18 • Go where the workers go to socialize for an early-morning or late-afternoon cup of coffee • Talk to the people who work for you such as health care workers, police officers, hair stylists and others who come into contact with large numbers of people • Keep cards with you at all times; have them with you when you go to the grocery store, go to pick up your children or any other place you routinely visit • Give cards to family members and friends to share with their contacts; everyone is a potential contact for a future job or career JOB CLUBS Finding a job can be a very difficult process, especially in a competitive economy where there are many jobseekers competing for each position. One way to get help with your job search is to join a job club. A job club is for a group of people who are each looking for a new job and meet regularly to help each other in doing so. Job clubs offer tools for a successful job search, including networking, social media training and direct access to employers seeking qualified employees. In addition, many faith-based and secular job clubs offer much more: fellowship, encouragement and spiritual or emotional support. Having support from your peers can help keep you motivated and reinforces the feeling that you are not alone in your search. With a job club, you are joining a support system of jobseekers who can push each other toward successful employment. Members leave the club when they have successfully completed the hiring process and are then encouraged to share their successes with the group. PURPOSE OF A JOB CLUB • Peer support • Coping with job loss • Removing employment barriers • Networking • Job searching • Building skills OTHER NAMES FOR A JOB CLUB • Professional Opportunity Development Workgroup • Jobseeker Networking Support • Job Search Networking Group • Career Networking or Networking Club • Employment Network or Job Searching Club • Job Finding Club INFORMATIONAL INTERVIEWS An informational interview is one in which you can explore a specific job, company or career field with a professional to get feedback. You can get feedback about your resume and career direction or get suggestions how to further explore your desired career field. It’s also a form of networking. You will be in a much better position if you take the initiative and ask questions about the position. Compare your background and strengths and how they match the job requirements. You may not be meeting with a person who can hire you, but take the meeting seriously. Focus your efforts on information gathering and exploration. Keep in mind that the company might be your future employer. MAKING A CONTACT A networking email message, phone call or letter has one purpose: to introduce (or reintroduce) you to a contact who you hope may have some useful information or advice to help you get the job you want. Many networking contacts ask for an informational interview. The following is a list of sample situations when you would use a letter as part of your networking: 1. You have met someone either at a networking event or in an informal setting and you would like to meet with them again to talk to them in more detail.
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