Job Seekers Group

Supporting individuals in pursuit of employment through support & encouragement, networking, job search training & tips and weekly guest speakers.

For anyone in the Dayton area who is unemployed or underemployed and seeking employment. No registration necessary – just show up!

1st and 3rd Thursday Mornings
8:15 a.m. New Member Orientation
9:00 – 11:30 a.m. General Meeting

Questions? Contact , Director of Connecting Ministries, in the church office (937-434-8627 ext. 154) for more information.

"The Job Seekers Group has helped me regain confidence, networking, and cultivate a better understanding of how computers and the internet work in today's job market." ~ Lori Skinner

"The resume assistance has been invaluable to me and the networking has been great! However, the best part is the PRAYER support of my prayer partner." ~ Marilyn Deaton

"The information provided by the group has been instrumental to my success since the methods needed for today's economy are so much different than the past. I feel very blessed to be back to work so quickly – less than five weeks! God is good! ~ Kathy Frazier

Future Topics & Programs:

March 18
9:00 – 11:30 AM: Dana Morgan, Lead Consultant with Lee Hecht Harrison “Perfecting Your Resume & Cover Letters”
12:00 Noon – 1:00 PM  “LinkedIn Basics: How to Get Started”

April 1
9:00 – 11:30 AM: Stephen Kiefer “Shine Like a STAR: Fine-Tuning Your Interview”
12:00 – 1:30 PM: Pizza & Structured Networking Activities

April 15
9:00 – 11:30 AM: Cheryl Malone, Retired LTC, Air Force (Human Resources) “Defense Jobs: Options, Opportunities & How to Compete”

May 6
9:00 – 11:30 AM:  Bill Menker, Washington Centerville Public Library  “Online Job Search Strategies”
12:00 – 1:30 PM:  Pizza & Structured Networking Activities

Links

Here's a few sites that you may find helpful.

  • Job Loss Survival Guide
  • Dayton Bizjournals - Discover the top jobs and employment opportunities in Dayton. Employers post jobs locally by industry.
  • Riley Guide - The Riley Guide introduces you to the online job search, listing many online sites and services that are useful for your job search. They do not post jobs nor resumes but instead point you to the places that do
  • Job Hunter's Bible - The official site for classic book, "What Color is Your Parachute 2009 Edition" by Dick Bolles.
  • Salary Wizard - Compare salaries - free calculator is located in the left panel of page
  • Self Directed Career Assesment - The Self-Directed Search gives you a two or three-letter RIASEC or Holland Code that tells the relationship between job personalities, key characteristics, college majors, hobbies, abilities, and careers. This site charges $10.00 but it is worth it. Good insight.
  • Bluesky Resumes - see the before and after
  • Resume-Help - Sample Resumes/Cover Letters/Interview Tips/Tools for finding a job
  • Hoovers - Research companies and find out valuable information regarding any company
  • SIC Code Lookup - Lookup SIC codes to locate companies in a particular industry using Hoovers
  • Job Search - This is a terrific comprehensive site that includes job search advice, job listing, job search engines, resume writing, cover letters and much more!
  • Greater Dayton Works - This is fantastic community job portal specifically designed for the Greater Dayton Region that makes searching for career opportunities easier than ever. Employers and job seekers can be connected at no cost.
  • Indeed - This is a broker website for lots of recruiting places. Get into daily/weekly job alerts by posting a job description and geographical area of interest and you will receive updates automatically.
  • USA Jobs - By selecting a job title and geographical area, you can check government jobs daily. This includes WPAFB, VA Hospital and military installations around the country.
  • Monster - This is a very popular site for employers and also job seekers
  • Washington-Centerville Public Library - Our local Washington-Centerville Public Library has a vast array of reference information, including links to library databases. A library card is required to access most of this valuable information.
  • TopEchelonNetwork.com - A Network of recruiters, offering services, including a database of thousands of jobs, career-related articles, and other resources.

Job Search Suggestions

  1. Apply for unemployment IMMEDIATELY upon losing a job. The weekly subsidy is small, but can keep you afloat until you find a job.
  2. Get your resume professionally done or at least reviewed by a professional. Accomplishments are vital in writing a good resume. Same with a cover letter.
  3. AFTER your resume is complete, Let EVERYONE know you're job searching. And always check out every job tip you get!
  4. Get access to local business publications---Dayton Business Journal, government pubs, newspapers, etc so you can keep track of new businesses coming into the area. These are called Spot Opportunities. Call on them before they post jobs and ask if they could use you in their companies.
  5. Register at Manpower temp agency for temporary jobs. They also offer free computer and business related training at their Dorothy Lane office. Good chance to brush up on computer skills or a new skill.
  6. Check with your alma maters for job placement even if you've been out of college or school for a long period of time.
  7. Watch for job fairs---even if the jobs seem menial, you should take your resume and make contact with the companies who are obviously hiring.
  8. Join or attend professional groups that are connected with your career. It's a great place to network. Make business cards on your computer and pass them out at the meeting.
  9. Network via Facebook and Linkedin. Jobs are listed as well as people who work at various locations that can help you get in the door.
  10. Keep the faith. Tell yourself everyday that there is a better job out there than the one you lost and God has a plan for you. Pray, pray, pray!