People looking for jobs find support with each other

Job Seekers Group provides forum for discussing strategies and sharing leads

By Barb Randall

Pamplin Media Group, Jul 16, 2009, Updated Oct 30, 2009

JONATHAN HOUSE / Pamplin Media Group

David Skidmore (left), Mark Ross, Scott Edwards, Colette Belusko and Dave Belusko chat during a small group exercise at Marylhurst University's Job Search Support Group.

Believe it or not, the unemployed have some things to be thankful for – and on top of the list is Marylhurst University’s Job Seekers Group.

The Job Seekers Group has met Mondays since February, offering participants an opportunity to re-create themselves while learning to stay balanced and focused as they move through the process of finding meaningful work. Lynn Brown, the university’s director of career services, and Meagan Lawler, clinical psychologist and specialist in career transitions, came up with the idea of the support group as a public service for the community. They faithfully facilitate the two-hour weekly sessions, with an average attendance of 30 people.

About a half-dozen people are “early attendees” and new people come each week. Brown and Lawler present material or plan for guest speakers for each meeting, which always includes time for members to check in on the progress and successes made during the week.

“We spend a lot of time dealing with the emotional aspects of job loss,” Brown said. “And we give people specific tools for getting back in the work force.”

Participants work on skills such as writing résumés, interviewing and preparing “elevator” speeches – quick, 30-second speeches intended to make an introduction and impression.

Guest speakers are brought in about every other week, to give participants information about local economic conditions and other particulars that affect job seekers. One recent guest speaker was Tim Priest, president of Green Light Portland, reporting on the economic conditions in the Portland area.

Sharing knowledge and job leads

But the largest benefit for those who attend the meetings comes from group members themselves. Formerly employed as salesmen, administrative assistants, marketing gurus, bankers, biotech engineers, chemists, property managers, construction workers and the whole gamut of occupations, they have a wealth of knowledge, experience and empathy to share. Compassion and encouragement electrify the air, bolstering individuals to tackle the tiring work of looking for work.

“This group is so helpful for all of us,” said David Skidmore, an early attendee of JSG. “We all leave feeling better and refreshed.”

Brown noted some participants have found jobs through leads provided by the group. Several reported receiving third interviews or expecting to hear of a final decision “that week.”

Group members agreed that the key to a successful job search was networking, networking and more networking. It is not uncommon for job seekers to attend several networking groups during the course of a week. One member said that attending each week was also crucial to moving ahead. Missing a week of group support – especially on Monday – affected the progress she made.

Even though encouragement fills the air, some members are naturally discouraged and even admit to giving up looking for a job.

Several acknowledged that it took many applications to generate a reply. One woman said she sent out 300 applications, received 30 replies and had been granted three interviews. The group’s collective groan was loud and clear: This is arduous work.

1 | 2 Next Page >>

Facebook	Digg	Del.icio.us
Newsvine	Stumbleupon	Reddit