Westford Job Seekers Network Remains Vibrant Approaching Second Anniversary

While 2009 saw the rise of what was the largest U.S job loss since the Great Depression, 2009 also saw the birth of a group that has helped numerous local residents get some of those jobs back.

The Westford Job Seekers Network is coming up on its second anniversary in July and has grown to attract crowds of approximately 30-40 people to its meetings on the on the third floor of the J.V Fletcher since its initial incarnation.

Today, the group continues to maintain its strength not due to a significant lack of jobs in the area as it was in 2009, but because of the positive referrals from some of its alumni members.

“There was definitely a need when we started, and we felt that the library needed to fill that need, but we’ve been shocked at how many people continue to come to this group, even as the economy has improved,” said Dina Kanabar, Head of Systems and Technical Services for the Fletcher Library. “We’ve had numerous testimonials saying how helpful this group was in their job search.”

As it has evolved, the group has adapted into numerous simultaneous roles ranging from support group to idea marketplace to employment classroom.

The multifaceted nature of the Job Seekers Network at the library has made it invaluable to Harvard resident Don Boyce.

“I meet people that can provide me with leads, (and) there’s always informative speakers that can provide interesting things that add things that might be new to me,” said Boyce, who stated his last major job search prior to 2009 was in the early 90s.

“It also provides a reason to get out of the house and provides some structure to the job search, and it’s helpful to get together with other people that are in the same situation that you’re in and know you’re not the only one,” he went on to say.

Lisa Adams, a job consultant that talked to the group during their May 25 meeting, believed that the group was much more vibrant than others she had seen recently in Littleton and Tewksbury.

“This is a much more active group, and it’s actually a larger group,” said Adams. “It’s become a very well known group, and Dina’s done a great job getting it together.”

The group meets regularly every Wednesday from 2 to 3:30 p.m. More information can be found on the J.V Fletcher website, www.westfordlibrary.org.