In response to the onset of the global COVID-19 pandemic, the Heldrich Center established the New Jersey Career Network Job Seeker Community in September 2020 to provide job seekers in the state with a virtual community where they could access job search resources, connect with peers, and share materials and tools designed to assist with emotional well-being during the job search. Funded by the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development, the Community aimed to provide a virtual home for job seekers navigating the uncharted territory that was job search during the pandemic, as well as dealing with the trauma of job loss in a period of exacerbated stress and social isolation.

A new research brief by Liana Volpe and Savannah Barnett provides an overview of the Community and the services it provided, examines membership from the Community’s launch in September 2020 until its closure in the spring of 2023, and reviews the Community’s operations and outreach efforts. Finally, the brief offers lessons learned from the New Jersey Career Network Job Seeker Community and recommendations for individuals and organizations seeking to develop a community that assists job seekers.