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If you've participated in a networking group, you may be familiar with how a group typically functions. There is a certain protocol used in most groups based on basic good manners. If you'd like to begin your own group, here are some common sense "Ground Rules" for all participants to observe:
- All group meetings start and end on time. Please be punctual.
- Meetings are scheduled weekly, always at the same time each week.
- Support Group Sessions are 1 hour long and we ask that you respect that time frame.
- No alcoholic beverages consumed before or during a group meeting.
- Only one discussion going on at a time. No "side-meetings."
- All opinions and persons are respected. It's OK to disagree.
- Please feel free to meet with one another after the support group.
- Attend other support groups as well; they are listed in the Jobs Sections of your local newspapers.
These simple ground rules apply to everyone participating in the group. The networking group leader (you) makes certain that members are respectful of these basic rules, in order to create an effective, rewarding gathering of networkers. Printing a list of rules and handing them out to new members is one way to ensure group cohesiveness. Another way to strengthen your group and keep it going is to have an agenda that supports the goals of your group. Since we're talking about networking on a job search site, we'll stick to an agenda that supports job search. Your agenda could be something like this:
Sample Agenda
Welcome to the Job Support Networking Group. We're glad to have you here and hope we become an integral part of your job search.
INTRODUCTION OF FACILITATORS
Try to attract facilitators who are experts in their field. Career or Life Counselors, Resume Writers, Human Resource personnel, and individuals who have gone through job loss are excellent prospects to assist and encourage people in their job search. Often times, group members will relate with the facilitators story which can motivate the member to take purposeful steps in their job hunt.
INTRODUCTION OF GROUP MEMBERS
Each week, members should give their name, a brief description of their work history, where they're headed in their job search or what they would like to do. Encourage individuals to speak for at least one full minute as a way to become comfortable when speaking about themselves. These introductions are important for 2 reasons:
- It helps the job seeker focus on the type of career or job they want and/or need.
- Job seekers will (often) be in a situation during their job search where they'll have to explain to others what they've done or what they want to do. This is especially important during an interview or while networking.
GROUP GOALS
What do members expect from the group and from each other?
- A basic need is for people to show up. The group lives and dies with its members, so people need to make a commitment and attend regularly to show support for each other. By acknowledging that the job search can be very difficult and (sometimes) long, you validate the feelings and needs of others to share their story during group.
- Networking for each other - exchanging names and phone numbers - keeping an eye and ear out regarding job opportunities for other members.
- Sharing the good news as well as the bad news. You want people to come back after they've found a job and share that success story with other members. We want these successful individuals to come back and explain the process, the steps they took to land a job, and to let other group members know when they start their new position!
- Your main goal is helping members cope with their job loss and job search. How is it affecting family, friends, neighbors, and themselves? What can they do to keep motivated, active, and involved in their job search? By attending, talking, and actively participating in the networking group, your group will be able to give them the support they need to keep going strong.
- Goal Setting is an important part of the job search and the networking group is there to assist members in sorting through their choices. Try to set at least 1 goal for the week regarding the job search. Each person should take a proactive approach, committing to work on their job search for a minimum of one hour per day, and reach their goal of the week. Whether it's calling contacts, sending resumes, meeting with people or researching potential employers, encourage members to do something that's going to help them become employed.
TOPICS OF INTEREST
You could occasionally have a guest speaker, videos or worksheets that focus specifically on certain topics such as:
Coping With Change
-Working Through the Loss
-Dealing With the Fear
-Learning the Transition Process
-Understanding Endings
-Establishing a Plan of Action
Networking
-How to Network Effectively
-Networking Skills
-Who Do You Network With?
Interviewing Skills
-Making First Impressions
-Communicating Effectively
-Responding to and Asking Questions
Resumes and Job Search Letters
-Determining Resume Styles
-Establishing an Objective
-Organizing Information
-Writing Job Search Letters
Videotaped Mock Interviews
-Performing Mock Interviews
Financial Planning
-Assessing Your Finances
-Determining Future Needs
-Establishing a Financial Plan
Negotiating
-Salary
-Benefits
-Perks
Handling Stress
-Understanding Stress
-Identifying Stress Problems
-Relieving Stress
-Problem Solving
Job Search
-Organizing the Job Search
-Writing Letters
-Networking
-Researching Companies
-Identifying Job Trends
Your vision of the Job Support Group should be straightforward and sincere. The health and well-being of members should be important to you. If you sense that someone is struggling and not handling their emotions well, be ready with referrals to mental health practitioners and providers.
The goals and plans for the future is something to share with group members:
- We will provide a safe, caring environment for all people participating in our support group.
- We will role model the use of leadership through quality in our group processes, our people management and our job search strategies, based on our group goals.
- We will empower group members to take pride in their achievements and results.
- We will meet as many group member's needs as possible by on-going efforts to improve our quality of work.
- We will generate enthusiasm and confidence keeping those we serve uppermost in our minds.
- We will create the benchmark for others due to our success.
Creating and sustaining a support group of any kind is challenging, but with time and practice, you could become a very good facilitator, doing a terrific service for your community. You'll also be amazed at the good feeling you'll get from helping others cope with job loss. You will listen to a lot of job loss stories, many that will mimic your own experience. So, in helping others, you will most assuredly help your self. If you still have lingering doubts, think about this:
To laugh is to risk appearing the fool.
To weep is to risk appearing sentimental.
To reach out to another is to risk involvement.
To expose feelings is to risk exposing your true self.
To place your ideas, your dreams before a crowd is to risk their loss.
To love is to risk not being loved in return.
To live is to risk dying.
To hope is to risk despair.
To try is to risk failure.
But risks must be taken because the greatest hazard in life is to risk nothing.
The person who risks nothing, does nothing, has nothing, is nothing.
You may avoid suffering and sorrow but you cannot learn, feel, change, grow, love and live.
Chained by your certitude's, you are slave; you have forfeited your freedom.
Only a person who risks is free.
- Anonymous
Now that you have read about Running a Networking Group, may we suggest that you take the next step and check out Start From Scratch. It is important to us that we are able to help people as they recover and prosper after job loss, so please contact us with suggestions, corrections, and even your personal experiences. If you found this article or video to be helpful, we'd love for you to share it with a friend. Also, be sure to check out all of the amazing resources for your career transition in the ILostMyJob.com Book Store!
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