Employment Support Group

Employment Support Group-Sponsored by Saint Anne's Parish Hampstead and New Hampshire Catholic Charities   In May of 2009, Deacon Bill Mullen of Saint Anne Parish's Hampstead and Judy Nelson of New Hampshire Catholic Charities started a support group for the unemployed. This was in response to a number of inquiries from parishioners that they had been laid off from their jobs and asking if the church could help in any way.   On May 11, 2009, a workshop was held discussing topics on "How to write a Resume and Interview Skills" Arlene Cody, a counselor from Catholic Charities spoke about the emotional issues of loss that one may encounter with the loss of a job. The initial meeting had 12 job seekers present. When the meeting ended, several attendees’s suggested the idea of forming a support group and the Employment Support Group was formed. Since the inception of the Support Group, over 225 people have attended meetings held every other week at Saint Anne's Parish. Of that number 50 have found employment and attendance has averaged 20 people. Each meeting opens and closes with a prayer let by Judy and breakout sessions are offered to job seekers with the following topics: Mock Interviews, Behavioral Interviewing, Resume Writing, Networking, Financial Issues, Dealing with Loss. A group of 6 volunteers from several area parishes attend and assist job seekers. The group also has a web site with a local job board as well as a linked IN page. The web site may be found at www.saintannechurchnh.org     Since the fall of 2010 20 members of the group have found fulltime employment and one, Paula Oxner, of Danville NH, who had been unemployed for 18 months stated: "Attending meetings at Saint Anne's has helped me very much, I found that the help provided by Deacon Bill and Judy Nelson and the other volunteers who volunteer is wonderful. I have been a part of other networking groups but found this group the most supportive by far. The way the breakout sessions are structured was extremely beneficial. I credit the help received here, especially the mock interview, for restoring my self-confidence, which I lost when laid off."   Upcoming Meetings:   Monday November 14, 2011 Monday December 12, 2011 Monday January 9, 2012 Monday January 23, 2012 Monday February 13, 2012 Monday February 27, 2012 Monday March 12, 2012 Monday April 9, 2012 Monday April 23, 2012 Monday May 14, 2012 Monday June 11, 2012   Meetings are held at Saint Anne’s Parish, 26 Emerson Avenue, Hampstead, NH. In the Classroom area at 7:00PM until 8:30PM and all people seeking employment are welcome to attend.  If possible, bring a copy of your resume with you.