Job Club Method

Description of the Strategy

The Job Club method utilizes the usual behavioral psychology format for skill acquisition, treating the job search as a sequence of skills to be learned, practiced, and performed under the supervision of the group counselor. The job seekers meet as a group of 6 to 12 persons, every day obtaining job leads, contacting potential employers, preparing resumés, rehearsing, telephoning, and so on until a job is obtained, with no limit in the number of sessions. Standard forms and scripts are provided and individualized for each person. The job seekers are taught to obtain their own job leads. The program provides assistance and instruction in the following areas: (a) supplies and services, (b) telephone, (c) scripts for telephone contacts, (d) sample letters to possible employers, (e) group support, (f) buddy system for individual support, (g) skill in uncovering unpublished job openings, (h) supervision in utilizing posted employment notices, (i) mutual transportation assistance, (j) interview rehearsal, (k) contacting one's family for support, (l) self-recording of job contact efforts as a progress motivator, (m) emphasis on communicating job-relevant personal/social skills in addition to job skills, (n) maintenance of a group listing of job openings uncovered by other group members, and (o) instruction in emphasizing job-related skills obtained apart from paid job experience.

The group counselor adopts the same style as is used in behavioral group therapy: positive, interactive, rehearsal, self-recording, obtaining significant-other support, modeling, written forms, group support, and a structured-session protocol. The group counselor follows a rotation format, speaking to each member for approximately 1 minute, giving praise for the evidence of appropriate search behaviors, as well as providing instructions regarding revisions or additional efforts to be made prior to the next contact by the counselor. The counselor directs the attention of other group members to notable successes of an individual, such as arranging several interviews for that afternoon.

Attendance occurs every day except when the member goes to an interview, each session being directed entirely to arranging these interviews. A self-recording “after-interview” checklist is filled out by the job seeker after each interview and reviewed by the counselor subsequently. The checklist lists the suggested desirable aspects of the interviewer's conduct (e.g., on time, appropriate dress, eye contact), describes one's relevant work experience, describes one's relevant positive and social attributes (e.g., a “team player,” “takes responsibility,” “willing to work overtime,” “well-liked by fellow employees,” etc.), arranges a “callback” within a week, and so on. The group meets for one half day each day, the remainder being taken up by the interviews arranged.

The method differs from most other methods of job finding instruction in the following respects: (1) the job seeker performs the job search in the session rather than searching after the session; (2) the method emphasizes uncovering job leads as yet unpublicized; (3) the emphasis is on personal contacts (relatives, friends, acquaintances) as the source of job leads versus formal job-opening listings; and (4) the program provides and/or assists with all aspects of the job search, including (a) typing of a resume; (b) photocopies; (c) postage;[Page 344](d) telephone availability; (e) transportation; (f) advice regarding dress appropriateness; (g) using each job lead contact to generate other job leads; (h) utilizing the personal information network; (i) utilizing the Yellow Pages as a major initial source of leads; and (j) providing relocation information when the local area has very severe unemployment, as in a one-industry town when that industry leaves.

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