The Plumb Memorial Library in Shelton is starting a networking and support group for unemployed Valley residents.
The group is the brainchild of Shelton resident Matthew Civale — an unemployed IT manager.
“I have good work experience and I was applying for places and not getting any calls,” Civale said.
Then he found a similar networking group at the Fairfield Public Library.
“I was searching online and looking at interviewing skills and job hunting skills when I came across what Fairfield Public Library was doing with networking and workshop events,” Civale said.
After viewing podcasts on interviewing and resume writing, Civale said he got four interviews.
So he asked Shelton library officials if he could start a similar group there.
Plumb Library Director Elspeth Lydon said there is a need for the group and she appreciates Civale’s initiative to start it.
“We were excited that Matthew is doing this for us,” Lydon said. “We have a lot of library users who are unemployed who come here to fill out resumes, take out (job-related) books and who are trying to figure out how to get a job.”
Unemployment Rates
Unemployment rates in the Valley have remained high this year.
Ansonia and Derby have hovered around 11 percent unemployment, according to figures from the Connecticut Department of Labor.
The most recent figures from September indicate that Ansonia had 11.1 percent and Derby had 11 percent unemployment.
In September, Oxford reported a 6.7 percent unemployment rate, while Seymour had 9.1 percent and Shelton had 7.9 percent.
Click here to see past stories on the unemployment rates in the Valley.
What To Expect
Lydon said the mission of the group will be to offer a structured, encouraging and supportive meeting environment for unemployed individuals.
Although the group will be offered to the unemployed, Lydon said that they are also targeting individuals making a career change and people considering becoming entrepreneurs.
She said she would like to see business owners, hiring managers and human resource representatives attend and have an opportunity to speak at the group.
Lydon said the first meeting will not have a speaker but that Civale will determine what the networking and support group is looking for and will formulate which speakers to get based on the group’s needs.
Civale said he is in contact with Bridgeport Connecticut Works for speakers and he has a confirmation from a local hiring firm to come to the support group and make presentations and do workshops on resume writing, interviewing skills and other job related activities.
The group will meet Wednesdays at the library from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., starting on Nov. 10.
The Plumb Memorial Library is located at 65 Wooster Street in Shelton.
