Club Gives Workers Confidence to Land the Right Job

Aug. 8, 2009— -- Eight months ago in Chesapeake, Va., Adam Coppin was handed a pink slip amid cutbacks at the Web company where he had worked for five years as a project manager. Like so many other Americans in the past year, he found himself out of a job.

Coppin was forced to hit the pavement in search of another career. But as he expanded his search online and through contacts, it wasn't finding potential jobs that was a problem, it was scoring an interview and actually getting an offer.

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"It's an arduous process," explained Coppin. "I knew I needed to do everything I could to make sure I got a job as quickly as possible."

Through friends, he heard of a local job club called the "It Factor." It's a sort of support group for those looking for work. Coppin said he was too skeptical at first to attend.

"I didn't necessarily expect to get a lot out of meeting people who weren't in my industry and sharing ideas, but I seriously undervalued the networking potentials with this group," he said.

As unemployment continues at a high rate, job clubs are springing up across the country. Held in church basements, community centers, people's living rooms and cafes, most clubs are part networking forum and resume workshop, and at times can be part therapy session, too.

A job club requires little more than a group of people willing to share contacts, techniques and moral support.

The "It Factor" was founded by Laurie Baggett and Michelle Pippin after seeing "Good Morning America" workplace contributor Tory Johnson sing the praises of job clubs on Facebook.

Baggett recalls reading Johnson's initiative on Facebook, "I remember when I read the initiative, I cried. I think when you help somebody find work, you help somebody put food on their table. It helps prevent poverty. I believe in that very much, and I've seen it happen."