Groton Public Library Job Club offers space, support for job seekers
Open workshop is held for 2 hours on Mondays
“I’m finding a lot of people coming in with questions about job searching lately.” JESSA FRANCO GROTON LIBRARIAN
Groton — As a job seeker walked into Groton Public Library’s Job Club, librarian Jessa Franco was quick to introduce herself and offer help.
“You can take a seat on any computer, and then I’m here to help you as you need it,” she said during the session last month. “So is there anything specific you want help with, or do you just want to use the space?”
She showed him how he could use Google for Jobs, a free tool to search for and apply to jobs, to make his job search easier.
Franco, the library’s teen and workforce development librarian, leads Job Club, an open workshop held from noon to 2 p.m. every Monday, when people can stop in to use the computers and Wi-Fi, get job support and ask Franco any questions. Individual appointments also are available from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Mondays.
“I help with resumes, cover letters, interview skills, job-searching skills, really whatever it is you need to further your career, I’m here for support,” Franco said.
Franco and Jennifer Miele, who is now library director, started the club about two and a half years ago after the library saw people asking for help with their job applications and resumes and realized the community needed the service. The program is open to everyone, not just Groton residents.
The library offers the club, as well as technology classes and career-related programs, including a “Job Searching 101” workshop, from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Saturday, during which Franco will review Indeed and Google for Jobs.
“I’m finding a lot of people coming in with questions about job searching lately,” she said.
She said the Job Club resource is particularly needed at a time when job searching has changed. Aspects of the job search, such as lengthy online surveys, can be intimidating at times, so having someone at hand can be helpful. People also can work on job applications and spend the rest of the time brushing up on their tech skills at the library.
Grant established
As Groton Public Library establishes itself as a spot for workforce development, the library applied and was chosen this spring to participate in Libraries Lead with Digital Skills, an initiative of the American Library Association and the Public Library Association that Grow With Google sponsored, according to a news release.
Through the grant, the library held a four-part series of career-related workshops and Franco continues to be involved with a cohort of librarians across the country who are exploring workforce development. They are sharing ideas on how to best support their communities and expand, from partnerships with schools and community members, to marketing tips to make people aware of the services the library provides, she said.
With an uptick in job searching, she said the library is looking to increase its offerings, and she is open to feedback from the public on the types of classes people need to further their careers and the times and days that work the best. The library will offer a fall series of job classes on Wednesday and Thursday evenings and hopes to learn if that schedule works.
Franco said that while now taking on the role of helping people with jobs and technology, libraries always have served as a source of information and a place people have known to go to since elementary school.
“We have the technology available for free and then friendly people you can ask those questions to,” she said.
The library’s Job Club allows for one-on-one time with job seekers, which can be helpful as a lot of people, particularly if they’ve been searching for a long time, start to lose confidence in themselves and their skills, Franco said.
“Having someone sit down and say, ‘No, you’re doing things correctly. It just takes time,’ and going over your resume with you is helpful for peace of mind, as well,” she added.
New outlook
Franco recalls a man who was trying to find a job after getting out of prison. When he changed his resume from a chronological one, which had been highlighting gaps in his work history, to a format that instead showcased his skills before his career history, he had two job offers within a week.
“Sometimes it’s just that little change, that little spark, and it’s enough to get you moving again,” she said.
In addition, Franco also organizes a career program every other month, except the summer, in which professionals from industries, such as computer science or social work, network with adults and teenagers and answer questions on their careers, she said.
With the library’s location in Groton, the Job Club sees an influx of people seeking a variety of jobs, from retirees looking for part-time work to people trying to get hired at Electric Boat, Miele said. The club offers an environment where people can get their resume reviewed, ask questions as they go through their applications or get advice.
Miele said the library’s customer service priorities are always to help not only with the information needs but to help support people in all of their endeavors, but there’s nothing like being able to support them in their employment endeavors.
Miele encouraged people to stop by and ask a question.
“We are the information resource, the kind of 411 of information, so we’re hoping that even more people will utilize that,” she said.
Registration for Job Searching 101 is available online at the library’s website, groton-ct.gov/library/, by emailing Franco at JFranco@groton-ct.gov or calling her at (860) 441-6750. To make an appointment for the evening Job Club, call or email Franco.