The Idea
Offer job seekers a weekly "group meeting" and specific plan for their job search to provide incentives for them to get motivated and feedback on their progress.
Origins
When I was in business school, the Career Center created similar groups for job seekers. Being in a group helped me be accountable about progress, gave me ideas, helped support my motivation and boosted my morale. Knowing the success of Weight Watchers for diets and counseling a lot of job seekers with poor organizational and motivational skills, I thought combining the two concepts would be key.
How It Works
Essentially copy the Weight Watchers model for job searches. Schedule regular groups. Offer service pricing for a certain number of weeks for that regular group. Promise "lifetime membership" based on progress against specific goals (e.g., number of documented interviews instead of weight loss). Research specific emotional blocks people have in the job search and find ways to get the weekly group to overcome them. Provide easy-to-use, simple and specific tools and trackers (like the Weight Watchers "points" system) to motivate people and help them track their progress in their job search. Offer "CareerCatchers at Work" to employers facing layoffs. Offer additional custom services (resume reviews, mock interviews, books, software) for a fee. License the brand name to other services using your "points" system.
Resources Needed
Nominal experience organizing groups and job searches, nominal investment to attract job seekers
Sustainable Competitive Advantage (If Any)
Brand name and proven results would be the only competitive advantage; like "Weight Watchers," knock-offs would be easy and common
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