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Mar 04, 2009 -- LaidOffCamp making waves among unemployed, networkers

Many people who are unemployed are spending their time in isolation hunkered down behind a computer while searching for job postings and sending out resumes.

Wrong move, says Clark.

The consumer champ has a strong bias for the old-fashioned way of job hunting where people meet in support groups to encourage each other.

Fortunately, the two approaches are no longer mutually exclusive. The San Francisco Chronicle recently reported on a new website called LaidOffCamp that presents a free opportunity for people to get together and network across the country.

This is essentially day camp for those who have been laid off and want to know how to get moving. It's described as "an ad-hoc gathering of unemployed and nontraditionally employed people (including freelancers, entrepreneurs and startups) who want to share ideas and learn from each other…Attendees will discuss topics in sessions that may include: living on an extreme budget, building your personal brand, how to be a freelance consultant and more."

LaidOffCamp is traveling around the country with meetings coming together in New York, San Diego, Detroit, Los Angeles, Chicago, Seattle, Dallas, Washington D.C. and elsewhere. You can even host a camp gathering in your town!

Unemployment support groups are an old concept, but people are not using them this time around because they think the Internet replaces everything else. It doesn't. The Internet is only a tool for communication and research. The most important thing at a time like this is using the Internet as a way to reach out to others a la things like LaidOffCamp.

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What others are saying

  • Atlanta unemployment support community
    go here: http://atlanta4unemployed.yuku.com/
  • Atlanta Enenployment support community
    http://atlanta4unemployed.yuku.com/
  • Taxing the rich
    There are people in this world, who create jobs. If unnecessarly taxing them
    comes about the jobs they create will be taxed (no pun intended).
  • Laid off camp
    I like the idea. The main reason we are stuck behind the computer is because most companies want you to fill out an application on line---they are more concerned about running a background check on you first. They do not want you to come by---they want to call you after the background check is done.

    I have also noticed thisalso a way to determine how old you are. They ask you what year you graduated. If you do not put a date in --then you can not complete the application---computer software refers you back to line and you must put a date in to continue.To me this is age discrimination at the worst. Any good labor lawyers out there?
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