A fellow blogger recently sent me a thank you note from one of his readers who started reading his blog and is now working and living in the region. I am sure there are many others out there like this person. It is nice to capture one every so often. This is why we blog.

"Just wanted to drop you a note about a couple of things. First, I enjoy your writing – please don’t be shy getting your ideas and observations out there. Weblogs like yours keep the standard for online journaling high, to the betterment of all. Second, a comment with background: I just started working with a company last month, and will be a new transplant (after a long absence) to Blacksburg. One of the things that encouraged me to make that move with my family was the realization that the vitality, innovative spirit, and collegial atmosphere of the region around B-burg was a good bit higher than I realized. Your weblog was a key part of that, along with the discovery of a growing community of writers, musicians, and creative businesses."

On Friday, we took two groups of Virginia Tech students to tour downtown Roanoke and to hear presentations by seven firms. Amazingly, the five presenters in the morning group stated between them they had 110 jobs most in the region in the IT, engineering and architecture fields. The firms were the Renick Group, Luna Innovations, HSMM, AEP and the City of Roanoke Engineering. This was just five firms. Wonder how many job openings are really out there??? Read the story.

Link: roanoke.com – New River Valley Current-Tech students in a territory unknown: Roanoke.

The City of Roanoke has created a database to capture the contact information of individual job seekers in the Roanoke and New River Valleys and connect them to employers with available job opportunities. Please register and send this to others that you know who would be interested in being a part of it.

I conducted an informal focus group with a group of 11 young professionals working for a regional bank in the NewVa region. I asked this group a simple question, "would you please write down the social, business, civic and religious groups that you are affiliated with?"

The response was revealing. Only 2 of the 11 had something more than one activity of "church" and six of the 11 stated "none, but would like to get involved". Those two that were involved had to leave the meeting early to attend to other business. Isn’t that ironic. 

It appears that Generation X and Y may not understand the importance of being active in a variety of groups as it relates to their future career opportunities. It is essential that young adults get involved – for a variety of reasons. One, it opens up the hidden job market. Two, it provides a social network. Third, you get connected to your community. Four, it helps identify customers for your company. Five, you name one.

If you are looking for ways to get connected, then let me know. If you would like to recruit for some organization you are involved with, then please post.

The Renick Group has amassed an impressive number of really good jobs in the region. If you are looking, then spend some time on this site.