Group Hosts Seminar, Lends Job Seekers A Hand

Attendees of the Brighton JobSeekers Networking Support Group workshop got a big boost from a guest speaker Tuesday night at .

Patty Sudbay, an employment counselor for the Howell office of Livingston County Michigan Works!, presented a seminar titled 10 Job Search Tips to Stand Out from the Crowd at the group's meeting.

“We need to give you a little jolt,” she said in her opening. “We need to give you new ideas. The employer has taken a different kind of attitude about job seekers. Not only do you have to be highly qualified, you have to be interesting.”

Lending a Helping Hand

Ray Blush, a member of St. Patrick Parish and Brighton resident, founded Brighton JobSeekers Networking Support Group about three years ago after asking the church if it could be one of its ministries.

Blush owns OI Partners-Hugh Anderson Associates in Ann Arbor, a firm that does outplacement consulting; he’s a certified professional whose business has helped people who are laid off find their next position for 17 years.

As the economy worsened, there was more demand for the group. J. Michael Lenninger, a group facilitator, ran morning sessions for a time while they seemed to be needed, but now the group meets only once a month at night. 

Attendance varies, but Lenninger said some events have been standing-room-only; the usual number is between eight and 12 people. 

Job seekers receive a workbook, The Job Hunting Handbook, which Lenninger says is among the best out there.

Besides the meetings, he said, “I do a lot of one-to-one counseling.” He often helps members individually with their resumes. Lenninger also helps people individually; he added, "You can't cover everything in a group session."

Currently, meetings take on themed formats, such as resumes or interviewing, done in-house or by an outside speaker who’s a specialist in his or her topic. One such example was a session that discussed how to find jobs using social media as well as Sudbay’s presentation Tuesday night.

Penny Roehl, a Hartland resident and St. Mary Magdalen parishioner who regularly attends the group, felt that it and presentations like the one on Tuesday are helpful.

“I’m getting a lot of good hints about what to do,” said the retired Detroit school teacher. She is seeking a position as either an executive administrative assistant or legal secretary.

Carl Slindee, 58, of Brighton, agrees the group is a valuable resource. “Finding employment is naturally at the top of people’s list when they’re unemployed. Basically, if you have an expert available as your personal expert resource, it’s great to take advantage of the opportunity.”  

Lenninger said the process works for those who take part in the group regularly. The group gives members a “safe place” to vent about the difficulties of conducting a job search, learn how to be more effective in their job search and to celebrate successes. 

“If you join a job search support group,” he added, “you’re more likely to find a job.”

Blush said the group will be on a brief summer hiatus, at least for the month of July. A likely future meeting topic will help those attending writing an effective resume, he said.

An additional resource to all job seekers, Michigan Works! Offers numerous classes in free job search seminars with helpful information to jump start your job search; Sudbay urged those looking for employment to check them the other seminars at www.lcmw.org. You also may contact Sudbay directly at psudbay@cmhliv.org for more information.