Every week I update the Networking page on this website with events that the Unemployed of Des Moines can attend to network to find jobs. Most events are free or only cost a nominal fee to attend.
The Greater Des Moines Partnership, Iowa WorkForce Development, Right Management and 2 the Top Career Advancement Strategies began co-sponsoring Net2Work last year at the Des Moines Botanical Center. Net2Work is a “local initiative aimed at helping unemployed professionals network, research and ultimately connect with their next job opportunity or career.” A few months ago, the organizers were dropping hints that the continuation of the program was not a sure thing.
There has been a noticeable decline in attendance at Net2Work over the past several months. It doesn’t mean that there are fewer unemployed – just means that they’re not able to find out about Net2Work. I did a little research to find out how the Partnership had been marketing the event over the past several months (the Partnership has always been the main marketing arm for the event).
The locations on-line where the Partnership has marketed Net2Work and no longer does:
The last time Net2Work was mentioned on the Partnership’s Facebook Fan Page was 29Apr2010 – Net2Work has had four meetings since then.
The last time the Net2Work event was marketed on the Partnership’s Twitter handle was 29Apr2010 – Again, Net2Work has had four meetings since then.
Net2Work has not been announced on the Partnership’s Group page, CarpeDM, in the last 5 months (that’s as far back as I can check). There is a “Net2Work, Des Moines, IA” LinkedIn Group, but Unemployed in Des Moines Networking has been the only activity…
The Partnership even stopped marketing the event on their own website’s calendar! The last time they mentioned Net2Work here was on 17May2010.
There used to be an announcement in the Business Record and the Des Moines Register, but I am unable to find any historical information or any Net2Work events posted for the future.
If my facts are off, someone, please correct me…I’m just trying to make sense of all this.
So……..the only way for the unemployed to know about Net2Work is if they’re already on the email list by having attended the event in the past. The week before Net2Work, Mary Bontrager of the Partnership sends out an email announcing the next meeting. How are the newly unemployed supposed to know about this resource if there is no marketing done?
I guess my question for the organizers of Net2Work is: Is this your way of telling us that Net2Work is being phased out? Are you trying to make it look like the jobless situation is improving by having a lower turnout at the event by not marketing it? What’s the deal? Curious minds would like to know…
