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People Looking for Jobs Find Support with Each Other
Excerpt from an article by Barb Randall in The Portland Tribune, July 16, 2009.
Believe it or not, the unemployed have some things to be thankful for – and on top of the list is Marylhurst University's Job Seekers Group.
The Job Seekers Group has met Mondays since February, offering participants an opportunity to re-create themselves while learning to stay balanced and focused as they move through the process of finding meaningful work. Lynn Brown, the university's director of career services, and Meagan Lawler, clinical psychologist and specialist in career transitions, came up with the idea of the support group as a public service for the community. They faithfully facilitate the two-hour weekly sessions, with an average attendance of 30 people.
Participants work on skills such as writing résumés, interviewing and preparing "elevator" speeches – quick, 30-second speeches intended to make an introduction and impression.
Guest speakers are brought in about every other week, to give participants information about local economic conditions and other particulars that affect job seekers.
But the largest benefit for those who attend the meetings comes from group members themselves. They have a wealth of knowledge, experience and empathy to share. Compassion and encouragement electrify the air, bolstering individuals to tackle the tiring work of looking for work.
"This group is so helpful for all of us," said David Skidmore, an early attendee of JSG. "We all leave feeling better and refreshed."
