Job Hunting in Los Angeles with a Pink Slip Party

Looking for a job on your own in a tight market can be discouraging or seem impersonal when attending one job and career fair after another.

Los Angeles is one of the cities across the country where Pink Slip Parties make it possible to attend a fun social event while meeting top recruiting firms.

I first heard about the concept through the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce when I met Beryl Smith, president of BCS Staffing who has hosted Pink Slip Parties as a way to offset the numbers of unemployed in the city and county.

The current unemployment rate in Los AngelesCounty is 11% for the period ending April 2009 compared to 5.9% unemployed a year earlier. The number came from the KyserCenter for Economic Research. The good news for the number is the unemployment rate did not rise in April. It had been increasing steadily since March 2007.

The next Pink Slip Party in Los Angeles is Tuesday June 16 at the Blue Velvet Restaurant and Lounge in downtown LA at 750 S. Garland Avenue. Complete information is on www.pinkslippartyla.com.

Beryl said Pink Slip Parties started a century ago in New York City when unemployed workers met in taverns to support each other and learn about new openings in the factories and stores. She said BCS Staffing does not make any money when hosting the events; instead, they do it as a service for the city and county.

When I entered the term in Google, I found a web site, www.pinkslipparty.com, which has advice on interviewing techniques, career change and tips for achieving a balance between work and personal life.

In New York City, the Wall Street Pink Slip Party was held recently at the City Winery.

The events are part happy-hour and part job-fair for people who are unemployed to find support and enjoy themselves.

Job openings represented at the events can range from accounting and finance to real estate, healthcare, legal and IT.

Other locations for Pink Slip Parties include Edison, NJ and Baltimore, MD.

Pink Slip Parties not only make it possible to network and speak to recruiters personally without the pressure of a job fair, but they can also boost morale and give the person who is job searching a positive attitude. Maintaining composure and remaining hopeful when searching for employment may be one of the biggest challenges facing a person who is unemployed.

Local economic development departments will also have resources on hand to assist in job searches, resources and may even offer ideas on starting a business that fits with a person’s current job skills and professional outlook.

When looking for a job use all sources from the local paper and companies that are featured to the Internet, local chambers of commerce, and events like Pink Slip Parties.