Tag Archives: LinkedIn

2,000 Members and Counting…City Clerk Cafe

By Black Mountain Software | Published August 4, 2014

city_clerk_coloredWhere can you learn about storage apps such as Dropbox, gather tips for taking minutes, and exchange stories from the frontline of a City Clerk?  You can do all this (and more!) on the The City Clerk Cafe on LinkedIn.  And that’s probably why so many city clerks–2,000-plus actually–have joined this LinkedIn group.

The City Clerk Cafe has thousands of members from all around the country, giving clerks the opportunity to connect, network, and brainstorm together in an organized forum.  It also allows members to track discussions, search for jobs, ask questions, share advice, and get updates on the latest seminars and conferences.  And the best part is you can choose the frequency and depth of the updates you receive straight to your work Inbox by customizing your settings and choosing the conversations you subscribe to. Read more >

Posted in Best Practices, City Clerk Cafe, Small Cities, Technology | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

City Clerk Cafe on LinkedIn Has 1,000 Members

By Black Mountain Software | Published July 16, 2013

Where can you contemplate the pros and cons of going paperless, exchange procedure manuals, and exchange stories from the frontline of a City Clerk?  You can do all this (and more!) on the The City Clerk Cafe on LinkedIn.  If it matters to you, it’s probably on the City Clerk Cafe!

The City Clerk Cafe, which now boasts over 1,000 members from all around the country, gives clerks the opportunity to connect, network, and brainstorm together in an organized forum.  You can track discussions, search for jobs, ask questions, share advice, and get updates on the latest seminars and conferences.  And the best part is you can choose the frequency and depth of the updates you receive straight to your work Inbox by customizing your settings and choosing the conversations you subscribe to. Read more >

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Making a Flexible, Alternative, or Compressed Schedule “Work”

By Black Mountain Software | Published June 17, 2013

Flextime, compressed work schedules, telecommuting, and working from home have always been championed by workers, and scrutinized by management.  But after Yahoo! CEO Marissa Mayer took only two weeks maternity leave, then abolished working from home for Yahoo! employees, it seems work/life balance practices are being probed even more, despite the uprising of technologies and systems that make flexible and alternative work situations easier than ever to employ.

So how does an employee or manager successfully implement an alternative work schedule or flexible hours so both employee and employer benefit?  First, an approach must be defined, then the benefits and disadvantages weighed, and finally, a policy must be implemented. Read more >

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City Clerk Salary: How Much Money Does a City Clerk Make?

By Black Mountain Software | Published March 11, 2013

How Much Money Does a City Clerk Make (City Clerk Salary Infographic)Last month, we asked our blog readers and members of our LinkedIn Group, The City Clerk Cafe, to participate in a city clerk salary survey to find out how much city clerks get paid. We wanted to paint an accurate picture of how much money a city clerk employee actually makes. We asked our over 700 Clerk Café members to participate, and that’s exactly what they did!

What we found was very interesting!

What didn’t surprise us:

  • City clerks have girl power. Of those who responded, 80 percent were female.  Despite a world where gender roles are changing, it seems the role of the city clerk employee still mostly belongs to the women.
Read more >
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Putting Social Media into Practice – What You Need to Do First

By Black Mountain Software | Published February 18, 2013

Welsh Assembly Government 28.03.2011

Government Technology Today acknowledges that local governments participating in social media is one of the biggest trends in government technology for 2013.  More and more local governments are finding that utilizing social media for public outreach is not only effective in getting the word out, it also leads to positive interaction between government and constituents.

A note of caution, however: deciding to put social media into practice without thoughtful planning and execution can alter the outcome.

Opening up the channels of communication between government and constituents can be a little scary, time consuming, and overwhelming if the appropriate amount of planning isn’t done prior to implementing your social media efforts.  Here are a few things your organization should think about before opening social media accounts on behalf of your city, county, or agency. Read more >

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Job Search Tips: Getting Noticed to Get Hired

By Black Mountain Software | Published February 4, 2013

In our LinkedIn Group, the City Clerk Cafe, we’ve noticed more than a few clerks with the same problem: lots of clerk experience, great skill sets, but no job.

Whether you are looking for a new job in a new town, or looking to advance your career within your current office, it pays to know what employers are looking for, and what it takes to get noticed!

Based on our own hiring experience, and some tips we acquired along the way through the City Clerk Cafe’, we’ve put together a list of what it takes for job candidates to get noticed–and hired! Read more >

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Rules of Engagement for Social Media on Government Time

By Black Mountain Software | Published October 15, 2012

Social Media Outposts

Earlier this year, we talked about how 60 percent of government workers are using social media, 40 percent find it useful in their jobs, and 63 percent have access to it at their work.  And since we are nearing the 500-member mark on our LinkedIn resource page—the City Clerk Café—it is no surprise to us that there is a time, and a place, for social media in the government.

But whether you are a beginner, or well-versed in social media, you have probably had questions from time to time about how to engage in social media, and what the appropriate etiquette is for this new media. Read more >

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Can’t Get Enough? Join the City Clerk Cafe!

By Black Mountain Software | Published August 20, 2012

Recently, we saw this post on a listserv we subscribe to:

“I was just on the blackmountainsoftware.com website.  They have a blog format for city clerks across the country,  City Clerk Café   I know we are all busy [but] if you have a few free moments it may be worth perusing from time to time…Thanks BMS for another tool!”

Thanks Julie Lazaro! We really appreciate the kind words about our blog!  At the same time, we wanted to let our blog readers know about another resource available to them: The City Clerk Cafe on LinkedIn. The City Clerk Cafe, which was launched earlier this year, has become an exciting and informative place for clerks all around the US to gather and discuss topics close to them.  Unsure about whether the City Clerk Cafe is the right place for you?  Check out these common questions about the Clerk Cafe, and decide for yourself! Read more >

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