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 Jay and I finished our time together, I asked 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!
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Jim Weber, President
Author of: Fighting Alligators: Job Search Strategy For The New Normal
New Century Dynamics Executive Search
www.newcenturydynamics.com