With Valentine's Day approaching, I want to share an important resource that gave me the heart to persevere through my job search. Job Seekers, a local support group at Fairhaven Church provides a variety of resources for job seekers.
Fairhaven Job Seekers, A Group with Heart
With Valentine's Day approaching, I want to share an important resource that gave me the heart to persevere through my job search. Job Seekers, a local support group at Fairhaven Church provides a variety of resources for job seekers.
Five years ago, Pam Walker, Director of Connecting Ministries at Fairhaven, recognized the need to support the unemployed in Dayton – and responded in an amazing way. In February 2009, Pam and a small group of unemployed professionals started what is now a well-known, reputable outreach that attracts up to 100 attendees each month.
Its Mission:
The Job Seekers program was established to provide encouragement, support, networking, and job search training to people seeking traditional employment in the greater Dayton community.
Its Uniqueness:
Fairhaven Job Seekers welcomes the unemployed and underemployed seeking traditional employment. The group is protected by limiting participation and attendance to job seekers, rather than inviting consultants and employers to our events. While the program is open to all adults, it definitely has a "team approach" and invites members to support one another! With the exception of Pam's contributions, Job Seekers depends COMPLETELY on volunteers to lead and perform support services for the group.
Its Personal Feel:
When our country and community experienced an economic downturn in 2008, Fairhaven recognized that many people inside their church and community were losing their jobs and experiencing financial crisis. Fairhaven felt called to provide tangible support and job search training to those in need.
Pam Walker personally experienced how traumatic job loss can be to a marriage and family, when her husband lost several jobs as a result of downsizing and even age discrimination. Consequently, she and her husband had to return to work, downsize their home, drive older cars, and change their lifestyle in many ways. However, despite this, God has been faithful to them by providing for their needs.
Its Benefits
Visitors can expect a warm welcome, support, hope, encouragement and a professional program that addresses relevant topics on the job search process in addition to networking contacts. People who are internally motivated, willing to network, computer literate, and hungry to apply what they learn benefit the most!
The Job Seekers monthly program is held the first Thursday of each month. A structured New Member Program is offered from 8:00 – 9:00 AM and is a prerequisite to be invited to join its private LinkedIn Group, an benefit you won’t want to miss. The general meeting takes place from 9:00 – 11:30 AM, includes networking activities and a guest speaker who provides job search training on a different topic each month. At noon, the group holds breakout sessions on topics that vary each month.
An extension of the program is the "Third Thursday Networking Session" hosted by three Job Seekers alumni. We meet at Tim Horton's, 150 Monarch Lane, Miamisburg from 6:00 – 7:30 PM, and provide more networking opportunities along with training on the personal commercial and the informational interview.
Its Legacy
Although Job Seekers does not track job “landings”, hundreds of the more than 1500 participants have landed jobs! It is not unusual for someone to enthusiastically notify the group that he or she has landed a job because of a networking contact, a job posting in our LinkedIn Group, or as a result of being inspired by a guest speaker.
What do others have to say about Job Seekers?
"Job Seekers helps take the emotional process of being unemployed or under-employed and filters it to a business focused process of securing employment - the best way to move forward!" - Former guest speaker at Job Seekers
"Job Seekers provided me with a welcoming and supportive environment with people to network and exchange job search tips and strategies." - Former job seeker
"Job Seekers made me realize that I'm not adrift alone in the South Pacific. I may be on the Titanic, but there are many others out there just like me, and together we'll not just survive -- we'll thrive." – Former job seeker
Job Seekers impacted my life so positively that I never left! As leader of the New Member Orientation, I would be honored to welcome you to our group. So have a heart! Registration for Job Seekers is not required, so stop in and see for yourself what we have to offer. You will love what you see.
For more information, visit Fairhaven Job Seekers.
Next month's topic: When to say "no" in your job search
