SALEM¬ — Every week, new faces show up to meetings of New Hampshire Works Networkers. That really isn't a good thing, its founder said.
"I'm pleased with the success the members of the group have had," said Nicole Tessier, an interviewer with New Hampshire Employment Security. "But it is disheartening to see that every week we get more members."
Tessier started the group for unemployed Granite State residents who are eager to find jobs. About 40 percent of those who have attended at least one meeting have found jobs, she said. But new members are always joining. There are typically about 65 people at each meeting.
"Last week, we had four members get a job," she said. "This week, we had four new members show up."
Each week, group members network with one another and listen to speakers, who advise them on how to land job interviews and advance their job searches. At yesterday's meeting, the group heard from Gov. John Lynch.
Lynch said the state's unemployment rate of 6.8 percent is better than many other states; the national unemployment rate is 10.2 percent.
"That's little consolation to you all," he said. "Little consolation to people who don't have jobs, people who have to worry about putting food on the table."
But for some, even those who have yet to find a job, the group has been a consolation.
"It's been so beneficial, psychologically if for no other reason," Terry Taylor of Hampstead said.
A real estate title buyer, she was laid off a year ago, but has been working part time since July. Sitting at home and searching for jobs online can get lonely, she said, and sometimes it saps her optimism.
"You come here and you get lifted back up," Taylor said.
Another group member, who was laid off from a human resources career, is helping Taylor retool her resume, she said. But each week she hopes not to see her fellow members.
"I love it when somebody doesn't show up for a week because it's like, 'Yes, they've landed,'" Taylor said.
Lynch told the crowd of about 95 that he wanted to "focus like a laser" on creating jobs.
"There's nothing more important that we could be doing than getting people back to work," he said.
Lynch urged job seekers to sign up for the state's Job Match Web site, designed to match unemployed residents with businesses in the state with open positions.
"We have thousands of companies registered, thousands of jobs that are available, and tens of thousands of applicants," he said.
Tessier said the group is made up of mostly professionals over 40 years old. While it is illegal for employers to ask a job seeker's age, two people told the governor that some got around it by asking for college graduation dates or veteran status. He said he was not sure there was any "foolproof" way to prevent it.
He said the state is looking to expand job training.
"I think we do need to continue to partner with businesses so they understand the experience that you all have now," he said, "and what you could offer to the business with just a little bit of training."
He told the crowd they could bring maturity, experience, and a "great work ethic" to companies.
Tessier said the group defied some people's perceptions of the unemployed as lazy.
"Here's a group of people who are here every Monday at nine o'clock to get their week going for their job search," Tessier said. "If I were an employer, that's the type of employee I would want."
Lynch said he would urge those who are struggling to find work to persevere and be tenacious in their searches.
"I think the economy has bottomed out," he said. "It will very gradually recover, so opportunities will be available. And for some people, it's a question of being in the right place at the right time."
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