Westport Library's Job Search Work Team Helps Place Job Seekers

From the Westport Public Library:

October 17 2019

Westport, CT – The Westport Library announced today its Job Search Work Team (JSWT) is driving measurable impact, helping local jobseekers land meaningful employment. The JSWT is led by the Library’s Business Librarian Ellen Janpol and meets weekly on Tuesday mornings at the Library. The primary goal of the JSWT is to help jobseekers obtain positions by going through a systematic process of job hunting.

“We are delighted to report the first class of the Library’s JSWT landed jobs for 80% of participants,” said Janpol. “To date, nearly 80% of the second class of participants have also found employment. These are tremendous success stories for our local jobseekers and we are so proud of the hard work they’ve put into the process and the support we can provide to them along the way.”

Although the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Statistics shows unemployment is down since the start of 2019 in the Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk area (3.9%, June, 2019), with recent rumblings from economists about a looming recession, the proactive approach of the Job Search Work Team is critical in helping jobseekers navigate a competitive market.

“Searching for a job can be a lonely process,” said Janpol. “As in sports, surrounding yourself with a great team of people can enhance your ability to win. The work team can increase and sustain your motivation to grow your skill set, increase networking, and not give up.”

Janpol says a participant in a work team tends to be a high-level performer, strong skillset and a highly-developed work ethic. “The weekly meetings are designed to be proactive and focus on positive momentum,” Janpol added.

As one successful participant said, ‘this meeting format left positive action and a high level of commitment as the only possible response’. The meetings are concise, supportive, and idea generating, with both discussion and contributions distributed amongst all.

The JSWT approach was developed by Orville Pierson, when he was Executive Vice President of Career Development at Lee Hecht Harrison, the outplacement firm. It combines networking with accountability. It has been reported that by belonging to a JSWT, your job search time will speed up by 20%. To learn more about the Library’s JSWT, and robust suite of services for the business and job-seeking community, please email Ellen Janpol at ejanpol@westportlibrary.org or visit www.westportlibrary.org.

This press release was produced by the Westport Public Library . The views expressed here are the author’s own.