5 Secrets to Resilience

October 8, 2015

Resilience is the ability to adapt to and overcome adversity. Individuals and communities are able to rebuild after devastating tragedies. Violence and environmental disasters in recent years have touched all of us in some way. Whether directly or indirectly, we have all felt loss. In our daily lives we feel stress, and we learn to cope with changes. We have all learned lessons from mistakes in both our private and professional lives.

Some, however, appear to be more resilient than others. How do people seem to “roll with the punches” in the face of chaos? How does a coworker bounce back after a poor review?

“Resilience is the ability to adapt well in response to stressful events. In our lives we may experience tragedy, adversity, or real or perceived sources of stress. These events can occur in our family or significant relationships, workplace, health, or financial situations.” [©2014 Amplified Life Media. Reprint, “Bouncing Back,” liveandworkwell.com]

You can probably guess that resilience is essential for anyone who works with people. Whether you are a leader or an entry-level worker, your ability to be resilient will affect how you perform your job. Whether you are a corporate trainer or a cybersecurity expert, you must remain focused on goals regardless of sudden changes and surprises.

Resilience is an essential skill.

Why do some people struggle and fail, while others succeed and thrive? It’s not necessarily upbringing, education, or experience. In order to help people cope with adversity and thrive with uncertainty and change, resilience is an essential skill. The good news is that all of us can learn to be more resilient!

5 Secrets to Resilience - Edison quote

In June, Doug Hensch, Executive Coach and president of DRH Group, presented a mini-workshop at PMI Washington DC’s Loudoun Community Lunch and Learn, entitled 5 Secrets to Resilience. Tailored for anyone interested in finding new ways to improve their own levels of resilience, the workshop teaches skills to effectively fight stress and anxiety. This workshop is popular with most who have attended, including an Agile Program Director who enjoyed Doug’s teaching style:

“… the entire class is engaged, it includes great videos with a great sense of humor. Anyone can teach a bunch of principles to a group and see what sticks, only a few individuals like Doug can show us how to apply these principles in our everyday lives.” (Linkedin recommendation, September 17, 2015)

Leaders who want to be more interactive and bring out the best in their team will benefit from Doug’s class as well. Many of us will easily recognize the natural-born leaders among us; they are the ones who can bounce back from defeat and inspire others. They are also the ones who are naturally able to cope with risk and change. They are resilient.

PMI Seminars at NOVA

Through NOVA’s education alliance with the PMI Washington DC Chapter, the Workforce Development Division offers customized seminars on a variety of topics of interest to PMI members. NOVA is a category B provider. Seminars are being held through December in Reston, Woodbridge, and Arlington.

The first seminar being offered is 5 Secrets to Resilience, Doug Hensch’s day-long workshop. This workshop is focused on helping employees, managers, and leaders improve their ability to cope with adversity, uncertainty, and change. The content of the course is backed by over 30 years of research and delivered in an engaging, entertaining format that gives participants the tools they need to thrive in difficult times.

Additional PMI courses are available, and registration is open now:

October 24, NOVA Woodbridge
Successful Federal Contracts Administration
[register online now]

December 11, Arlington Center
Breakthrough Project Portfolio Performance
[register online now]

Doug Hensch is an executive coach, group facilitator and consultant with over 20 years of experience. He brings a wealth of experience and passion to the work through a simple philosophy: Set meaningful goals. Identify your strengths. Work in them regularly.

For more information on PMI Washington DC events, visit their website and make sure to check out the monthly PMIWDC Loudoun Community Lunch and Learn opportunities. The October 12 lunch will discuss Difficult Conversations for Project Managers, with Professional & Personal Development Coach Francis Roman, REI Systems Inc.

News

#IamUCC

October 7, 2015

Schools across the country are showing support for the students, staff, and families of Umpqua Community College.

On Thursday, October 8, 2015, community colleges across the United States will be observing a moment of silence in honor of the victims of the Umpqua Community College shooting on October 1 in Roseburg, Oregon.

Dr. Scott Ralls, Northern Virginia Community College president, has asked NOVA colleagues to join in the moment of silence, and use #IamUCC to show support for the victims:

The American Association of Community Colleges is inviting community colleges across the country to participate in a National Moment of Silence in honor of the victims of the shooting at Umpqua Community College.

I write to encourage you to join our community college colleagues across the nation in observing a moment of silence at 2:00 PM (ET) on Thursday, October 8, 2015. As a show of solidarity and support for our friends who are working to pick up the pieces on the UCC campus, you may also wish to use the #IamUCC hashtag to share your support via social media. In this way we can stand with them as they begin the healing process on their campus. Thank you for supporting Umpqua Community College in this way. —Dr. Scott Ralls, President, NVCC

Events, Jobs and Careers

Meet our hiring companies.

September 25, 2015

Next week, on September 30, NOVA’s Workforce Development Division will be hosting our second annual STEM Career Fair. We have a wonderful lineup of companies who are ready to meet job seekers, and some on-the-spot interviews will be available to pre-qualified candidates!

“What do I need to attend the Career Fair?”

Our STEM Career Fair is open to all job-seekers, whether entry-level or experienced. We also welcome veterans, students, and currently employed individuals seeking a new career path. In short, if you are interested in a STEM job with one of our hiring companies, do a little research online and be prepared. Make sure that you have an updated resume, and leave the t-shirt and jeans at home! Business casual is an excellent approach for a career fair, but we have seen some job seekers show up in suits, ready to meet their next employer.

Whatever you do, be comfortable, be yourself, and say hello to several of our hiring companies:

ABC Supply Co., Inc.

We are the largest wholesale distributor of roofing in the U. S. and one of the nation’s largest distributors of other select exterior building products. Since 1982, ABC Supply Company has become a national organization with more than 490 locations in 49 states. We provide contractors (large and small) with high-quality products, superior service, and competitive pricing.

ActioNet Inc.

ActioNet’s seasoned personnel are experts in a wide range of IT systems, Program Management, Software Engineering, Information Assurance, Infrastructure Solutions, and IT Business Governance. 75% of our staff has at least one certification directly related to their area of expertise. ITIL, PMP, MCSE, CISSP, Security+ comprise many of these.

Capital One

One of the 10 largest U.S. banks and a Fortune 500 company headquartered in McLean, VA, we approach financial services challenges the way Internet start-ups approach development challenges. Capital One’s Technology department provides scalable infrastructure for our entire enterprise—managing both internal and customer-facing technology. Career opportunities are available for data architects, systems analysts, engineers, and information security professionals.

Diplomatic Security – U.S. Department of State

As the DoS’s security and law enforcement arm, the Bureau of Diplomatic Security serves an essential role: To provide a safe, secure environment for the conduct of U.S. foreign policy. Diplomatic Security is a unique organization in the foreign affairs community—it is the only law enforcement agency with representation in nearly every country in the world.

Dulles Glass & Mirror

Founded in 1972, Dulles Glass and Mirror offers glass, mirror and shower doors for residential and commercial uses. We deliver nationally and offer installation services in northern Virginia, Maryland and Washington, D.C.

eIntern

eIntern is a first-of-its-kind online internship where aspiring IT programmers attain actual job-based skills. The eInternship program is designed in close collaboration with several academic and corporate partners to deliver qualified, reliable & expert IT talent geared for the complex IT needs of the industry today. eIntern’s individually tailored and mentored program helps talent succeed not as entry level programmers, but as experienced job candidates with specialized IT skills.

Evolver

Established in December 2000 in Reston, Virginia, Evolver has successfully grown to a recognized IT solutions provider. Our employee base now exceeds 200 and our clients— both government and commercial —span the globe. Our services include Infrastructure Engineering and Operations, Application Systems Engineering, Data Management, and End User Support (Seat Management).

iWorks

Providing IT professional services with a specialty in managing business processes and systems integration, iWorks has been appraised at Level 3 of the Capability Maturity Model Integration (CMMI), as well as ISO 9001:2008 certified. We maintain two U.S. DoD cleared facilities in the DC metro area, and we team with top firms to achieve breakthrough performance for our clients.

Fairfax County Government

The core purpose of Fairfax County Government is to protect and enrich the quality of life for the people, neighborhoods, and diverse communities of Fairfax County. We do this through:

Maintaining Safe, Caring Communities
Building Livable Spaces
Connecting People and Places
Maintaining Healthy Economies
Practicing Environmental Stewardship
Creating a Culture of Engagement
Exercising Corporate Stewardship

Honeywell

A Fortune 100 company with more than 127,000 employees worldwide, including more than 22,000 engineers and scientists, Honeywell creates solutions to improve the quality of life of people around the globe: generating clean, healthy energy—and using it more efficiently; increasing safety and security; and enabling people to connect, communicate, and collaborate.

Leidos

Leidos brings a mix of innovative technology and sector expertise to customers in national security, health, and engineering. We look for solutions that not only transform businesses, but change the world. Our approach to every challenge is holistic and systematic. We see solutions others can’t with impactful analytics. We make real life better with a human point of view.

National Student Clearinghouse

Founded in 1993 by the higher education community, National Student Clearinghouse relieves the administrative burdens and costs related to student data reporting and exchange, verification, and research. We are a nonprofit, nongovernmental organization, and our work provides numerous time- and cost-saving benefits to students, schools, administrators, and requestors.

Nordstrom

Since 1901, Nordstrom’s commitment to providing our customers with the best possible service has taken us from a small Seattle shoe shop to the leading fashion specialty retailer we are today. We’re proud to serve customers at 310 stores in 38 states and Canada. We also serve customers online in 96 countries through Nordstrom.com. We believe fashion is a business of optimism, and in that spirit we continue to grow and evolve.

Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC)

We design, develop, and sustain offerings in the technical, engineering, intelligence, and enterprise information technology markets; we empower diplomatic missions, support warfighter requirements, and advance exploration from the ocean floor to outer space. We maintain leadership positions in supply chain management, hardware integration, and global network integration. SAIC has approximately 15,000 employees worldwide.

Satnam Technologies

We manage complex software projects from inception to implementation and support, including enterprise applications, application development, and Quality Assurance Testing. Satnam’s IT staffing and consulting services provide qualified technology specialists and IT consultants when and where our clients need them.

Southland Industries

Advocating a design-build-maintain model, Southland specializes in the design, construction, and service of mechanical, plumbing, fire protection, process piping, automation and controls systems, as well as comprehensive energy services needs. Our in-house experts have earned Southland its reputation as one of the top design-builders in the nation.

VSE Corporation

VSE Corporation was established in 1959 to provide engineering and technical services to the owners and operators of transportation and equipment assets and large, mission critical fleets (ships, vehicles and aircraft.) VSE serves this market by extending the service life and modernizing these aging platforms.

If you would like more information on the Career Fair, contact Cinthia Molinari at 703.323.3281, or email NOVA_CustomizedTraining@nvcc.edu.

Certificate Programs, Leadership & Teams

Management Tips from Kermit the Frog

September 21, 2015

America’s hardest-working frog has a few things to say about good management practices. From emotional intelligence to team building, project management, contract management, and risk and change management, Kermit has a lot of experience in managing a diverse team.

Kermit has always been the leader of The Muppets. He’s a brave risk-taker who inspires the people around him to do their best… Seriously – what business wouldn’t want a level-headed frog like Kermit running the show? (SimplyHired, June 2015)

Are you a new manager? A little green on leadership skills? (sorry – we couldn’t resist the pun!) Check out our Management Practices Certificate program, with 9 courses that will teach you the essential skills of being a manager.

An overlooked skill, Emotional Intelligence, is essential to anyone in a leadership role.

“Always stay calm. Never let your team see you get red in the face. —Of course, that’s much easier when you happen to be green.” (Kermit the Frog)

Additional management tips from Kermit:

“Support your team!”
“Make a schedule each day and stick to it.”
“Read over your contracts carefully!”
“Be prepared for [anything].”

Of course, management skills can be put to good use even if you are not managing a team, a project, or a hilarious troupe of Muppets. We all have natural leadership skills, and NOVA Workforce Development is offering a new class this fall, called Leading Where You Are (Manassas Innovation Park, November 7, 2015).

Wondering how some leaders are able to inspire employees to go the extra mile? If you have a staff that is diverse and multi-talented, you need to understand social intelligence and how it affects interactions with co-workers, customers, and business associates. Leadership Using the Social Intelligence Model will be held on November 14 in Woodbridge.

Of course, we have many courses that will help you strengthen your management skills. Check out our new MyWorkforce online course listing and registration portal for a listing of Leadership and Management courses being offered at our NOVA campus locations this Fall!

If the video below fails to load, watch Kermit’s “Top 5 Management Tips” video online at ABC.com or on YouTube.

The Muppets premieres Tuesday, September 22 on ABC.

The Muppets Studio, LLC, formerly The Muppets Holding Company, LLC, is a wholly owned entertainment subsidiary of Disney Consumer Products and Interactive Media Labs, formed in 2004 through The Walt Disney Company‘s acquisition of The Muppets and Bear in the Big Blue House assets from The Jim Henson Company.

Jobs and Careers, News

Governor’s grant program will help fund employee skills training for Virginia businesses

September 16, 2015

Throughout the U.S., there have been ongoing discussions about providing solutions to address the shortage of skilled workers for many in-demand jobs.

Here in Virginia, many businesses are providing innovative solutions to meet this skills gap. This private-sector dedication to workforce will now have an opportunity to receive state funds to leverage their investment in our Commonwealth’s workforce development. In June 2015, Governor Terry McAuliffe announced a $900,000 initiative to provide grants targeted to close a skills gap in key industry sectors.

“I am pleased to launch this grant program as part of my ongoing efforts to prepare Virginia’s workforce to do the jobs of today and create the jobs of tomorrow. … it will take commitment and investment from both the public and private sectors to achieve this goal. This grant competition is designed to encourage these partnerships.” (Governor McAuliffe)

These state funds, available through Virginia’s Workforce System, will leverage private investment in workforce development. This pilot program, called the Governor’s Competition for Talent Solutions, encourages Virginia’s private sector businesses to take the lead on regional workforce solutions.

Detailed information is available online at www.vec.virginia.gov/competition-for-talent-solutions. An overview of the Governor’s Competition for Talent Solutions Program:

Pilot program to help private sector employers take the lead on developing the skills and credentials of their employees. Employers can work with community colleges and training providers to design and deliver workforce development programs.
Training focus is on Advanced Manufacturing, Information Technology, Cyber Security, Healthcare, Energy, Logistics, and Transportation. However, other sectors are welcome to apply as well.
Businesses in the same industry or businesses with the same skills requirements from different industries can combine their efforts to request funding.
$900,000 is available for training statewide. The state will match employers’ contribution up to the maximum individual grant award of $200,000.

Applications are due by September 30 to be considered for funding. Grant recipients will be announced October 23. Funds will be available to use for training from November 2015 to December 2017.

Northern Virginia Community College’s Workforce Development Division is happy to consult with employers to design a training program as part of the Governor’s Talent Solutions Grant. Contact us at NOVA_CustomizedTraining@nvcc.edu or call 703-323-3281.

Joe Matope is a Business Development Manager with NOVA Workforce Development Division, and works with employers to develop and deliver customized training solutions for their staff. For more information about NOVA Workforce Development Division’s customized training programs, contact Joe at jmatope@nvcc.edu.