PAPEN

PAPEN (Pennsylvania Professional Employment Network) is a Pittsburgh-based networking organization that helps Participants advance their careers. The group consists of 1,700 professionals, managers and executives committed to:

• Fostering networks of personal contacts and relationships.
• Providing an environment where Participants can develop and perfect their networking skills.
• Sharing career-related experiences, strategies and knowledge.
• Uncovering career opportunities that may be of interest to other Participants.

We are an informal nonprofit organization that only exists to benefit its Participants and the community. Our funding comes from donations.

We started in 1992 as a networking group for unemployed white collar workers, but today our focus is on career advancement for everyone, whether unemployed, underemployed, or employed and moving ahead. Today, most new Participants come into PAPEN when they are unemployed, or when that possibility is on their horizon. When they find a new or better job, many of them stay involved for the benefit it brings to their careers.

Most of our Participants work in professional, managerial, or technical fields, but no one is turned away. Most of our Participants have ten or more years of experience, but some are students or recent graduates. All of our Participants either live in the Pittsburgh area or are interested in moving here, and all of our Participants believe in the power of networking.

HOW TO JOIN

If you are (or want to be) a professional person living in Western Pennsylvania, you can benefit greatly by joining PAPEN. A donation of only $10 is recommended, and you can sign up at any meeting. If you don't presently live in the area, you can join by mail. The benefits start immediately, and by attending meetings regularly, you will make dozens of valuable contacts. One of them might lead to your next move forward.

To join, just fill out a Participant Contact Application. You can also download an application as a Word file.

PAPEN has IRS 501c3 status therefore your donation may be tax deductible.