy’s cover letters generated interviews as they allowed her to explain her transferrable skills. John Rhoads, PCC taught her to build and update her networking spreadsheet weekly. Congratulations on a job well done, Peggy! To register for job search classes in this post and others, go to https://lnkd.in/gVbcy_iH. #NKYAGCelebrations #JobSeekerTips #KCPL #NKYAG #JobSearch

Coach Lisa Swanson took one look at Dan Burkey’s resume when he attended NKYAG and recognized that he was a unicorn. Dan needed to be connected with people who would innately "get" what he was doing. Dan took Lisa’s comment to heart and strategically networked to tell his story. Along the way, Coach John Yockey's X3P Values Assessment and book recommendation, Sparked by Jonathan Fields helped Dan wrap his head around who he was and what he cared most about. Coach Dave Schlachter had great advice on alternative approaches to a career in arts education outside of traditional classroom teaching. Dave also provided feedback on a document Dan created to show the process of how “he works with students to transform academic content into stories they can tell, show, or perform.” Patricia Borne's Elevator Pitch class helped Dan organize his thoughts on sharing who he was as he met new people. Dan noted, “Angie Taylor has a gift for modeling the kinds of language that help navigate challenging communication situations. I used the T-chart process from her Transferable Skills Workshop for a job application. Every minute of that preparation was a gift to my future self. Karen Cornelissen is a presentation dynamo. I pulled out the notes from The Fine Art of Job Search Correspondence class every time I wrote a networking email.” Finally, Nichole Sims' Resume Basics for Today class streamlined Dan’s wide-ranging resume into a coherent picture of his skills and experience. Dan found several additional books really helpful: The 20-Minute Networking Meeting by Nathan A. Perez, Atomic Habits by James Clear and especially The Bullet Journal Method by Ryder Carroll. “Carroll helped me create a central place to track my journey. It's a combination planner, to-do list, and quick log of what I did each day. Once daily logging becomes a habit, it can be a powerful tool for the kinds of habit stacking described in Atomic Habits. I probably used the journal more than any other tool during the process, and it made it easy to cross-reference NKYAG classes, networking meetings, books to read, goals, and even ideas. Dan has landed a series of “stepping stone” opportunities that fit his interests: Assistant Circus Coach for My Nose Turns Red Youth Circus (https://lnkd.in/eDdkUzdP), teaching circus skills (unicycling, juggling, etc.), and helping with the process of documenting their curriculum; Teaching Artist for American Legacy Theater, collaborating with teachers and students to build academic skills through theatre in weekly classroom visits and substitute teaching in the Boone County School System. Dan notes, “Networking is magical. I landed jobs in narrow fields I wouldn't have thought to look for, without interviewing, applying or scouring job posts. All because I met someone who said "Hey, you should meet..." and then followed up. And then kept doing that.” Congratulations, Dan! Job well done! To register for job search classes go to https://lnkd.in/gVbcy_iH.

We talk about volunteering as a great way to meet people, learn about organizations from the inside out and network while job hunting. Stevie Smith had been on the sidelines in the “unpaid” workforce managing family life issues for some time and was considering returning to the regular workforce. Time commitment was a big issue, so she decided to try volunteering first. Fortunately, Stevie applied to be a Hospitality Volunteer at the Kenton County Public Library for the Northern Kentucky Accountability Group. Stevie was able to take multiple KCPL job search skills classes, listen weekly to expert NKYAG speakers and get to know many of the library staff personally. A position opened for a Programmer in the library’s Outreach Branch, led by manager Seth Longland. The Outreach Branch visits all the Kenton County pre-schools and senior aging centers monthly, plus caters to many of our homebound patrons. Stevie did not even know positions like this existed! Stevie was well qualified for the role with a background in the hospitality industry, having worked at various campgrounds in recent years and as a camp counselor in her past. She even knew how to tie-die and drive a very large van like our Read Racer! Stevie also worked extensively with patients with Alzheimer’s and dementia as a dietary aid and activities assistant, so positioned to help the senior community in need. We are very happy that Stevie has joined our team as a Programmer with a hybrid focus on all Outreach service points. Congratulations, Stevie! Be sure to stop and say “hi” to Stevie when you visit our Covington Library, home of our Outreach Branch AND a BLINK site (https://lnkd.in/eC8qwygj) this weekend! To register for job search classes in this post and others, go to https://lnkd.in/gVbcy_iH. #NKYAGCelebrations #JobSeekerTips #KCPL #NKYAG #JobSearch

In preparation for the BLINK installation at the Covington Branch later this week please note: - The parking lot of the Covington Branch will be closed October 15-21 (handicapped spots will be available). - Parking validation tickets are available for patrons who park at the Midtown Garage during regular library hours. - On Thursday, October 17 the Covington Branch will close at 6 pm. The Erlanger and Independence Branches will remain open until 9 pm. - There will be no book drop access Thursday-Sunday, Oct. 17-20, 6 pm – 11 pm. - The building will not be open during BLINK activities but staff will be there to pass out light up batons while supplies last. #BLINKCincinnati

Joe Wessels attended NKYAG initially in January 2022, thought it was silly and did not come back for 3 weeks. He was subconsciously embarrassed by his job loss and avoided a speaker who knew him. Joe was suffering from the negative self-worth that many people struggle with, blaming himself that he did not see a layoff coming. None of us have a crystal ball! Joe eventually “engaged” and gave the resources a chance. Joe took all of KCPL’s classes, finding the Transferable & Core Skills Workshops, Managing Applicant Tracking Software and Finding Your Purpose programs extremely helpful. Joe ended up landing, but became a victim of organizational changes at his last job and returned to NKYAG in less than two years. This time around, Joe was ready to listen and spent time getting to know many of our Volunteer Coaches. KCPL Coach Lisa Denham helped Joe put things in perspective and perfect his interviewing skills. Remembering that you are constantly networking when looking for a job, Joe found a contact through an Improv class whom he ran into at a happy hour event. His Improv friend told Joe about a job opening and then made a recommendation for him. Joe interviewed for two jobs at once in a panel interview with three people. In Joe’s words, “This would normally have been intimidating, but not anymore. I listened to my interviewer’s pain points and carefully answered their questions to assure them that my skills aligned perfectly with their needs. Based on my interview, they created a new position for me that better suited my skill set and served their needs in unexpected ways.” Joe’s new position is Media Relations Associate at Cincinnati Public Schools. Joe advises anyone that is struggling to land “it’s best to dive in, not be bashful, swallow any lingering pride and get to work. I tell everyone I can about the benefits of this fantastic resource, unlike any in our region.” Thanks, Joe! Congratulations on the new job! To register for job search classes in this post and others, go to https://lnkd.in/gVbcy_iH. #NKYAGCelebrations #JobSeekerTips #KCPL #NKYAG #JobSearch

After being laid off, Mike Stella had to stay focused on his job search while juggling problems with aging parents and everything else that gets thrown at men and women mid-career. Mike leaned on Volunteer Coaches Lisa Swanson and Carol Hemmer for expert guidance on his resume. Mike also learned to use Jobscan.co through KCPL to ensure that his resumes and cover letters were laser focused before applying for new roles. Mike did himself a favor by attending weekly NKYAG meetings for support, taking multiple job search skills classes and carefully crafting an excellent marketing plan to use in his networking meetings. If you met with Mike, you knew that he was looking for a high-level sales role in consumer-packaged goods, his key skills, where he previously worked and what companies he was targeting. Mike made it easy to help him make connections. Mike has landed at Due North, a Toronto, Canada based company that manufactures cold equipment and will be responsible for increasing sales and awareness with the Pepsi system and other beverage companies as a National Sales Director. Congratulations, Mike! To register for job search classes in this post and others, go to https://lnkd.in/gVbcy_iH. #NKYAGCelebrations #JobSeekerTips #KCPL #NKYAG #JobSearch