JOB CLUBs are like any other group, organization, club or body of people who gather for a purpose. You get out of it what you put into it!
Article by: AZ JOB COACH
That may not be actually true. With JOB CLUBs, I like to think and have witnessed that you can actually get MORE out of it than what you put into it.
First, examine what your purpose is. Why are you attending JOB CLUB meetings? If your answer is to find help, support, advice, ideas, tools, networking options, social options, etc. etc. you are in the same group as all the rest. JOB CLUBs can provide all of that an more but if your purpose is two-fold, to gain as well as to GIVE, then you will be in the other group...the group that get's much more.
Now let's assume that you've come to several JOB CLUB meetings and have listened, asked questions and provided some feedback occasionally. But for the most part you've come to find out what's it's all about then left the meeting only to return the following week to repeat the process.
Let's start by changing the premise for why we attend the meetings in the first place. Rather than going to the meeting with nothing in mind other than "I want to learn what others are doing" or something along those same lines. Let's go to the next JOB CLUB Meeting with a set GOAL. With the former plan you'll certainly learn what's going on, but chances are you'll not do anything different in the coming week. Therefore your results will likely not be any different. With the latter plan...setting a GOAL...you'll have a plan in place for getting some different results. Your goal should be Realistic, Time Based, Achievable, and Measurable.
For instance, your goal could be: “I want to learn to do a better interview by (some date in the future – about 4-6 weeks ahead). Don’t think that you can learn everything you need to know just by attending the JOB CLUB. This is the place where you will START your goal, not necessarily will it be the place you will END your goal. So a time frame that is realistic – giving you time to practice interviews, learn from mistakes, and try again and again in either mock or real situations – will allow you to succeed in your goal.
Even if your goal is to do a better resume, find better job leads, or any other job search function, the same principles work. Don’t try to do it all at once or all at one JOB CLUB meeting.
Next, work on what steps you’ll need to take AFTER JOB CLUB so that you can make some progress before the NEXT JOB CLUB. Any progress is SUCCESS! Be ready at the next JOB CLUB meeting to report on your success. Sharing your success is GIVING back. Giving back means you'll be getting more out of your JOB CLUB experience.
Stay focused on your GOAL. Even if the JOB CLUB meeting is focused on other aspects on any given week, STAY WITH YOUR GOAL! Learn what you can about the other aspects and incorporate any ideas, or strategies that make sense but don’t drift away from your purpose. If you measure your success on GOAL #1 and feel you’ve achieved it sooner than you planned – or are well on your way, then start working on GOAL #2. Whatever you do, don’t let GOAL number two conflict with and stop your progress on GOAL number one.
Not preparing one’s self for a JOB CLUB meeting is like going fishing without a pole or bait. You’ll have an experience but you’ll come away empty-handed.
Preparation is the foundation for your success. By successfully preparing before each meeting, you’ll be setting an example and perhaps even a trend where others follow. Your JOB CLUB will be stronger for it and therefore more valuable to you and all the others.
How to Prepare is going to depend largely upon what you have decided you want to take away from your experience. Gather any material you’ve read or learned about your particular goal. If it’s aural material you gained from a conversation with someone, document the conversation in notes, a journal or diary so you can refer back to those notes at the meeting. Take your material with you to every meeting. If it’s a new resume, be prepared to have several copies so that it can be passed around. Don’t be shy. You’re going to be giving this resume to several strangers, why not give it to “friends” first. It’s also a good way for them to know more about you in case they learn of opportunities they can share with you.
Become active in the JOB CLUB Organization. Whether it is a formal club with officers and duties or an informal setting with a facilitator, you can begin to be more active than passive. Activity breeds more activity. Before you know it, you’ll be the one everyone else goes to for the answers. It’s easier to be the HUB than it is to be the spokes or the rim. At the HUB everyone is coming to you. Your networking is immensely less difficult. It’s only a short step from there to networking your way into a new job.
Good Luck!
