The Chicago Nerd Social Club is joining Tech Karaoke Chicago for an evening of  tone-deaf signing, crowd pleasing anthems, and of course Rick-Rolling.

When: Thursday, February 11, 2010 – 7:30pm-11:00pm

Where: Trader Todd’s – 3216 N. Sheffield Chicago, IL 60657

RSVP:

Andy Lester the author of “Land the Tech Job You Love“ will be giving his talk “Effective Interviewing from Both Sides of the Desk.”  After the presentation Andy will be giving away a copy of his book and we will join TechThursdays@OfficePort, a weekly get-together where entrepreneurs, developers, new media types—and just plain people—can connect over a beer.

About the Presentation:

Interviews have too long been treated like interrogations, probing and testing candidates like they were fruit at a grocer. Effective interviewing reframes the interview as what it really is: the candidate’s first day on the job.

For job-seekers, topics include:

• How to prepare an effective portfolio that says more than words about your skills.
• Your primary goal at the interview.
• Using the power of stories to tell what self-description cannot.
• Understanding the process through the interviewer’s eyes.
• How to turn the interview into a working meeting.
• Five dreaded questions you must be able to answer, and how to answer them without fear.

For managers, you’ll learn:

• Effective pre-interview research
• How to increase your chances of choosing the best candidate.
• Increase your odds in judging cultural fit.
• Why you must ask the dreaded questions like “Where do you want to be in five years,” and how to ask them without asking them.

When: Thursday, January 21, 2010 – (lecture) 5:45pm – 7:00pm  (TECHThursdays) 7:00pm-8:30pm

Where: OfficePortCHI – 9 W. Washington, 4th Floor, Chicago, IL

Cost: Free – You must RSVP

The Video Game Committee of the Chicago Nerd Social Club is proud to announce our inaugural event, a video game LAN party.  We will be playing Left 4 Dead 2 on the gaming PCs so choose your side, Survivors or Infected!  If that doesn’t interest you we will also have the Rock Band Studio available on a 120″ projector screen

Now, look left, strafe right, crouch, and then RSVP below.  We do encourage you to arrive on time so we can get you into a game.

When: Sunday, January 17th, 2010 – 4:00pm-7:30pm

Where: Ignite Network 3171 N. Clybourn, Chicago, IL

Cost: $10 for 3 hours, or $4.00 an hour (to be paid onsite to Ignite Network)

Interested in helping to plan future video game events?  Email rachel[at]chicagonerds.com

SocialDevCamp Chicago is the unconference for social application and platform developers, evangelists, and enthusiasts.  SocialDevCamp Chicago is for anyone passionate about the development and implementation of social applications, platforms, APIs, mobile, identity management, and new media. This year’s event includes two days of developer-centric sessions surrounding trends in social applications, platforms, APIs, apps, business cases, and social culture.  SocialDevCamp Chicago is also featuring a Hackathon Contest, encouraging developers to construct their own social app over the weekend, either solo or as a team.  Prizes will be awarded by a panel of local judges near the conclusion of the event.  Join some of the brightest minds in the Midwest for a weekend of fun, learning, and coding!

SocialDevCamp Chicago is a participant-driven event held in the spirit of BarCamp.  Attendees are expected to contribute in some manner – whether speaking, coding in the Hackathon, volunteering, fostering discussion or spreading the word.

When: November 7 & 8, 2009 – 9:00 am – 6:00 pm

Where: Illinois Institute of Technology, McCormick Tribute Center – 3201 S. State Street, Chicago, IL 60616

More Information: http://barcamp.pbworks.com/SocialDevCampChicago

Fellow Chicago Nerd Zach Schneider is going to be teaching web design/programming classes at Pumping Station: One.  The classes are free (donations are always accepted) and are a great way to get started in web design or to brush up on your skillz.

The first two classes have been announced and they will be:

• Introduction to HTML and CSS – October 7th @ 8pm
• HTML Elements and Attributes – October 14th @ 8pm

Pumping Station: One is located at 3354 N. Elston, Chicago, IL

ThinkGeek  is in Chicago for a few days and they would like to hang out with some local nerds.  Join Thinkgeek and some of the Chicago Nerd Social Club organizers tonight to hang out with Timmy the monkey and wet  your whistle with a drink or two.  Hope to see you there!

Where: The Clark Street Ale House – 742 N. Clark Street, Chicago, IL

When: Thursday, September 24, 2009 – 10:30pm-?

photo credit: Anne Petersen

Pumping Station: One is hosting a Hackathon for computer nerds to come and bring your latest project and power through it amongst others that can provide assistance and/or inspiration.  The event is free and open to the public.

When: Saturday, September 26, 2009 – 8:00pm-12:00am

Where: Pumping Station: One, 3354 N. Elston Ave, Chicago, IL 60618

Cost: Free

A good friend of the Chicago Nerd Social Club, Adria Richards, is hosting a webinar for any nerd or geek thinking of starting their own company.  With lots of nerds out of work, this is a great time to become your own boss and follow your entrepreneurial dream.

Adria is being joined by Chris Pirillo of Lockergnome and Gnomedex to share his insights.

When: Thursday, September 24, 2009 – 7:00pm-9:00pm

Tickets: $35 (plus EventBrite processing fee)

Win one of 2 FREE tickets to the Webinar! To win, from Twitter send out a message declaring what kind of nerd you are, making sure to include @chicagonerds in the message.  Winners will be notified from the @chicagonerds account (so please make sure you are following us) via a direct message containing information on obtaining their free ticket.

This webinar will cover:

• What it takes to become self employed
• Setting goals and how to to stay on task
• Recruiting mentors
• Creating a company brand that sets you apart from the crowd
• Identify your customer base or niche
• Do you need a logo?
• What’s a good business name?
• Developing your business network
• Your 30 second pitch
• Finding clients
• Networking for Geeks
• Time tracking
• Invoicing clients
• Why contracts are essential
• PR and exposure to build your credibility

Specific Challenges When You’re a Geek Starting a Company:

• Feeling uncomfortable in groups
• Difficulting promoting yourself
• Matching socks
• When “not” to talk about geek stuff
• Finding unlikely allies

You’ll Leave With:

• New communication skills to help you close with new leads
• Dozens of tips, tricks and exercises to use when starting your business
• Better understanding of common pitfalls new entrepreneurs encounter
• A list of essential business people you need to start your business
• Outline of milestone items you can use to setup your goals
• A sense of relief you don’t have to start from scratch
• Resources online you can turn to for encouragement and guidance

The next likemind will be Friday, August 21, 2009 in dozens of cities around the world including Chicago.  Host Mike Maddaloni calls likemind a gathering of “creative-minded people, from various disciplines including Internet, advertising, art, social media, et. al.” 

When: Friday, August 21st  8:00am-10:00am

Where: Argo Tea, 140 S. Dearborn Street, Chicago, IL

No RSVP is necessary but you are welcome to join the likemind Chicago Facebook group

Computer Nerd Chris Kusek is offering Microsoft Discount Vouchers for 20% off Microsoft Certification Exams and has was nice enough to give the Chicago Nerd Social Club voucher codes to distribute as well.

The vouchers are redeemable for one Microsoft Certification Exam delivered at an Authorized Prometric Testing Center™. You must take your Microsoft Certification Exam prior to June 30, 2010.

To receive your voucher code send an email to: rachel@chicagonerds.com.