Networking for the Newly Unemployed

by Gini Graham Scott (www.workwithgini.com)

Now that layoffs are increasing, a new type of networking is emerging that echoes the pink slip parties held during the dot.com bust -- though now unemployment has been hitting just about every type of industry. Besides pink slip parties, there are unemployed groups forming all over, where people can provide each other with support, job tips, help with resume writing, and more.

One such group is the Unemployed Social Network, which, with some irony I think, was started by the founder of the Future Millionaires of Santa Monica. However, after getting little response to the Future Millionaires and a growing response to the Unemployed group, including a feature on a local news show, the founder, Jeremy Erickson, has decided to focus on building the unemployed group. And he has found his own niche in serving the unemployed market -- by writing resumes. He has invited meeting participants to bring their resumes, cover letters, and portfolios to work on them to make them better, and has announced his availability as a coach and mentor to help them.

Plus he has suggested a series of rules for getting employed. Among them: "Get off your butts...talk to people...build a great looking resume...network, network, network...and send out as many resumes as you can per day." He also advises playing the numbers game, doing what you can to stand out to get the attention of the employer, and don't lose hope.

Besides these unemployed groups, I've discovered a growing number of business networking and entrepreneur groups which include many of the unemployed -- and often these small businesses and start-ups are a good source of jobs and opportunities, as well as being founded by the formerly employed. And all types of groups -- from social to business groups -- are sponsoring pink slip and unemployment parties -- a sign of the times.

So how do you find such groups? Check if you have a local networking group such as MeetUp in your area. If you do, put in some relevant search terms, such as "unemployed," "networking," "entrepreneur", and "jobs" to see what groups in that category exist in your area. Another source of such groups is Craigs List. Look for your area, and then check for community and other types of group in that location.

Then, start going to these events. Bring business cards, and if you don't have them yet, you can get them made up for about $45 dollars from various online business card printers like Vista Print. Work on a resume highlighting the skills you feel are most salable, along with the jobs that are most relevant. And be ready to adapt your resume to the job you are interviewing for, which is easy to do now on a computer. Just rearrange and change your copy as appropriate, and keep copies of these different resumes, so you can easily print them up or e-mail them to prospective employers. Also, be willing to lower the salary range you are looking for, so you can jump aboard some of these new start-ups that are just leaving the station. They commonly can't afford very much to start, but many of them will grow into a powerful engine of the new economy, opening up even more opportunities in the future.

And if you’re an employer, such events are a good way for start-up businesses to find well-qualified employees who are willing to start at a lower than usual salary just to be working. I know first hand, because I've started to go to such groups myself to hire a few administrative assistants, and I've quickly gotten dozens of resumes from people eager to work again.

For more ideas on how to achieve what you want, you can see some chapters from my books Want It, See It, Get It (www.wantitseeitgetit.com).