In our Business Matters series, we explore the many ways the library can help boost your business and your professional profile.
Growing and running a business is hard work, but at the library, we strive to make it easier by connecting you with mentors and teaching you how to hire top talent.
New! Small Business Mentoring Service
Get invaluable business advice from experienced professionals...for free! The library is launching a new one-on-one mentoring service for local small businesses and entrepreneurs in collaboration with SCORE, a not-for-profit small business mentoring organization with more than 320 chapters and 11,000 volunteer mentors nationwide. Through this new mentoring service, SCORE volunteers --current and retired business owners and executives--offer local small business owners and entrepreneurs this free and confidential service to help them start and grow their business.
Beginning January 10, mentoring is available on the second and fourth Wednesday of each month from 6:30-8:30pm. You can sign up for an appointment online at ScoreChicago.org. There are two, one-hour time slots per evening: one at 6:30pm and one at 7:30pm.
Case Study: Meet Tanner Morris, Recruiter
For Tanner Morris, the Northbrook Public Library offers a constructive space to focus on his business.
“I regularly use the library for research and for the study rooms,” he said.
As a technical recruiter for IBM, Tanner also relies on the library’s resources to conduct in-depth research on hiring trends and job market conditions. He’s spent the last five years studying the hiring process by studying resumes, interview best practices, and working with more than a hundred hiring managers to gain their insights.
“[His work involves] consulting them on the best practices on hiring top talent, including how to write a more effective job description and how to interview candidates,” he said.
Even as Tanner uses library resources for his work, he’s also been a contributor to library patrons. In March of 2017, he taught a course on climbing the corporate ladder. More recently in November of 2017, he taught job-seeking patrons how to successfully navigate interviews by learning how to prepare for them and engage with interviewers.
On Tuesday, January 23, 2018, Tanner will offer his expertise for small business owners in Hiring Top Talent for Your Business. If your company plans to hire new employees this year, save the date for Tanner's discussion!
