A funny thing happened while promoting my book this
week. Reaching out to people who might
be interested hearing me talk about “Job Search in the New Normal,” I became a
volunteer for a faith-based job search program. I have known of the job networking program
run by the Roswell United Methodist Church, but never took the time to learn about
their work. I thought it was just
another networking group that met once a month.
As luck would have it, the day of my email inquiry coincided with their
monthly program. I received a gracious
invitation to attend the evening “Fast Start Program” and a personal overview
from the Volunteer Ministry Co-Leader, Jay Litton.
So, I arrived at 5:30 p.m. to attend the evening
events. Most of the participants had been on the campus since early afternoon
attending workshops. Those workshops
covered an array of topics from the fundamentals of job search to advanced
discussions on crafting a job search strategy.
Some, like me, were first-time
visitors. The evening session began with
a light dinner and orientation to the program.
The meal was free, but donations were accepted. Their dining room is a large multi-purpose
facility, like a high school gym, including a stage. Each table of eight people included a
volunteer who facilitated introductions and conversation. The dinner program began with a brief
inspirational message followed by a discussion at the tables. The message for the day was about strength
and courage, taken from the Old Testament Book of Joshua, very appropriate.
At 7:00 p.m. the dinner meeting ended and the
participants went off to attend more workshops.
As I said, the topics covered every imaginable issue from resume
preparation to interview skills. There
were even a number of employers on premises to talk to people interested in
their current job openings. At this
time, Jay and I reconnected to complete my orientation. After we had finished
my tour and overview of the resources provided by their program, I sat in on
one of the break-out sessions. The one
I chose happened to be facilitated by my colleague, Richard Kirby. He was leading a discussion on interview
questions one should expect. Richard was
gracious enough to ask for my input, and I willingly complied.
Since the Job Networking Ministry is an outreach of the Roswell United Methodist Church, there is a significant spiritual
component to their program. This is a
key point as one’s spirit is aggressively challenged when unemployed. Feeding the soul, recharging one’s psyche
is critical to success. This is integral
to their ministry.
The end result is that I became sold on their
program. Before we finished our
time together, I asked Jay how I could be helpful.
He told me that I could help with follow-up
telephone calls to first-time visitors and suggested that I facilitate a
discussion group at the next meeting. I
happily accepted the invitation. This
ministry is highly professional and
well-structured. It is competitive with
any outplacement program I have seen, but is free and open to the public. I am looking forward to my association with
RUMC Job Networking Ministry and plan to become a leading evangelist. If you find yourself between jobs, it would be wise to become familiar with this program
and find something similar convenient to you!
Your feedback helps me continue to publish articles that you want to read. Your input is very important to me so, please leave a comment.
Jim Weber, President
Author of: Fighting Alligators: Job Search Strategy For The New Normal
New Century Dynamics Executive Search
www.newcenturydynamics.com
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