万花筒 2009-07-23&07-24 失业夏令营（在线收听）

At colleges and vacant night clubs, camp is in session. And all of these campers are here for one reason.

“Two months, I have been unemployed and I am going like this. It’s a rollercoaster.”

It’s those feelings of helplessness, these camps seem to ease. With workshops designed to empower the job-seeker, from using Internet social networking sites to market their skills,

“Not only should you put your photo in your profile, but you should use the same photo across all the different networks you use.”

to how to make a positive first impression, once you land in an interview.

“To engage eye contact for, with these, with one or two of those people at every moment.”

“You have to make your own opportunities, you have to really go out there, and just, you know, kinda stir things up for yourself.”

“For many who attend these camps, it’s not just about the networking or learning new skills, it’s also about meeting others in similar situations.”

“What I needed when I was laid off was to be around other people, so I could lift my spirits up. ”

“You kind of put things in a perspective a little bit better.”

Chris Hogence created the San Francisco Camp, he’s still umemployed, but he’s staying upbeat.

“If you can bring together a lot of people that share a common cause, they can share their knowledge and information with each other, and put that knowledge to good use.”

And perhaps, put that knowledge to work, to find work.

Diana Alvear, ABC News, Chicago 

stir up: arouse or excite feelings and passions