Join an SJN Self Support Team
Participating in a Southwest Job Network Self Support Team (SST) is a great way to collaborate with other focused job seekers to hone your job search tactics. In fact, joining an SST might be the perfect jump-start to your job search, providing a positive direction and moral support.
To minimize travel and encourage efficiency and participation, the Self Support Teams are located in neighborhoods throughout the Valley.
What are SSTs?
SSTs are groups of six or seven SJN members which meet weekly or bi-monthly for approximately two hours to share ideas, experiences and provide job search support. Many SSTs are comprised of SJN members who live in the same general area.
What are the benefits of participating?
Participating in an SST allows you to have your own “board of advisors” to help with your specific job search struggles. Meeting regularly can help you hold yourself accountable to your goals between meetings.
Members share ideas, network contacts, networking events, workshops and trainings, interviewing tips and experiences, even job openings. They also share elevator pitches, review resumes, get help crafting talking points, interviewing skills and share experiences applying for workforce training funding.
Whenever a member struggles with a specific issue, the group can bring it to the forefront. Groups often provide round-robin forums where members can share news of their job search successes and struggles, getting as much “air time” as needed.
Because members may have other commitments that prevent them from attending a meeting, or may need to come late or leave early, most groups are flexible about attendance.
Team members often develop a camaraderie that extends outside the weekly meetings. They notify each other about events they plan to attend and may attend these events as a group. They may even carpool to some events. For example, Team Foxtrot members attended Phoenix Workforce Connection Job Club meetings and convened afterwards to discuss what they learned.
How do I locate an SST?
Join the Southwest Job Network Group on LinkedIn and then join the SJN Self Support Teams (SST) subgroup. This allows you to locate an SST in your area and contact the group leader. If there are no group openings, consider starting your own group.
How do I start an SST?
Start by posting a comment on one of the LinkedIn SST subgroup discussions or start a new discussion to locate potential group members. Then post a message to the SJN Yahoo Group to recruit members for your new SST.
