Toastmasters provides tools to boost your career 

News from Toastmasters International

RANCHO SANTA MARGARITA, Calif., Jan. 18, 2010 – It’s the new year and you’ve made your annual list of resolutions. Perhaps you’re trying to eat healthier. Or spend less time in front of the TV. Or maybe you’d like to boost your career. Toastmasters International, a thriving organization with 250,000 members in 106 countries, can help you develop the communication and leadership skills needed to reach this goal. 

To get promoted, you may need to become a better presenter and more confident team leader. You may need the ability to talk and answer questions off the cuff. If you want to land a good position, you’ll need job interviewing skills. All these skills can be learned in the supportive setting of a local Toastmasters meeting.

When Oregon resident Gary Schmidt joined Toastmasters, he was an unemployed college graduate who, in his own words, performed poorly in job interviews. He had difficulty expressing himself effectively. Toastmasters training helped him so much that after only six weeks, he was offered a job on the staff of then-United States Senator Mark Hatfield of Oregon. He worked for Senator Hatfield and then for U.S. Senator Gordon Smith, also of Oregon – all while advancing his communication and leadership skills as a Toastmaster. Today, Schmidt is the organization’s International President. 

“I credit Toastmasters for my continued personal growth and development, which has led to job promotions and increased responsibilities at work,” Schmidt says.  

Many more people have enjoyed career boosts with the help of Toastmasters:  

•  When Ann Maxfield applied for the job of e-Learning Coordinator at Hormel Foods Corporation in Minnesota, one of the requirements was being able to speak in front of large groups. Her experience as a Toastmaster was pivotal to her getting the job. “I hit a home run in the job world, and Toastmasters played a huge role in that success,” says Maxfield.
• When Jim Bresler changed jobs at Microsoft, from being software engineer to program manager, he had to interact more with customers and assume a managerial role with colleagues. “I think talking confidently to co-workers is very important, and Toastmasters helped me a lot with that,” says Bresler.
• The impromptu-speaking skills that Kealah Parkinson learned in Toastmasters helped her ace an on-the-spot job interview, earning her an opportunity to teach a class for job hunters at a regional adult education center.  

If your goal in 2010 is to grow professionally, Chua Chu Kang CC Toastmasters Club, which meets at Chua Chu Kang Community Club, Conference Room, on 2^nd Thursday of the month at 730pm can help you achieve it.  Membership is an investment that can pay off in career advancement.    

For enquiry please email: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

News from Toastmasters International and release by Eugene Chai Yenyend, Vice President Public Relations, This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it  

On 22 August 2009, we had our Humorous Speech Contest and Evaluation Speech Contest in the club.  A total of 9 contestants were competing in both events.  After two and half hours of enjoyable speeches, the winners have emerged as:

• Humorous Speech Contest Champion:   Georgina Aw
• Evaluation Contest Champion:   Jave Zhou

Congratulations to both contestants and they will be representing Choa Chu Kang Toastmasters Club to compete in the Area level on 26 Sep 2009 at Grassroot club. Our sincere appreciation and special thanks to all our Contestants, Judges, Test Speaker, Governer, Guests, and Appointment Holders including Master Trainer, Contest Advisor for making this event a very successful one.  They are (not in order): Sajeewa Silva, Eugene Chai Yenyend, Stanley Goh & his team of judges, Joyce Xu, Md Ridzuan, Melvina Khoo, Kong Xie Heng, Antonia Beetsma, Michael Chen, Lim Swee Mee, Boey Tien Seng, Danny Ong, Pauline Lim, Simon Kong, Yap Jun Lin, Raja Kumar, Ng Kwee Choo.  Not forgetting you, for taking time off and being such a wonderful audience.

• Check our photos out
• Our Surprise Guest Star Appearance