Looking for a new job is tough. There’s always an element of uncertainty when writing a resume that will rank high on applicant tracking systems (ATS). Resume submissions often go unacknowledged and candidates typically don’t hear from uninterested employers post-interview.
Of course, job candidates should always make an effort to network and to request informational interviews as part of their search. But there’s also something to be said for the opportunity to commiserate with other job seekers over the challenges of looking for a new job as well as networking and comparing notes on what has worked well and what hasn’t for each of you. –This is why you should consider joining a job club.
What Is a Job Club?
The first thing to know about job clubs is that they are not all alike. Some are remote while others may offer in-person meetings in local community spaces like libraries or community centers. Some are informal while others are focused on specific aspects of the job search such as resume writing, mock interviews, coaching and even career skills development.
Members can exchange leads, especially as some job clubs focus on specific industries or a commonality among its membership such as stay-at-home moms reentering the workforce or job seekers over 50.
Certain job clubs might also have hiring managers or recruiters within their ranks. For job seekers, groups that include hiring professionals have obvious advantages as there is a more direct pipeline to the interview and hiring process. Keep in mind that the presence of hiring managers and headhunters may also keep job-seeking members from speaking frankly about their job search experiences.
There are also job clubs that run for a specified period of time and still others that are ongoing. Frequently, the latter make a certain aspect of the job search the group’s entire focus or they’ll dedicate certain segments of time to a specific job-search topic. So that a wide range of relevant issues are covered and members benefit more broadly from their time in the group.
One week or a multi-week period could be devoted to creating a professional LinkedIn profile while the next timeframe will center around informational interviews.
How to Find a Job Club
The reality is that job clubs are not as prolific as job boards like Hcareers.com. But they are definitely out there. You can call your local library or even religious organizations like area churches, synagogues and mosques to see if they might host a regular job club that fits your objectives.
You can also reach out to your local municipality or township in order to get in touch with their workforce division, if one exists. For example, in the Pittsburgh area there’s Partner4Work.org, Kansas City has the Workforcepartnership.com and the Workforce Development Board can be found in the City of Los Angeles. These organizations may have job clubs as part of the services that they offer or they may be able to point you in the direction of job clubs in your area.
Another great source is the Job Club Finder found on the U.S. Department of Labor’s CareerOneSource.org. The website itself is a valuable resource for various training and career development programs, insights into a range of industries and professions and average salary ranges among other things. It also makes finding a job club by location as simple as plugging in a zip code or city and state.
Head over to Meetup.com to join the Career Connect Coffee Club for a virtual option. The group meets every Tuesday and has nearly 1,000 members. Members offer mutual support and help each other market themselves and work on their “elevator pitches.” So if you’re struggling to succinctly answer the question that kicks off most interviews –“tell me about yourself”—this club may be able to help.
Surprisingly, LinkedIn does not host nearly as many job clubs as you might imagine it would. Search “Groups” for “job club” or “job clubs” and you’ll find some. The majority of dedicated to a specific geographic location and the membership numbers are not that high, considering that LinkedIn has more than 810 million users in over 200 countries and territories globally.
If you’re thinking about starting your own virtual job club, consider doing so on LinkedIn. The world’s largest professional network seems to have a bit of a void.