Hi, my name is Jess Yuen and I'll be your instructor for this course, Leveraging the Power of Professional Communities for Career Success. I'm excited to be the instructor for this course. I'm mid-career like some of you, and I've been very fortunate to have a varied and interesting career, primarily focused on policy and politics. I worked in the non- profit sector and I've also done a bunch of different things, from working on the policy creation at the White House to policy implementation at the ground level at a federal agency. Last year, I was the National Director of Advance for the Bernie Sanders campaign. And like other jobs before it, I didn't get it because I sent a resume through an online link or filled out a job application. I got it because I built a varied network, both personal and professional, with some overlap between the two. And it's been over years and I use it actively, whether it's to answer questions that I have or to source job applicants for a position or to search for a new position for myself. If you build a strong and diverse enough relationship, you'll find that others will seek you out. And with that, opportunities will arise. In this course, you'll learn how to tap into your existing personal and professional networks to find your tribe. And then you can grow it and leverage it when you need it. And sometimes it's even going to be to the benefit of your employer. Also, given that job satisfaction and job opportunities are intertwined with doing good and your personal satisfaction, we're going to engage in an introspective exercise that evaluates your interests and values so you can incorporate these ideals into your work and grow your network in a meaningful way. Finally, you'll understand how service experiences can be extremely valuable to growing your professional community and contributing to your success. We'll tie it all together with a practical exercise at the end. In this first lesson, the first of five in this course, you'll learn about how work is changing and how new employees are changing the work place. In the context of this new work environment, you'll learn about the importance of professional communities and how they can make a difference, whether you're currently searching for a new job or looking to just grow in your current position. We'll also talk about strong versus weak ties, the difference between the two and why both are important. Finally, we'll identify some of the dos and don'ts of building and using your professional community for career entry and advancement.
