Job Clubs

Information
and Local
Marketing Pack

Contents
Guidance
ƒƒ How to set up and
run a Job Club
Templates and
materials
ƒƒ Logo
ƒƒ Standard Email
ƒƒ Leaflet (A5)
ƒƒ Poster (A4)
ƒƒ Press Release
ƒƒ Online ad
ƒƒ Press ad
Job Clubs
Information How to set up and
and Local
Marketing
Pack
run a job club
What is a job club?

ƒƒ A job club is a group of individuals (experts recommend any

number from two to thirty) who get together on a regular basis
to support each other through the job hunting process. It enables
members to expand their network of contacts whilst also acting as
a support group.

ƒƒ A job club is useful in terms of nurturing self-esteem and

optimism which are essential for helping the job search process.

ƒƒ Job clubs can improve people’s chances of finding a job. Their

efforts are strengthened by belonging to a group and job searches
are shorter.

Why are we setting them up?

ƒƒ 30 percent of those who lose their jobs find another one through
friends, family or social networks. Only 10 percent of people get
their jobs through Jobcentre Plus. ‘Who you know’ still counts for
a lot. Get Britain Working Job Clubs will help enhance individuals’
social networks and give them the motivation and support needed
during difficult times.

ƒƒ To demonstrate Conservative engagement and action – making a

difference now.

ƒƒ To demonstrate our belief that we are all in this together –

especially in the tough times.

What to do

a) Find a venue

ƒƒ A venue which is free of charge would be preferable. Pubs or

cafes are not recommended as there are too many distractions. It
is better to use a public building like a library, community centre
or place of worship. Alternatively small groups can hold meetings
in private homes or local association offices or friendly local
businesses’ meeting rooms. Once the job club is up and running
members can take it in turns to hold meetings in their homes.

b) Getting started

ƒƒ Regular weekly or fortnightly meetings are important to start with

to get the group established. Once connections have been made
the club can meet less often and instead members can phone and
email each other for support.
Job Clubs ƒƒ The group will need a leader: this can be one person or the
Information leadership can rotate. The leader is responsible for co-ordinating
and Local each meeting, distributing members’ details and keeping the
Marketing meetings moving. The leader does not have to be a Conservative
Pack candidate or councillor, it can be someone from within the group.

ƒƒ The objective of the meeting is for members to share each other’s

job-hunting and career experiences and to encourage each other
in the quest for a new job.

yy Beginning: members spend a few minutes sharing the results

and achievements of the previous week’s job hunting.

yy Middle: members ask for support in specific areas which

could relate to a themed session (e.g. verbal and non verbal
interview skills, CV writing, dress for success, etc.).

yy End: members each set a goal to be achieved by the next

meeting (e.g. add ten contacts to your network list, rewrite
CV, do two mock interviews, research three new potential
employers).

c) Prepare a session programme

ƒƒ Job Journey Planning
A workshop to help individuals plan their journey back into work.
Members define a specific goal or focus for their job search and
state the kind of job they want. Members talk to one another to
aid analysis of their own skills, abilities and interests. Members
plan how they will amass knowledge of the employers they wish
to approach.

ƒƒ Interview Skills and Mock Interviews

Focussing on soft skills (e.g. presentation and communication).
This can include tips on question preparation, displaying a
confident attitude, handling difficult questions, presenting
yourself positively. Honest feedback couched in positive tones
is an essential part of the mock interview process. Evaluate
responses and try to come up collaboratively with better ones.

ƒƒ CV Workshops
To provide advice and guidance on the main principles involved
in preparing a strong covering letter and CV. Advice can also be
offered on filling in application forms. This can either be by the
whole group or offered as one-to-one help.

ƒƒ Career Talks
To offer an opportunity to hear first hand from guest speakers
about what it is like working in various fields. This is ideal to
improve confidence levels and goal setting. Could also include
advice on salary negotiation, CVs, cover letters, interview
technique and company research.
Job Clubs ƒƒ Volunteering Opportunities
Information Experience gained from volunteering can often set you apart
and Local from other job candidates and enlarge your social network.
Marketing This workshop can introduce members to local volunteering
Pack opportunities and highlight how volunteering can fast-track the
journey back to work.

ƒƒ Dress for Success

This can be a lighthearted look at how what you wear can improve
confidence and job prospects. There could be a focus on selecting
and sharing interview attire.

Other recommended Job Club activities:

ƒƒ Members can bring in their CVs, both so they can evaluate each
other’s and so they can be exchanged and distributed when
opportunities arise.
ƒƒ Combine the job club and book club models – ask each member
to read a book about an aspect of job-hunting and share the best
ideas with the group.
ƒƒ Members could nominate their favourite career websites to share
with the group.
ƒƒ The members could test their knowledge of job hunting
techniques by taking online tests for job hunters.
ƒƒ The job club could develop a special ceremony for members who
have found a job.

Useful websites for preparing sessions:

• www.monster.co.uk
• www.jobseekersadvice.com
• www.quintcareers.com
• www.myjobsearch.com
• www.cvtips.com
• www.volunteering.org.uk

d) Enlisting other organisations and volunteers to help

ƒƒ Many Conservative-run councils will be currently looking at

developing and funding job hunting support programmes. They
may well be able to help with the provision of venues and with
administrative support. They can also foster useful links with the
local Jobcentre Plus, the Citizens Advice Bureau and the Learning
and Skills council which will further enhance the Get Britain
Working Job Club offering. If your local council is not Conservative-
run, contact the managers of the local organisations to seek their
involvement. They will be very supportive of any social action
initiative aimed at getting people back into work.

ƒƒ Members of the local association with professional or business

experience could prove very helpful in terms of helping to set
up the Job Club and being guest speakers or helping with mock
interviews, CV tips and other session themes.
Job Clubs ƒƒ Local Conservative friendly businesses may be keen to support
Information the Job Club by either providing speakers, meeting room space or
and Local if appropriate company tours.
Marketing
Pack
e) Prepare a local marketing plan

ƒƒ The local marketing pack contains templates for a leaflet, poster,

press advert, online advert and press release.

ƒƒ A positive solution to local job losses is likely to be very

newsworthy. Launching the Get Britain Working Job Club concept a
week before the Job Club is due to start will mean that local press,
online and radio coverage will help generate volunteer support
and job club users.

f) Sourcing your users

ƒƒ Losing a job can make even the most confident person feel
vulnerable and at a loss. Striding purposefully into a new Job Club
will not be an easy thing for many people to do. Encouraging
people through Conservative, personal and business networks is
probably the most effective way of initially attracting participants.
Even if the Job Club starts with five or so people it will grow
steadily through word of mouth and sustained local marketing.
Building links with Jobcentre Plus, the Citizens Advice Bureau and
Connexions will provide a steady stream of Job Club users.

g) Sustaining the job club

ƒƒ Once the members of the Job Clubs have connected, leadership

can come from within the group. Natural leaders will shine
through and leadership can be passed on when members leave
to start new jobs. The role of the candidate or councillor will be
to maintain momentum and raise continued awareness of the Job
Club in order to keep attracting new members.

For help with GET BRITAIN WORKING Job Clubs contact

the social action team at CCHQ:

Jo Hillier
0207 984 8031
jo.hillier@conservatives.com
Ahzaz Chowdhury
0207 984 8071
ahzaz.chowdhury@conservatives.com

For more information and support go to

www.getbritainworking.com
Job Clubs
Information
LogoS
and Local
Marketing THE FOLLOWING LOGOS ARE AVAILABLE FOR YOU TO ADD TO
Pack YOR LOCAL PUBLICITY MATERIALS:

PLAN FOR CHANGE LOGO

GET BRITAIN WORKING LOGO

Job Clubs
Information
STANDARD EMAIL
and Local
Marketing To send out to Association members to forward to family and friends,
Pack together with Candidates contact lists.

COPY AND PASTE THE FOLLOWING TEXT INTO YOUR EMAIL:

Dear [Salutation]

Get Britain Working Job Clubs

I am keen to do what I can to help people through the stormy

economic period ahead. These are tough times; many local people
are being made redundant; it is time to deliver practical help at a
community level.

I am in the process of setting up a Job Club in [name of town] at

[insert place] and will be linking in with [insert organisation or council
name]. It will enable members to expand their network of contacts
whilst also acting as a support group.

Thirty percent of those who lose their jobs find another one through
friends, family or social networks compared to only ten percent of
people getting their jobs through Jobcentre Plus. ‘Who you know’ still
counts for a lot. The Job Clubs will help enhance individuals’ social
networks and give them the motivation and support to find another
job.

I am intending to have the Job Club up and running by [insert date].

I am writing to you to ask for your help in [supporting the members
by delivering mock interviews, CV writing or networking skills
workshops] [encouraging people who have been made redundant to
come along and be part of the Job Club].

I am sure you will agree this is a very worthwhile venture, any help
you can provide will be greatly appreciated.

Best wishes

[Candidate Name]
[Constituency Name]
Job Clubs
Information
Leaflet (A5)
and Local
Marketing To be used as a mail drop with another local leaflet and used on
Pack street stalls.
THE LEAFLET BELOW IS AVAILABLE IN PUBLISHER FORMAT:
COME ALONG TO THE
[INSERT NAME]
JOB CLUB
We are all facing difficult economic
times, many businesses are
struggling and local people are
losing their jobs.
Research shows that the best way to
find another job is through friends,
family or social networks.
We are setting up a Job Club which
will help people expand their
network of contacts whilst also
acting as a support group.
COME ALONG TO THE
[INSERT NAME]
JOB CLUB
We are all facing difficult economic
times, many businesses are
struggling and local people are
losing their jobs.
Research shows that the best way to
find another job is through friends,
family or social networks.
We are setting up a Job Club which
will help people expand their
network of contacts whilst also
acting as a support group.
The [Insert Name] Job Club will meet each
week as follows:
Date
Time
Venue
Come along and share in each other’s job-
hunting and career experiences and
encourage each other in the quest for a new
job.
Guest speakers will offer advice on interview
technique, CV and cover letter writing,
presentation skills, networking skills and
volunteering opportunities.
Please contact [insert name] to book a free
place.
0000 000 0000
name@websitename.com
www.getbritainworking.com
Promoted and printed by <Insert name>, on behalf of <Insert name of Association>, both of <Insert full
address and post code>.
The [Insert Name] Job Club will meet each
week as follows:
Date
Time
Venue
Come along and share in each other’s job-
hunting and career experiences and
encourage each other in the quest for a new
job.
Guest speakers will offer advice on interview
technique, CV and cover letter writing,
presentation skills, networking skills and
volunteering opportunities.
Please contact [insert name] to book a free
place.
0000 000 0000
name@websitename.com
www.getbritainworking.com
Promoted and printed by <Insert name>, on behalf of <Insert name of Association>, both of <Insert full
address and post code>.
Job Clubs
Information
Poster (A4)
and Local
Marketing To be displayed in Association offices, libraries, council buildings,
Pack supermarkets and local shops.

THE POSTER BELOW IS AVAILABLE IN PUBLISHER FORMAT:

COME ALONG TO THE

[INSERT NAME] JOB CLUB
Come along and share in each other’s job-hunting and
career experiences and encourage each other in the
quest for a new job.

Guest speakers will offer advice on interview

technique, CV and cover letter writing, presentation
skills, networking skills and volunteering
opportunities.

The [Insert Name] Job Club meets each week as follows:

Date - Time
Venue
Please contact [insert name] to book a free place.

0000 000 0000

name@websitename.com
www.getbritainworking.com

Promoted and printed by <Insert name>, on behalf of <Insert name of Association>, both of <Insert full address and post code>.
Job Clubs
Information
Press Release
and Local
Marketing To be sent to local newspapers prior to the first meeting of the Job
Pack Club.

COPY AND PASTE THE FOLLOWING TEXT INTO YOUR STANDARD

PRESS RELEASE TEMPLATE:

Get Britain Working

Job Clubs

On [insert date] and [time] we will be holding an event to launch the

[insert town name] Get Britain Working Job Club. All residents are
invited to attend the launch to hear from [insert organisations] about
the plans for the Job Club and how to get involved.

[Name of PPC/councillor], local co-ordinator for the Job Club project,

said “We are all facing difficult economic times, many businesses are
struggling and local people are losing their jobs.

Research shows that the best way to find another job is through
friends, family or social networks.

We are setting up a Job Club which will help people expand their
network of contacts whilst also acting as a support group.

The Job Club will meet each week at [insert venue] on a [insert day] at
[insert time] it will be free of charge.

Job Club members will be able to share in each other’s job-hunting

and career experiences and encourage each other in the quest for a
new job.

Guest speakers will offer advice on interview technique, CV and cover

letter writing, presentation skills, networking skills and volunteering
opportunities.

Job Clubs are already up and running around the country and are
proving to be a great success. I am really excited about bringing this
concept to [insert town name].”

If you would like to attend the launch to find out more about the
Get Britain Working Job Club or are interested in volunteering for the
project please contact [insert details].

ENDS
Job Clubs
Information
Online Ad
and Local
Marketing To go on local community web sites and Candidate web sites.
Pack
THE BANNER BELOW IS AVAILABLE IN ANIMATED GIF FORMAT
(568 x 129 pixels):

Link to: www.getbritainworking.com

PRESS Ad
Public information ad to go in the local press.

COPY AND PASTE THE FOLLOWING TEXT for adaptation and

supply to your local newspapers:

GET BRITAIN WORKING LOGO

COME ALONG TO THE

[INSERT NAME] JOB CLUB

Come along and share in each other’s job-hunting and career

experiences and encourage each other in the quest for a new job.

Guest speakers will offer advice on interview technique, CV and

cover letter writing, presentation skills, networking skills and
volunteering opportunities.

The [Insert Name] Job Club meets each week as follows:

Date - Time
Venue

Please contact [insert name] to book a free place.

Telephone: 0000 000 0000

Email: name@websitename.com
www.getbritainworking.com

Promoted by <Insert name>, on behalf of <Insert name of Association>, both

of <Insert full address and post code>.

Promoted and printed by Alan Mabbutt on behalf of the Conservative Party, both at 30 Millbank, London SW1P 4DP.