You can make very useful contacts through the business or professional organizations to which you belong or for which you are eligible. If you're a marketing executive, for example, you may have been paying dues for the Sales and Marketing Management Association, but not attending meetings. Or you may have felt that belonging to such organizations and going to meetings was a waste of time. In either event, change your tactics. As part of your survey of the current job market, find out where and when the meetings are held, then go. You'll stay current in your profession or area of specialization, find out the latest in the field-and you may get important leads. Joining and paying your dues can be considered essential expenditures, and are tax deductible. However, don't expect these organizations to help you get a job. The personal contacts you make at the meetings and the networking that goes on before and after the sessions is where you'll get the most help.
Job Search Organizations
Another excellent way to make contacts, and get help writing your resume, advice on setting up your job campaign and support in working your way through the emotional traumas of unemployment is to join a self-help organization for the unemployed executive or professional. There are a number of these around in various parts of the country, and they provide a very valuable service. However, be aware that most of these job-search organizations are general in nature; they do not focus on the special problems of the older out-of-work executive.
A few organizations do provide services exclusively for the older executive. For instance, the seventeen Forty Plus Clubs in the United States help only unemployed executives who are over forty. If one of these clubs is in your area, you may find that it will provide the kind of support you need to get your job search campaign off the ground.
Other Groups That Might Help
In some areas, state unemployment commissions provide some useful services, such as help with job search techniques, for the older executive and professional. Their job counselors may provide leads or information on places you can get help in your area. Since you have to go there anyway to collect your unemployment compensation, at least check out what assistance they might have and any job opportunities they may know about. Ask if other unemployment offices provide different services from those that your center provides. (In major metropolitan areas, executive and professional services are provided from one or at most, two or three centers. If you don't happen to go to that particular center, you may never find out what assistance is available.)
In some cities, the chamber of commerce conducts job forums, either alone or in conjunction with service organizations, sales executive clubs, advertising clubs or other such groups. These forums are usually free or charge a nominal fee. Consult your local chamber about availability.
Colleges and junior colleges frequently provide ongoing assistance to the unemployed through short courses (example: writing your resume, interviewing) and counseling. Many also have special Saturday or evening meetings especially designed for "networking." For example: a number of business and professional organizations for women meet under the auspices of the local junior college, and attending these meetings has proved to be useful in getting job leads. These organizations also provide good speakers who discuss worthwhile business topics, and may provide useful insights vis a vis the status of business in your area or general business trends.
Checking back with your own college or university placement bureau may also be helpful. While these placement bureaus are generally geared up.
A description of the way the Forty Plus Clubs operate, their addresses and those of other job search organizations are included in the appendix. The author can attest to the effectiveness of the Forty Plus Clubs. She became a member in 1981, and has maintained an associate membership in the club since that time, just in case she should ever require the services of the club again toward recent graduates, they are particularly useful in some disciplines, such as education.
Many local high schools have gone into the "adult evening school" business. They frequently offer helpful one- or two-evening seminar sessions on topics of special interest to job-seekers.
For women, CATALYST for Women, Inc. (250 Park Avenue South, New York, NY 10003), has current, up-to-date information on job counselors and organizations providing assistance in all parts of the United States. They can be contacted in person, by mail or by calling (212)777-8900.
Most large public libraries have developed extensive collections of job-search materials and have access to computer data bases; and their employees are delighted to help you locate information that will help in your search. The computer data bases are especially helpful when you are into the last phase of your marketing effort, and need information about specific companies with whom you will be interviewing.
The business editorial staff members of city newspapers have proven to be surprisingly helpful to many job-seekers. They know what's going on in your community, and can point you to job seminars, self-help groups and other available assistance.
Recently a number of organized religious groups have become concerned about the effect unemployment is having upon their adherents. In some areas, they sponsor inter-faith self-help and/or counseling groups. These function primarily in a support role, giving members an opportunity to air their fears and come to grips with feelings so they can learn better ways to cope with the pressures of unemployment. Call your local minister, priest or rabbi to see what is available in your area. The YMCA, YWCA, YMHA and YWHA also provide similar services in some parts of the country.
You can also "let your fingers do the walking" by checking in the Yellow Pages for the listings under executive recruiters, management consultants, employment agencies, executive marketing and outplacement companies. These resources will be discussed in more detail later in other articles on this website.
