Pink Slip Parties Help Job Seekers

Executive pay on Wall Street continues making news. But there's another news item that's important to note and it's a grass roots movement to help the unemployed find jobs with Pink Slip Parties. The events bring together people who are unemployed in a social setting where they can network with each other and job recruiters in a relaxed atmosphere.

Pink Slip Parties started a century ago in New York City when unemployed factory workers met in local taverns to help each other. The economy was also going through a shift at that time in history. Today, Pink Slip Parties are being held on both coasts and often sponsored by local companies and nationally recognized firms.

A recent gathering was held in New York City at the City Winery on Varrick Street with more events found at http://www.wallstreetpinkslip.com.

In Los Angeles, Pink Slip Parties have been held multiple times in 2009 including a June 16 event at the Blue Velvet Lounge in downtown Los Angeles.

The web site, www.pinkslippartyla.com is sponsored by a boutique staffing firm, BCS Staffing. BCS Staffing president Beryl Smith told me her firm doesn't make any money off of the event that includes a $5 cover charge and up to $6 for parking. She said it's her way to help turn around the job market in Los Angeles which currently has an unemployment rate of 11%. The latest figures are for April 2009. That's over a 5% jump from a year ago.

While the increase is large, April's figures held steady. According to the Keyser Center for Economic Research, it's the first time since March 2007 that the unemployment rate in Los Angeles County did not rise.

At a Pink Slip Party, people who are searching for jobs will find a supportive atmosphere and be able to exchange ideas with others. They can also meet top recruiters with openings in categories like accounting, legal, sales, marketing, hospitality, graphics, IT, and human resources.

Looking for a job in a tight economy means using all methods possible to make the right connections. But it also requires the ability to stay focused and positive regardless of a person's circumstances. Employers are more likely to hire someone who smiles and is prepared for a challenge instead of someone who is gloomy - even if their circumstances make a downcast attitude understandable.

Networking for a job to find a right fit will require patience, an understanding of a prospective employer's needs and a few questions to determine the personality of people who may become workplace associates.