Searching for a job is a stressful and sometimes lengthy experience. When you spend time applying for jobs and haven't yet received an offer, it's easy to get discouraged. When COVID-19 closed libraries, many job seekers no longer had access to in-person coaching and encouragement from library staff. While there are plenty of online tutorials about resumes and interviewing skills, most of these opportunities do not include a chance to commiserate with other job seekers.

The Dallas Job Seekers Club is an online program that combines presentations from local career resource services with the opportunity to share stories and ask questions of each other. Job Seekers Club tackles topics from protecting your mental health during the job search to finding a job with a criminal record to hyper-local resources available to Dallas residents.

In a single year, over 400 people attended the Dallas Job Seekers Club, received encouragement, and learned valuable skills and resources. The program also facilitated the strengthening of library partnerships with workforce development service providers in the Dallas area.