MANASSAS, Va. – The House of Mercy has re-launched its weekly self-help job-search networking meetings.
The group meetings, which are free and open to anyone, are every Monday beginning Jan. 6 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the House of Mercy, a nonprofit humanitarian organization located at 8170 Flannery Court in Manassas.
“With the discontinuation of unemployment extended benefits to hundreds of Virginians, along with a high rate of long-term unemployment in Northern Virginia, we decided to resume the group meetings to help support the efforts of local residents looking for work,” said House of Mercy Assistant Director Ann Cimini, who facilitates the new group meetings.
The organization terminated its previous job-search network meetings, held Wednesday nights last spring, for lack of participation. However, Cimini said that she believes there is renewed interest this year locally and that the timing is right.
“With the start of the new year and the holiday season behind us, now’s the time for people to start job searches or to get a search for work back on track,” she said.
Participating in meetings of the new group, called “Networking Unlimited,” is a “dynamic and fun way to re-energize a stalled job search,” Cimini said.
“We examine a variety of ways to look at skill sets regarding careers versus ‘lifeboat’ jobs. We cover how to present the résumé from the point of view of the hiring person, and we approach a job search as a marketing effort,” she said.
She added that being part of a networking group helps participants stay focused and positive during a job search, which she said can be emotionally draining.
“There is something debilitating about sitting alone at home. Here people will be able to use their skills to help each other. A larger group of people adds more depth of experience from which all members benefit,” Cimini said.
Group participants may use the House of Mercy computer lab to work on résumés and conduct job searches, she said.
Registration is not required, although participants are asked to complete two hours of volunteer time monthly at the House of Mercy.
For more information, call 703-659-1636 or contact Cimini at help@houseofmercyva.org.