LI Breakfast Club focuses on jobs

The Long Island Breakfast Club is getting older -- and bigger.

The club is not something you read about in the paper every other day, like the Long Island Association or the Hauppauge Industrial Association. That's because the Breakfast Club is a looser confederation, one without a permanent home or a paid leadership.

But its online membership now tops 800, because its mission has become increasingly important. The Breakfast Club, founded in 2004, is all about helping people in their 40s, 50s and 60s - many of whom have been out of work a year or more and are professionals - find permanent jobs.

"A few years ago there were five of us," said co-founder and president Valentina Janek, 57, of West Hempstead, who has been on 29 interviews in the last 17 months after losing a financial services job in Jericho. Now, she said, about 100 people come to the group's monthly meetings, and about 800 have signed up for free online membership.

"Right now, having experience is very difficult" when job hunting, Janek said. "They [employers] believe you won't work for less, which is not true. They also believe you won't stay, which also isn't true."

Stephanie Carlino, 61, of Wantagh, also a co-founder and a club vice president, has been job searching for a year after losing her post at a counseling center.

"We've had people come to our meetings in tears," Carlino said. "So sometimes we have a laugh coach come." But the club has been having some success. Carlino said that it has helped find about 10 jobs a month for its members in the last few months. In this day and age, she said, that's progress. Members even help one another get free haircuts.

The group's next meeting is 9 a.m. June 5 at the Hofstra University Club. Those interested can visit longisland breakfastclub.org for details. There's a $20 charge at the door.