Job Seekers Reunite at J.V. Fletcher Library

, but local residents still looking for work gathered with formerly unemployed colleagues late last month at the in a reunion event held by the Westford Job Seekers Network.

The Job Seekers Network, hosted by J.V. Fletcher Technical Services director Dina Kanabar, seeks to aid residents from throughout the area with tips on job hunting from various speakers along with opportunities to network and practice job hunting skills.

, the group has changed in its makeup due to shifts in the economy, but Kanabar believes that the vibrancy of the reunion proves that the project still has value regardless of unemployment rates.

“We see fewer unemployed members at meeting, during our peak we regularly got around 50 people,” said Kanabar. “Now we get an average of about 25 members each week, but we still frequently get new members from word of mouth referrals.”

While job seeking issues are the primary focus of the group, other employment issues such as , age discrimination, and working as an independent contractor as also frequently discussed topics, with Kanabar noting that many members of the group have lately been transitioning into contracting work instead of finding salaried employment.

However, the group has “graduated” several of its members to full time jobs, such as current NetScout employee Judy Corbett.

Corbett was a co-leader of the group from 2010 to early 2011, shortly after losing a job she had held for 18 years.

Although she found that the group was valuable during her time job hunting, Corbett believes that the group has changed somewhat since she left.

“The group is smaller, I think it’s still plugging along; but from the feedback I got, it’s losing some energy,” said Corbett. “One of the things I’ve heard is that people leading the group now are concerned with getting people to participate and volunteer as much as they did before. Maybe it’s the economy, or maybe it’s just people who have been unemployed for long periods feeling discouraged.”

Still, Corbett has nothing for praise for Kanabar, as well as those who continue to frequent the group.

“I would want people to know what a good job the group is doing and how great a job Dina is doing with the various job databases,” said Corbett. “I think it’s a tremendous asset to the town, and there are a lot of alumni to help pay it forward.”

More information on the group is available on the Job Seekers page at the J.V. Fletcher website.