People finding it difficult to obtain work in the current economic downturn are benefiting from a little-known program available in Lancaster County called Job Club.

Job Club introduces job seekers to a proven full-time job-searching process that emphasizes a self-marketing approach focusing on effective writing of résumés and cover letters, researching companies and interviewing and negotiating with employers.

There is no cost to the participant, a major advantage over similar programs offered on the open market, which can cost thousands of dollars.

The search for work can be a lonely, frustrating and time-consuming process. Many unemployed people conduct their search at home amid the daily distractions of everyday life.

The Job Club program removes interruptions and provides job hunters with a quiet, professional setting, so they can focus on finding suitable work.

Job Club is staffed by four professional career counselors with a total of 60 years of experience. Two administrative staff members also assist Job Club members by typing cover letters and résumés and performing other administrative tasks. According to a senior career adviser, the center, located in the CareerLink building at 1016 N. Charlotte Street, is the only one of its kind in the state with a full complement of job search tools.

Job Club has 10 computers with Internet access, databases of employer listings and other unique tools to facilitate the job search. The administrative staff types the participant's résumés and cover letters and mails this information on professional stationery to employers. This frees up valuable time for the job seeker, so he can concentrate on other aspects of the process.

Finding work is a full-time job, and the Job Club program is a tremendous benefit to those who may need assistance by providing a highly structured, systematic method to increase the job seeker's chances of securing work. Participants are required to attend the resource center a minimum of 27 hours per week, which is devoted solely to the job search.

The career counseling staff coaches job seekers in developing an organized, effective job-search methodology. During the first week, each participant attends a weeklong intensive training program that concentrates on proven strategies. This training highlights the importance of writing better résumés and cover letters, targeting the "hidden" job market and developing strong answers to difficult interview questions.

The job seeker is videotaped during a mock interview that analyzes both their strengths and weaknesses.

"Cold-calling" is the cornerstone of the job search approach at Job Club. Participants are coached on researching potential employers and how to contact them directly by picking up the phone and making calls. This method is much more effective in finding jobs that are not advertised in newspapers, online and other more traditional sources. Hundreds of people are applying for a single position, so the odds are heavily stacked against the job seeker from the start. Cold-calls eliminate much of this competition and help the participant to uncover jobs that are not publicized at all.

Members of the Job Club find the moral support job seekers give each other during a difficult time in their lives. Members encourage each other and reinforce the idea that the job search need not be an isolated, worrisome exercise.

Job Club is supported by funds from the Workplace Investment Act, which was enacted in August 1998 to meet the needs of both employers and job seekers. The most important aspect of the Act is its focus on meeting the needs of businesses for skilled workers and the training, education and employment needs of the individual.

There are two primary eligibility requirements for admittance into the program: 1) The participant must be a dislocated worker who has been laid off from a job, through no fault of his own and has no chance of being recalled; 2) The individual must be an adult and meet certain income guidelines.

Tom Showalter has been the director of Job Club for 27 years and touts the program's success. Showalter encourages job seekers to have a positive attitude and be persistent, especially in a slow economy. He tells his clients, "Work is still available. You can't let the economy deter you from your job search."

The Job Club also provides rapid response to job layoffs where an employer knows he is going to be laying off 50 or more workers. In such cases, Showalter and his staff go directly to the employer's job site and explain the services available. There is no cost to either the job seeker or the employer, if eligible.

The focus-oriented approach has been a plus for many participants. Chuck Leensvaart worked in the insurance industry for 30 years prior to being laid off. He has been in Job Club for seven months and keeps an open mind about his prospects.

Leensvaart, who says that employment has dried up in the insurance business, emphasizes the program's approach in the use of cold-calling. He takes advantage of the numerous resources and knowledgeable staff in making direct contacts to employers. "These are a first-class group of people. There is no better place to be than right here," Leensvaart said about the program.

Bill Hanna, a former shipping and receiving manager, agreed: "I believe in the program." He has been at Job Club since March and plans to stay until he obtains work. "This place is better than finding work in the isolation of my home," he said. "I get all the support I need."

A Job Club orientation is offered every Friday at the CareerLink center beginning at 10 a.m. A résumé workshop is held every Friday at 2 p.m. Call Job Club at 291-1231 or 397-4159 for more information.