The Flourishing Job Club was launched in April
2009 as a pro bono initiative to support Toledo area job
seekers. It was anticipated TFJC would run through the
end of the year. We were delighted, however, to
negotiate the use of the system with the Toledo Regional
Chamber of Commerce to launch the Chamber Job Club (CJC).
This change will provide visibility, resources and
sustainability that is not possible within the pro bono
structure. Heather Bradley is supporting the CJC in an
advisory capacity and The Flourishing Company is the founding
sponsor.
DURING THE OPERATION OF THE PRO BONO PROJECT,
THE FOLLOWING PROVISIONS WERE IN EFFECT.
Q.
What is a
Job Club?
A.
Job clubs
are small groups of people who meet regularly to talk candidly
about their job search with the goal of supporting the
success of all members.
The
Flourishing Job Club is not a search firm, job bank or career
coaching services. And if you are in the process of
gaining clarity about a career change, we ask that you contact
TFJC when you actively start your search.
Q.
What is The Flourishing Job Club?
A.
The Flourishing Job Club (TFJC) is a network bringing together
pods of 8-12 job seekers in the Greater Toledo area to
provide support and increase capability. Heather
Bradley, local business and career coach, designed the system
and volunteered to launch and coordinate the network. She is
joined by like-minded area professionals who volunteer their
time to facilitate the launch of pods of job seekers.
Q.
Why consider
participating in TFJC?
A.
Becoming
part of a local job club can offer valuable assistance and
renewed optimism. It may also bring a strong sense of
accountability that gets you going in the right direction.
When you know that your fellow members expect to hear
regularly about your progress, you're more inclined to have a
productive period leading up to the club meeting.
Some
possibilities during time with fellow job seekers
include swapping leads, offering feedback,
conducting mock interviews, tackling challenges
and encouraging one another's weekly successes.
We say possibility because the pod will unfold
with participant input to help facilitate a
healthy give and take among participants.
Participants are responsible for celebrating each
other's strengths and collectively developing
smart, savvy solutions to overcome the obstacles
faced in a job hunt.
Q.
What is the
role of a TFJC Facilitator?
A.
Local
volunteers facilitate the first meeting of each pod by
securing a venue, helping the group establish structure and
reach agreements enabling the group to lead from within.
Q.
What is the
cost to participate in TFJC?
A.
TFJC is
being launched at no cost to job seekers. Volunteers in the
network consider this our gift to fellow members in our
community. We hope the same opportunity would be available
should we need support in the future.
One of the
ways we intend to keep overhead costs low is to make relevant
information available via the internet and have job seekers
print any needed information in hard copy.
Q.
How often
does The Flourishing Job Club meet?
A.
Meeting
weekly is ideal for job club participants because it enables
you to maintain momentum. Participants are asked to make the
commitment to meet weekly for a minimum of 6 weeks (unless you
are successful in securing employment!). Pods may choose to
continue to meet beyond the original 6 weeks. Weekly
meetings are 2 hours in length.
When a
significant portion of a pod leaves due to their successful
job search, the remaining participants my request the opportunity to combine
with another group.
Q.
How do I get started with
the Job Club?
A.
You are
invited to reserve a seat for an information meeting to learn
more about this opportunity. If you decide you want to
participate in a pod after this session,
you will complete a request form to be assigned to a pod.
Groups will be filled on a first come, first served basis.
Group formation is dependent on a sufficient number of
participants and the availability of facilitator.
Chamber of Commerce to launch the Chamber Job Club (CJC).
This change will provide visibility, resources and
sustainability that is not possible within the pro bono
structure. Heather Bradley is supporting the CJC in an
advisory capacity and The Flourishing Company is the founding
sponsor.
