Strength in Numbers

You've heard the old expression that "There is strength in numbers." For a job seeker or career changer, this means, Don't go it alone. Instead, band together with others and the strengths multiply!

Let me illustrate this with some local examples.

Job Search Support Groups abound throughout our central New Jersey area. Some are church-based, such as the St. Matthias Employment Ministry in Somerset and the St. Rose of Lima Transition Network in Freehold. The Jewish Family Service of Central NJ (in Elizabeth and Union) is also very active in helping job hunters. These faith-based initiatives are practical ministries driven by the desire to help one's fellow man or woman. Though sponsored by faith-based organizations, the resources of these groups are available to all.

Some other job search support groups revolve around an occupational affinity such as FENG (Financial Executives Networking Group) or MENG (Marketing Executives Networking Group). In the spirit of these memorable acronyms, there is YANG (Yet Another Networking Group) in Ocean county. For people in the field of Human Resources, there are a number of focused groups for HR professionals who are in transition.

Some job search support groups meet at local libraries like the Neighbors Helping Neighbors groups in northern NJ. Others like The Career Forum (in Basking Ridge) and The Breakfast Club (in East Brunswick) were started by job seekers who wanted to help other job seekers.

NJ-based career coach Alex Freund has done a fine job of maintaining an up-to-date list at his website.

The NJ State Libraries have also stepped up to the challenge of helping job hunters. Through the statewide NJ Works program, where librarians have been specially trained and certified to assist job seekers in research, resume writing and other tasks associated with the job search, those who are out of work in NJ can now go to a local library for the expert support they may need.

The Professional Service Groups (aka the PSGs) are a network of twelve job search support groups, from Dover up north to Vineland down south, that are sponsored by the State of New Jersey. Further evidence that if you are you looking for work in the Garden State, you are in luck because NJ is rich in job search resources! In central NJ, there are several: New Brunswick (the oldest and original PSG), Somerville (the newest), and Neptune "down the Shore." For a full list, go to this website.

Begun in 1989, the PSGs are self-managed groups of business and technical professionals who are helping one another through their career transitions. Their aim is to be a One-Stop Center for anyone who is out of work and seeking networking, job leads, and job search skills training. What makes the PSGs unique is that, while connected to the State Department of Labor and Workforce Development, they are self-managed and highly organized by the members. The job seekers themselves do everything, and everyone serves on a committee, such as Publicity, Training, Programming, or Marketing.

They even have a LinkedIn group and a facebook page.

Soon, according to official sources in Trenton, the PSGs will be revamped and expanded in order to serve and support even more residents of the state. Stay tuned for news.

So, if you are looking for work, and you don't live close to any of the above resources, what can you do? You can start your own group! Chances are, there are others near you who are also looking for work. You can get started right away with the help of The Riley Guide.

All it takes is for one job seeker to reach out to another one and ask, "When can we meet?" And then "Who else should we invite to meet with us?" You can start at a local library or church meeting room or even a Starbucks. And take it from there.

In the State of New Jersey, you do not have to go it alone when looking for work.

Posted by Terrence Seamon on Sunday May 5 (Cinco de Mayo), 2012