[KIT-list] IMPORTANT: I’ll be closing the KIT List in February

Friday, January 20, 2023

My dear friends in the KITList Community,
 
With heartfeltgratitude and a deep appreciation for each of youin this remarkable community, I want to let you know that I'll be closing the bookon this amazing KIT List adventure in February. I'll keep the job postings going until then, and will be sending a few more personal emails out to all of you.

 

After 25 1/2 years, Iwant to thank you all for being a part of this unique community that grew to over72,000 top professionals. The magic of the KIT List was the simple power offriends helping friends. The KIT List wouldn't have become a way to help greatpeople find great jobs without YOU, and the ripple effect of good that's createdby simply helping a friend or stranger.

 

I've had the honor of meeting many of you in person over theyears and connecting by email or phone. I've been touched by the quiet courageand heroism of so many who lost their jobs but had families depending upon them– often in very adverse situations like a dying spouse, a sick child, or somespecial need that made their burden particularly heavy. Yet their spirit ofhopefulness, and the desire to do whatever they could to provide for theirfamilies kept me inspired to keep the KIT List going during the many times overthe years I just wanted to close everything down.

 

 

A Time for SomethingNew

Now that there are somany strong job search and career platforms, the KIT List has served its missionand purpose.

 

I've been hoping to dedicate my time to some new things thathave been on my heart for a long time. It'll be involving creativity and kids,who are our hope and future! I've also been winding down the KIT List for thepast few years since I haven't had the bandwidth that it demands.

 

I originally planned toclose the KIT List in early 2020 – but then COVID hit the whole world. So, Ididn't feel I could close the community in good conscience when so many wereout of work during such unprecedented times. That's when my sister andco-moderator, Kelly, and I created videos to encourage everyone, and providetips via interviews with hiring experts on how to get a job during a worldwidepandemic. The links to the "The Corona Videos" series are in the Resources sectionbelow.

 

 

A Bit of Background

In case you don't know our story, I had no idea what I'daccidentally started in 1997 with my simple "Keep in Touch" email list with myfriends at SGI. Had I known what it would entailback in 1997… I would have run for the hills! But I really believe it was God'sidea since I never intended to start anything like this. As friends told otherfriends about the KIT List, it grew to what I jokingly call "72,000 of myclosest friends!" But once it took a life of its own, I just wanted to be agood caretaker of this unique community (that predated LinkedIn and the big jobplatforms).

 

We estimate that over135,000 people have been a part of the KIT List community as people unsubscribedover the years as they found jobs, then returned when they were looking again.

 

It really meant a lotto hear from many of you when you got a job, and how heartening to hear that manyof you landed multiple jobs from the KIT List! Someone recently told me thatthey'd landed four jobs over the years! It was so fantastic to hear from so manyrecruiters and employers that the KIT List community was their "secret sauce"for finding top candidates.

 

 

My Dad was the Real Inspirationfor the KIT List

It was actually my Dadwho modeled the spirit of helping many friends by keeping in touch over theyears through phone calls, helping them find jobs, making hospital visits, or asending handwritten card of encouragement. I still treasure his many notes tome, and they perk me up whenever I feel down! I wrote a tribute to him in myblog, which I'm SO grateful that I did since he died suddenly just a few weekslater. Here's the link to "The Man Who Inspired the KIT List"
https://kitlist.wordpress.com/?s=man+who+inspired

 

 

Resources for JobSearch Will Remain Up:

Over the years, we'vehad many free events with panels of career experts, plus special"FriendWorking" events to learn a warmer and better way of networking where youcome with the idea of helping others first. We had hundreds turn out mostevents!

 

I've also tried toshare encouragement and job tips (as well as the life lessons I was learning!)with our community over the years through my email messages to the entire list,and later through the blog posts. I'll keep the blog up so people can accessthose tips and resources. Also, I was invited to have a KIT List show on alocal TV station a few years back. I'll keep those shows up since the interviewsand inside scoop from the hiring experts remain very relevant. In fact, I receivedemails from people saying they watched them prior to job interviews – and LANDEDTHE JOB!

 

KIT List Resources tohelp you find a job you'll love:

·       KIT List Blog

https://kitlist.wordpress.com/



·       KIT List "Get ThatJob!" TV Shows – inside tips on job interviews and career strategies fromhiring experts

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL47LpytMIxu4a8n48lQpd-Wkfh5tC7ns1



·       KIT List "CoronaVideos" – interviews of recruiters and employers on how to get a job in apandemic or any difficult economic time
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeDHQ5iifVPYdWj7uyB7J7Q

 

 

A Heartfelt Thank You!

It's been an honor andprivilege to serve this wonderful community. I'm so very grateful to the peoplewho stepped up to volunteer their time to help me when the workload becameoverwhelming.

As the KIT List grew so quickly, I struggled to work on theKIT List in the late-night hours after I'd finished my own marketing consultingwork (my paid job!). Some very special people stepped forward to volunteertheir help when I was hitting the proverbial wall.

 

I want to thank Val Cienega, whom I hadn't met at the time,but was a member of the KIT List community who came forward to volunteer as amoderator for many years! My dear friend from SGI, Amy Sloniker Plunkett, alsopitched in and helped with the sheer volume of work needed to moderate and keepour community free of spammers and protect it from those wanting to exploitthis large community. Then my wonderful sister, Kelly Connelly, joined in aswell. Each of these gifted people had their own MORE than full time "real jobs"and helped in their spare time. I am deeply grateful to them!

 

Sometimes the bestthings in life are the unexpected ones. The KIT List was a surprise to me – andit took a life of its own thanks to each of you spreading the word to help yourfriends and colleagues.

 

The spirit of the KITList is due largely to YOU. Your kindness and helping others will continue andgrow in other wonderful ways. Thank you forbeing a part of the KIT List family!

 

Although the KIT List is officially closing in February, thepower of helping others keeps growing as a force for good as you continue to shareyour gifts in our world.

 

Thank you for enriching my life in more ways than you willever know,

 

Sue

 

 

Your KIT List Founder

sue@kitlist.org
http://www.KITlist.org


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