Thanks for visiting my website! My goal is to inspire one million job seekers to not only find a job, but to find one that they love. To book a speaking engagement anywhere in the USA, please call me at 877-436-9086. Let's get your job seekers back to work ASAP!
Past Speaking Engagements
Interviewed on Fox 5 News Live by Diane Macedo about the "Total Career Makeover Contest"
Interviewed several times on Good Morning Connecticut on WTNH Channel 8, an ABC Affiliate
Interviewed on "The Success Show" by Kristi Frank from Season One of The Apprentice
Interviewed on WDIY 88.1 - A Member Station of National Public Radio (NPR)
Interviewed on Valerie's New York on WOR 710AM [audio src="http://aws.staffingsymphony.com/media/valerie-smaldone-2010-06-30-clip-32kbps.mp3"]
Interviewed on WDVR-FM 97.1 on the Stepping Stones show [audio src="http://aws.staffingsymphony.com/media/absolutely-abby-on-wdvr-stepping-stones-2010-11-23.mp3"]
Interviewed on WTOD in Toledo, OH on "Jobs for Candidates Over 50" [audio src="http://aws.staffingsymphony.com/media/abby_job1usa_1560_wtod_(2007-02-25)_clip_32kps.mp3"]
Interviewed on the Joe Franklin Show on Bloomberg Radio WBBR
Invited to guest host HireFriday chat (#HFChat) on Twitter in September 2011
Presented "What Human Resources Managers Need to Do To Keep Their Best Employees from Leaving" at
SHRM Garden State Council - 19th Annual State Conference in 2010
Delaware Valley 2010 HR Summit
Jersey Shore Association of Human Resources in Neptune, NJ
Execusense - the world's largest executive webinar library
Westchester Human Resources Management Association in White Plains, NY
Developed Absolutely Abby's Job Search Success Series, a 10-week teleseminar series, exclusively for The University of Rochester:
The Secret Do's and Don'ts of Job Searching
The Magic of Networking
Using LinkedIn to Create Vital Introductions
Don't Just Think Outside the Box – Think Outside This World
The Top Interview Questions Exposed
Success for the Seasoned Search – the Benefit of Being Called Overqualified
Developing Effective Relationships With Headhunters
Tweeting Your Way to Your Next Job
Bridging the Gap – Returning to the Workforce After Time Away
The Top 10 Things I've Learned Since College
Presented "A Recruiter's Guide to Finding & Landing the Right Job" to students at Rowan University, Rider University, Pennsylvania School of Business, Columbia University, SUNY Old Westbury, and NYU
Presented "The 10 Things I Wish I Knew in High School" to students at Poly Prep in Brooklyn, NY
Keynote Presenter at Rochester's Student Alumni Networking Night – New York, NY
Awarded the "Pinnacle Award" by the Society of Human Resources for presenting on "Social Media Networking Strategies for Success" at "Mission Success", The Ultimate Warrior Career Workshops and Job Fair in Fort Dix, NJ
Moderated a panel for "Recruiter's Night Out" in Rochelle Park, NJ for MIS Network Associates (MNA), IT–Networking, the ETP Network, TENG, The Breakfast Club of NJ, Monmouth Networking, and Careers In Transition (CIT)
Moderated "Hear It From the Source: A Panel of Professional Recruiters" at
Project Ezra Career Event in Teaneck, NJ
Delivered an outplacement program for Bradco Supply Corporation consisting of these modules:
The Do's & Don'ts of Job Searching in 2010
Networking Effectively - Live and Online
Advanced Networking & Social Media
Developed and implemented "Your Career Campaign 2009", a 5 hour conference in NYC attended by 200 job seekers
Contributed to the planning of "Career Planning on a Napkin", a job seeker conference in Stamford, CT
Presented "Using Twitter to Become a Thought Leader in Your Market" at Somerset County Business Partnership in Bridgewater, NJ
Presented "Using Social Media to Build Your Business" at
New Jersey Childcare Association
State Association for Early Childhood Education
Partnership In Education Conference at Raritan Valley Community College
Presented "Interviewing Ingenuity" at St. Matthias Employment Ministry in Somerset, NJ
Presented "What If You Didn't Get the Job" to the Going Places Network at Dress For Success in Newark, NJ
Presented "Where are the jobs and how can you find them?" for the Trinity Temple SDA Church – Workforce Training Series in Newark, NJ
Presented "The Never-Ending Interview" for GetWorks at the Media Presbyterian Church in Media, PA
Presented "How to Be Seen as an Expert Among the Competition" at New Canaan CATS (Career Transition Support) in New Canaan, CT
Presented "Success for the Seasoned Search - The Benefit of Being Overqualified" at
NJ Senior Executives Networking Group (NJ-SENG) – Ridgewood, NJ
Career Planning on a Napkin Conference - Stamford, CT
Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP) - 5th Annual Career Day Forum at Rutgers University
Department of Labor Professional Services Group (PSG) – Somerville & Mercer
Lehigh Valley Professionals Group – Allentown, PA
St. Gregory the Great Networking Group - Hamilton Square, NJ
Career Forum Networking Group - Somerset, NJ
The Breakfast Club – East Brunswick, NJ
Employment Ministry from the Immaculate Conception Church – Somerville, NJ
Creative Maturity Expo at the JCC MetroWest – West Orange, NJ
Maplewood/South Orange Professionals in Transition – Maplewood, NJ
Presented "Don't Just Think Outside the Box – Think Out of This World" at
The Bucks County Job Fair – Washington Crossing, PA
Jewish Family & Vocational Service of Middlesex County - Milltown, NJ
SHRM at Lee Hecht Harrison - Parsippany, NJ
St. Mary's Parish - Middletown, NJ
Temple Community Network - Franklin Lakes, NJ
Bergen Financial Executives Networking Group (FENG) – Ridgewood, NJ
HRMA – the SHRM Princeton Chapter – Princeton, NJ
The Northern Fairfield Professionals Group – Danbury, CT
Employment Ministry of the Immaculate Conception Church of Somerville
PMI-NJ Career Networking Group – Edison, NJ
Trinity Church Jobseekers Group – Princeton, NJ
Community Network of Career Development - Pearl River, NY
St. Thomas Job Seekers Group - Bloomfield, NJ
HR Conference at Rutgers University - UNITY: You Land When Others Don't
Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP) - 4th Annual Career Day Forum at Rutgers University
Greater Philadelphia Senior Executives Group (GPSEG) - Philadelphia, PA
Scotch Plains Library Career Networking Group - Scotch Plains, NJ
Chem Pharma Morristown Chapter - Whippany, NJ
Project Management Job Club of Westchester at the Town of Greenburgh Town Hall - White Plains, NY
Department of Labor Professional Services Group (PSG) - West Caldwell, Dover, Westampton & New Brunswick, NJ
Lehigh Valley Professionals Group - Allentown, PA
Westchester Networking Organization - Chappaqua, NY
Connect to Care Jewish Community Services - Mount Kisco, NY
Edited the career chapters of "Fabulous At Fifty", a book for baby boomers (July 2005)
Developed a career tips section for the Kaplan/Dress for Success website (2004)
Volunteer and Leadership Experience
Career Services Advisory Board Member for Pennsylvania School of Business
Developed and implemented "Your Career Campaign 2009", a conference in NYC attended by 200 job seekers
Host of twice-monthly question and answer conference call for job seekers: CareerWakeupCalls.com
Volunteer at The United Way's Workforce Development Career Fair & Workshop - 2010
Critiqued resumes at the Bucks County Job Fair - 2011
Critiqued resumes at the National Career Fair - NYC, NJ & Pittsburgh, PA - 2010
Critiqued resumes at the Southern New England Chapter of PMI Career Fair - 2010
Alumni Mentor at the University of Rochester's Student–Alumni Networking Night – 2009-2012
Manhattan Networking Leader & Strategic Growth Advisor – HR Whine & Dine Networking Group
Volunteer Mock Interviewer for The Hope Program in Brooklyn, NY – 2008
Participated in the "Walk to Cure Psoriasis" - 2010 - 2011
Volunteer Career Coach at Parsippany Chamber of Commerce Career Fair - 2010
Orchestrated "Take Your Daughters to Work Day" at Kaplan, Inc., The Economist, Alpharma, and LEO Pharma
Volunteered for holiday events at Maplewood Women's Club & South Mountain YMCA – 2006-2010
Volunteered for New York Cares – painted schools in Harlem - 2005
Licensed foster care provider – 2005-2011
Long Island Women's Table Tennis Champion – 1993
Last Updated on Saturday, 31 December 2011 14:18
Drawn from my 15 years of experience and research in recruiting and Human Resources, my blog posts are intended to provide insight into what corporate recruiters and Human Resource professionals look for when they are evaluating your qualifications. Simply reading these blogs will not guarantee you success. However, consistently applying the strategies mentioned, as well as developing your own personal interview style, will greatly enhance your chances of victory amidst the competition. I wish you the best of luck with your search as you begin to take charge of your career!
