The Ottawa Talent Network

Networking can make the difference

Did you know that 80 percent of jobs are found in the hidden job market? Your best means for accessing opportunities that will never appear in newspaper ads, on the internet, or through agencies and headhunters is through networking. Networking is a mutual sharing relationship between you and other members of a networking team.

In Ottawa, many high tech workers have created networking teams. These groups are focused on helping their members through peer support, networking, skills exchange, mentoring, entrepreneurship, information sharing and advocacy.

Being a member of one or more of these groups will help you keep connected with the working world in Ottawa. Most of the groups encourage new members. All of the groups have different objectives and operating methods so you may have to check out a few before you find a group that suits your needs. Note, some of the groups have membership fees.

If you know of any other groups that we could add to this list, or contact information for any of the groups below, please e-mail us about it.

Group List
Bravo Charlie Group (BCG)
	BCG is an executive networking group for senior managers re-entering the workforce. The group maintains a small active membership with a growing Alumni of those re-hired. BCG has a subset of members that act as an interdisciplinary cooperative of business consultants.
CABIN Global Contact: sylvain_henry@yahoo.com
	Business Networking Group designed to create business transactions among its members with a focus on the Culture, Arts, Business and Inspiration of Networks.
Govnetgrp Contact: http://ca.groups.yahoo.com/group/govnetgrp/
	Govnetgrp members are individuals interested in pursuing new career options in the Ottawa area. The Canadian Public Service was the initial focus of the group but other job sectors are now also the subject of frequent discussion. The group meets once every two weeks to share information, ideas and contacts about career search techniques and growth areas in the local job market.
Hire Top Talent (HTT) Contact: http://www.hiretoptalent.com/
	Email communications group moderated by Hire Top Talent. Only HTT job postings allowed.
HTT F-F
	Group of individuals from HTT that meeting in workshops F-F is face to face - complements the virtual HTT email group.
IEEE EiT
	Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers - Engineers in Training - provide support to knowledge workers in Ottawa offering cost effective courses and networking events.
JFC Ottawa Contact: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/JFC-Ottawa/
	JFC-Ottawa is a Yahoo group open to any interested party that has completed the Job Find Club program at any location in the Ottawa region. The Job Finding Club is a three week program managed as an employment service by Tecsult Eduplus Inc. under contract with the Canadian Human Resources Development Corporation. JFC-Ottawa members are alumni of the JFC program who stay in touch by means of the Yahoo email group to share job leads, progress reports other career management related information or announcements.
Kanata Kareer Group (KKG) Contact: http://www.kanatakareergroup.ca/
	Kanata Kareer Group is a volunteer group providing networking and support services to over 470 members. They meet twice a week with speaker sessions and workshops to develop job finding skills. The group also has an active web page and mailing list to post jobs leads, a members skills database and a files section.
Lets Get Working
	Grass roots organization promoting awareness of unemployed high tech workers.
New Frontiers
	New Frontiers is a group of professionals, created two years ago, who meet weekly to share information and advice to support each other in becoming re-employed.
Ottawa Tech Advocates (OTA)
	Ottawa Tech Advocates group’s focus is to advocate changes to improve labour situation.
Ottawa High Tech Contact: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/OttawaHiTech
	Yahoo group for public discussion of the labour market for High Tech workers.
The Ottawa Network / Venture Creation Group TON / VCG Contact: http://www.theottawanetwork.com/
	TON is a networking group for both technical and business professionals to meet and share ideas in seeking out and creating new opportunities while keeping in touch with Ottawa's high-tech community. Their Venture Creation Group (VCG) provides a NDA forum to explore new business ideas.
Ottawa High Tech Jobs - Otthtjobs Contact: http://ca.geocities.com/otthtjobs
	This group is used for distribution of daily emails containing new job postings of high-tech positions in the Ottawa-Gatineau Region found by searching over 1800 job sites.
Perfect Work
	Networking group for individuals looking at career change or setting up a business. Started by graduates of the Find Your Perfect Work career course. Monthly meetings with presenters or focused group discussions.
Software Professionals Society of Canada (SPSC) Contact: http://www.softwareprofessionals.ca
	The SPSC is a non-profit organization operated by software professionals dedicated to providing the best and most versatile resources in assisting the software professional through collaboration and involvement of people in the software industry. We offer community networking, knowledge building, employment, and entrepreneurship services.
TalentNet
	TalentNet is a group of professionals seeking employment. TalentNet was created two years ago. We meet weekly to - share information, share advice, support each other.
The Semiconductor Group (TSG) Contact: semiconductorgroup@sympatico.ca
	The Semiconductor Group (TSG) is a networking group representing experts in the IC/ASIC field. The group is informal, no minutes, no procedures. The goal of TSG is to be a long term networking facility for IC/ASIC experts in Ottawa, not just a temporary support group during the downturn. About 20% of the group has been re-employed. Membership is restricted to people who have been, or currently are, employed in the IC/ASIC field. The group spans all aspects of the IC/ASIC field including design, layout, verification, testing, packaging and CAD tool support.
Wired Women Contact: http://www.wiredwoman.com/mc/page.do?sitePageId=1734
	Incorporated in 1996, the Wired Woman Society (WWS) is a Canadian, registered non-profit society. The society’s mission is to create an open, nurturing, integrity-based environment that encourages women to explore opportunities in technology, science and new media and to build successful careers that will allow them to become a driving force in these growing sectors. Programs and activities support the three core goals of the society: networking, education and mentoring. The Ottawa Chapter, with 50 members and 220 affiliates in 2004, is one of the most active branches of the society.