Pinellas Professionals Network Meets Weekly

If you are a professional seeking a place where you can network with peers, gain knowledge and interact with representatives from various Tampa Bay companies, WorkNet Pinellas Professional Network (PPN) may be for you. The PPN meets every Wednesday morning at St. Petersburg College campuses throughout Pinellas County from 10 a.m. to noon.

The meetings cover various topics and feature a guest speaker who is an expert in his or her field. Some of the upcoming topics on the meeting schedule include networking for a job, interviewing tips for jobseekers, persuasive communication through word choice and body language, and personal branding for your career. In addition to guest speakers, representatives from Tampa Bay companies are usually in attendance, including recruiters presenting job openings at their companies.

Carolann Mannix, program manager for WorkNet Pinellas Professional Division says the meetings are a great place for jobseekers.

"There are so many qualified professionals looking for opportunities in the Tampa Bay area," Mannix says. "Therefore networking is important as it allows professionals to make contacts at local companies. There are many uncovered job opportunities available for professional job seekers, and often professional opportunities are not always advertised."

The Pinellas Professional Network is open to the public; however, all meetings are for individuals with a 4-year degree or management/supervisory level experience. There are no fees associated with the network or cost to attend meetings.

The next PPN meeting will be Feb. 9 at the St. Petersburg Clearwater campus, 2465 Drew St. in Clearwater from 10 a.m. to noon.

Writer: Kimberly Patterson
Source: Carolann Mannix