Why your peers should join the user group that has served HP Software, HPE Software and now Micro Focus Software members since 1993? Well, there are a lot of reasons that end-users and partners came together to support the sustainability of these enterprise-class solutions and career paths of its members.
Local User Group (LUG) Meetings
One of the key reasons members find Vivit so valuable is their local user group meetings. Attending Vivit LUG meetings can have many benefits for both you and your employer. Not all necessary skills and knowledge are gained simply from job experience and education alone. In addition to on-the-job training, an employee will garner much-needed information from experts in the field and in turn add value to their employer when they apply the new skills. As an employer, the investment in your employee’s skills and training will give you an invaluable return on investment.
Gain New Knowledge
In the typical Vivit LUG event, you will learn something new at every meeting. At these events, Micro Focus will speak about software updates, and end-users share real-world experiences with the technology. Micro Focus partners share use case scenarios. Just remember: A knowledgeable employee is a valuable employee.
Networking
Our members are people who are using similar software as you. After all, everyone is attending the same meetings to get the same information. Don’t be afraid to exchange contact information and stay in touch. Whether your LUG focuses on ITOM, ADM, Security or Big Data, it is part of a larger community of peers. By networking, you can help your peers in more ways than you may think, and vice versa.
Free Food and/or Swag
While the main purpose of the meetings is the information presented, there are often bonuses for attending. Vivit LUG events provide food and possibly swag as give ways to attendees. It can sometimes be difficult to spend the little free time you have attending Vivit LUG meetings. Sometimes a slice of pizza or a free book can make it an easier decision.
Ask Questions and Get Answers
One of the big benefits of attending a live presentation is that you can interact with the presenters and the audience. Many times, I have heard difficult questions asked of the presenter, and the answers provided by audience members who understand the environment even better than the presenter does. Remember, many attendees are probably in the same field as you and have many years’ experience with the solution. Vivit LUGs will offer you great resources.
Find a Job
If your company has moved away from a Micro Focus solution, I highly suggest being part of Vivit LUG near you. Not only are you gaining information that makes you more marketable, but other members may be looking to hire someone just like you.
Find a Candidate
Though we do not consider a Vivit LUG meeting as a place to find future employees, Vivit member companies may be looking to augment their staff with new projects. It is an excellent pool of highly qualified candidates who tend to be of a higher caliber. User group members tend to be the type of people who always want to go above and beyond to expand their knowledge and capabilities.
Build Friendships
As you attend more Vivit LUG meetings, you tend to see the same people and build friendships that go beyond your technology interests. You will meet interesting people from all walks of life. You may even run into one unexpectedly at another event you are attending alone, which can make the event even better.
Become a More Rounded Employee
Every employer wants employees who are willing to go the extra mile. In the technology world, things are constantly changing. By talking to other user group attendees, you just may find that others have implemented processes that you never even considered. I always love to hear how others have come up with a great solution thinking outside the box.
If you have the time and ability, volunteer some of your time to help with your LUG, or with an event. It is a great way to meet people and learn along the way. It also looks great on your resume.
Learn How to Be at the Top 1% of Your field
Like I said before, group members tend to be the type of people who always want to go above and beyond to expand their knowledge and capabilities. In any technology field, complacency does not lead to a prosperous career. To be the best we can be, we must learn, learn, and learn some more. Talk to other attendees to find out what they do to stay ahead of the curve. Everyone learns differently, so try everything and find what works best for you. In most cases, your company has invested hundreds of thousands of dollars in a solution for you to support the organization, take advantage of the situation and learn as much as you can.
As you can see, attending Vivit LUG meetings not only benefits yourself as a professional but is also a big benefit to employers. Participate in your local user group meetings, learn something new, and make some friends in the process. If you are a veteran in the field, I highly encourage you to consider becoming a leader in the user group community. It is hard to beat the great feeling of helping others learn and grow. I know, I did it for close to 20 years in Michigan and Ohio.
Today, more and more employers are pushing their employees to be in the public eye (i.e., social media). Along with all the benefits of attending user group meetings mentioned in this blog, becoming a leader in the user group community can provide certain credibility that is otherwise difficult to obtain.
To ensure all customers can participate in a network of vibrant, meaningful, and growing user group communities, Vivit has LUGs all over the world and will continue to support Micro Focus solutions as customers get involved. We are always looking for Vivit leaders to support the solutions of our members at the local levels as well as our virtual special interest group.
Not a member? Join today!
