DU Group Suggestion: Job Hunting

[IdaBriggs]

Skinner says this is what needs to happen to start a new group:

1. Start one discussion thread in the forum of your choice to tell people about your idea for a DU Group. (ME: This is it, folks.)

2. In that thread, you must get responses from at least ten DU members who agree to be active participants in the suggested DU Group. All ten members to respond must have donor stars. (ME: I've got one; are there ten other people who will agree to participate?)

3. In that thread, members must agree on a proposed mission statement for the DU Group. (ME: Read my proposed mission statement, and let's start talking.)

4. When enough members have signed on to join the group and have agreed on a proposed mission statement, one member must officially suggest the DU Group to a DU Administrator (Skinner, EarlG, or Elad), by sending an email. Please be sure to include a link to the thread where members have discussed the proposed Group. (ME: Not there yet; watch for updates.)

5. The Administrators will consider the request and make a decision. The Administrators will either 1) Accept the Group as it is proposed, 2) Deny the Group outright, or 3) Ask for changes to the Group or its mission statement which would be necessary for its approval. (ME: Not there yet)

6. Once the suggested Group has been accepted by the Administrators, the Administrators will create a new DU Group in the "DU Groups" Category forum, and pin the mission statement of that Group to the top of that Group's forum. (ME: Not there yet)

PROPOSED MISSION: To provide a forum for folks to a) pass the word about job openings, and b) post about folks who are looking for work.

For example, if my brother, an engineer in the automotive area in southeastern Michigan, is interested in putting out feelers, I might post something like

SUBJECT: Looking - ELECTRICAL ENGINEER w/Automotive Experience

And then talk about his skills/experience/education. The thread might get people who know of openings in their areas (in or out of Michigan could be a topic), and would close when the original poster said the need was fulfilled.

Another topic could be --

SUBJECT: Wanted -- Electrical Engineer w/Automotive Experience

And then talk about the requirements, plus pass some stuff along about the unofficial stuff about a company. ("Its small, and the benefits stink, but we're overworked and desperate.")

Resume information could be passed via PM.

I'm not talking about a formal 'Monster.Com' but just a casual job-hunting network.

Opinions?

[Lithos]

1. Sounds good

You should also add to the charter to provide resources for the job seeker beyond jobs. There are a lot of things such as resume tips, websites, career improvement things, etc.

The question is whether it needs to be open to all or members (where Skinner creates it)

L-

[IdaBriggs]

5. If members mean folks with stars, I thought that was already in place?

Or, are you talking about 'members' where you have to send an e-mail to Skinner to get permission to browse around it?

[Veritas_et_Aequitas]

7. I'll throw my star behind that.

I don't want to open the flood gate, but perhaps the occasional dealing-with-unemployment thread could be welcomed, too. Seems like we're getting two or three DUers a week who are getting laid off as of late.

[IdaBriggs]

10. Thank you for your support!

And a good morning kick from me. :)

[Manifestor_of_Light]

2. There is a fundamental problem with this.

The underlying assumption is that if people look for jobs, they will find them.

I discovered quite a few years ago that NOTHING I did would get me a job, nor an interview, and that it was a complete waste of time. There have been so many jobs lost in this country that in many cases we are wasting our energy, getting depressed, getting frustrated, and feeling like we are failures because we can't get a job.

There are plenty of people on DU who will tell me that it's MY Fault that I cannot get a job. They are missing the point.

It's not our fault. It's the Reagan crap economics, which is completely backwards from what gets the economy going. They've slashed millions of jobs over the years. This crap started back in the Clinton years.

I came to this conclusion after I looked for a legal assistant job in the 1990s. In two and a half years I got ONE interview with a law firm. They weren't even nice enough to call me back when they said they would and tell me I didn't get the job.

Qualifications don't mean shit anymore. It's quite sad and I hope the New New Deal will help.

[IdaBriggs]

6. I am not sure why you are having such difficulty, since I do not know

you or your story.

This is not intended to be a judgment group: it is intended to be a 'spread the word' networking group.

[Coyote_Bandit]

3. There already is a career help and advice group here

I do think a job hunting group would be difficult with folks here spread around the world.

I also have to point out that there is a far amount of condemnation of those who are jobless. Seems some assume the unemployed are jobless through their own fault.

[IdaBriggs]

4. I looked in the DU Groups --

Can you give me the name, please? I certainly don't want to create multiple groups for the same thing!

Also, I am not sure being 'world wide' is as much of a problem as you might think. Sometimes, people are willing to relocate, especially if there is a friend out there.

:shrug:

[Veritas_et_Aequitas]

8. Here you go. I think.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topics&forum=362

[mahina]

9. Great idea.

While lots of industries are cratering, others are needing people. I think it's a sound idea, and I don't really think the existing group fits the bill.

Thanks for thinking about this and doing the work. I'm behind you on it.

Aloha~

[IdaBriggs]

11. That's 3 people. It doesn't sound like its getting much support.

Thank you, tho. :) Best, Ida