Job Club Helps Take the Stress out of the Job Search

The launch of the Step Up DC job placement program last fall created many new employment-related activities and opportunities at Calvary. One of the activities that has flourished since September is the Job Club, which meets on Monday nights. At these casual meetings, Step Up DC participants talk about how their job searches are going, share tips and leads on job opportunities and offer encouragement to one another.

Robinson Cook, who oversees Step Up DC, also leads a brief training on a specific topic. Upcoming Job Club topics include how to organize the job search; stress management; networking; job portfolio creation; and financial forecasting.

Some women may be re-entering the job search after many years of working at the same company, or after being unemployed for some time. One of the purposes of the Job Club is to introduce women to the technology that is being used in many job search engines and online applications. Some companies have even begun conducting digital interviews, in which interviewees record responses to questions using a web cam.

Robinson observed that Job Club is a helpful outlet for Step Up DC candidates to ask questions and share information in a group setting. The process of applying for jobs can be discouraging, but women at Calvary support each another by sharing common experiences and positive tips. Although each Job Club starts out with a specific topic, the conversations often evolve into group discussions about what does and does not work.

For a little levity, Robinson also likes to show YouTube videos (like this one) related to interviewing or situations that might come up at work.

“I want Job Club to be informative and fun. The goal is for everyone to feel completely comfortable with this process as they pursue their career goals,” Robinson said.