Are you looking for a creative way of building your business brand while growing your client base?

Freddie Cheek from Cheek & Cristantello graciously provided the following forms on starting and administering a job-search club, which is a great technique for anyone looking to draw additional attention to their resume-writing business and help jobseekers simultaneously.

The appeal of job-search clubs is the ability to market your weekly or month job-search meetings for FREE within area business journals and area newspapers.

This offers you additional exposure for your job-search club!

Newspaper editors conduct only basic editing when posting such notices, so integrating your company name and phone number into the weekly meeting listing can provide a nice push of new attendees to your job club … and potentially a fair number of business prospects too!

To implement such a program, I suggest contacting Mrs. Cheek for guidance.

Reading the following forms, you’ll immediately recognize she’s a master at organizing job clubs. Her contact information is reflected in the contributor’s section at the tail end of this book.

Example News Announcement to Local Media

Cheek & Cristantello Career Connections is holding a Job Club for unemployed or underemployed jobseekers. The Job Club, which meets weekly, Tuesdays from 3-5 PM, offers participants an opportunity to share concerns and progress, learn job-hunting tips and techniques and gain encouragement and motivation. Call Freddie Cheek, 839-3635, for information.

Example Description of Job-Search Support Group

“That’s What Friends Are For”

Objectives:

1. Provide emotional support and tools/techniques during the job search.

2. Develop job search objectives, goals and skills.

3. Cultivate networking contacts.

4. Role play/practice phone contact and interview techniques.

5. Offer supervision/assistance for participants and promote accountability.

Where: Meeting room with a large table around which members can sit in an oval or circle. Preferably with availability of phones, computer, typewriter, job search materials, copier, bulletin board for job postings and notices, newspapers and business directories.

When: Once a week for 2-3 hours. Either mornings or afternoons.

Who: Unemployed jobseekers. (8-10)

Weekly Format:

1. Sign in and self-introduction (who you are, what you’ve done, what you want to do).

2. Review of each individual’s goals and how they are doing so far.

3. Good news – share successes even if baby steps.

4. Special needs and who needs help.

5. Guest speaker/facilitator to cover chosen agenda topic.

6. Self-esteem exercise or role-play activity.

7. Set and share each member’s individual goals for next week.

Speakers: Career Counselor, Dept. of Labor Rep., Employment Agency Rep., Psychologist, Human Resource Specialist, Financial Planner, Recruiter, College Placement Rep., Admissions Rep.

Example of Homework Given to Group Attendees

I. Each day this week, focus on what you are doing well, some accomplishment or something you like or admire about yourself. Write down one strength or quality for each day. Be specific. Do not overlook any skills or qualities as insignificant. Start each statement with the word “I.”

1. ___________________________________________
2. ___________________________________________
3. ___________________________________________
4. ___________________________________________
5. ___________________________________________
6. ___________________________________________
7. ___________________________________________

II. Look through your personal photos and choose two that give you a feeling of satisfaction with yourself and/or represent strengths that you like in yourself. Bring them to the job club to share with the group.

III. Complete the “I Am Proud” statements with a true statement about yourself.

I am proud that:

__________________________________________________________________

People admire me for:

__________________________________________________________________

You may be surprised to learn that I can:

__________________________________________________________________

(Use one exercise at a time. Alternate with other self-esteem activities.)

Example of a Participant Contract

As a member of the Job Club, I agree to all of the following:

1. To attend each session on time and prepared with assignments or required materials.

2. To call if I will be late or absent (illness, etc.).

3. To accept the responsibility of signing in and participating fully in the program.

4. To respect other members and adhere to confidentiality guidelines.

5. To conduct myself in a business-like and respectable manner.

6. To assist other members with leads, suggestions and job-search help.

7. To endeavor to maintain a positive and supportive attitude.

8. To demonstrate good grooming habits.

9. To apply myself in every way to fully benefit from the program.

10. To commit myself to establishing a realistic employment plan and working consistently toward achieving that goal.

______________________________
Participant signature

_________________________________
Facilitator signature

Date _________________________ Date ____________________________
Freddie Cheek, CPRW, CWDP
Cheek & Cristantello Career Connections, LLC
(716) 839-3635 | [email protected]
www.cheekandcristantello.com

Example of Job Club Topics to Cover

 Networking: Identifying and Using Contacts

 Revitalizing a Job Search

 Library and Other Resources and How to Research Jobs and Companies

 The Hidden Job Market

 Interviewing: Tips and Follow-up

 Managing Stress and Relaxation Techniques

 Defining the Job Objective, Focusing the Search, Other Job Options

 Developing an Effective Resume

 References: Preparation and Use

 Writing Effective Cover and Thank-You Letters

 Using the Telephone Effectively; Getting Past the Secretary

 Dealing with Disappointment Over Not Getting the Job; Following-up Rejection; Learning What Went Wrong

 How to Sell Yourself

 Dealing with the Highs and Lows

 Staying Self-Motivated

 Getting Past the Anger

 Building Self-Esteem

 Unemployment Finances

 Time Management

 Understanding the Job Market

 The Family Support System

 Dealing with the Unemployment Office

(Weekly discussions topics. Have the participants select topics at the first or second session. Then publicize the topics and dates and ask the members to tell their friends.)

Example Form: Group Wait List