This article was published recently in London Business Matters that is circulated to all London Chamber of Commerce members.

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With unemployment rising rapidly, trying to find a job now and in the near future may be more difficult than before. Investing in yourself to be better than your competitors is crucial, and joining Junior Chamber International (JCI) might just be the best investment you can make right now. And if you have just been made redundant, then perhaps you should see it as an opportunity to enhance or develop a few new skills.

In a rapidly changing world, those who expect to succeed professionally and personally must be eager and continuous learners, constantly striving to develop their own talents, and adapting these talents to their circumstances. In grooming tomorrow’s leaders, JCI is cultivating responsible, versatile, skilled young adults with the knowledge and confidence needed to thrive in any arena.

Founded in 1915, JCI is a voluntary personal development organisation for young professionals and entrepreneurs aged in their twenties and thirties. Our organisation of over 200,000 members world-wide aims to develop the skill set of its members by organising events in their own free time, focused on business, training, community, social and international aspects. The list of millions of alumni who obtained their informal education through JCI is impressive and includes high profile leaders such as John F. Kennedy, Bill Clinton, Kofi Annan, Jacques Chirac, and over 50% of the current Japanese government.

London Junior Chamber of Commerce (JCI London) is a local organisation (chamber) that is part of this dynamic global network where every day our members are making a real difference through their leadership roles in company offices and board rooms or by running their own businesses. Members can develop their skills by attending interactive training sessions and by getting involved in one of the many event projects.

Our ‘learning by doing’ ethos enables them to develop their leadership and management skills in a safe and informal environment before applying this knowledge and experience to the workplace to accelerate their career progression. By being actively involved on projects our members share ideas and collaborate on projects with people from different social and professional backgrounds. These efforts help to break down prejudices and build a mutual understanding, while providing opportunities for personal and professional advancement for young professionals.

Our projects not only provide an outlet for a wide range of abilities and a training ground for developing and acquiring new skills, but often best symbolize the highest ideals of JCI. Some of these projects demonstrate an unwavering commitment to bettering our world by achieving a global impact through local action. A member’s active citizenship by being involved in the planning and execution of a community project creates positive change in society. For example, in 2008 JCI entered into a partnership with the United Nations Foundation to support a world-wide “Nothing But Nets” campaign. Local projects are aimed to raise money for the purchase of bed nets for people in Africa, which in turn save lives by preventing the spread of malaria.

Some of the events and projects JCI London is organising this year include public speaking, debating, business visits, and social events like our Annual Dinner in the House of Lords. This year’s flagship community project is in partnership with Landmark Training in East London to teach young people CV writing and job interview skills. Through international conferences, academies, and twinnings (sister chamber relationships), our members are able to interact with members from various nationalities, thereby gaining understanding and appreciation of both their cultural similarities and differences.

Sometimes your work environment or job, or that of your staff, does not present an opportunity to acquire new skills like project management or leadership skills. Luckily, by being a member of JCI such occasions are created for you. And at the price of less than a pint of beer per week, it is possibly the best and cheapest way to invest in yourself. For an overview of our events, please visit our website at www.jcilondon.org.uk.

Marco van den Heuvel
Local President 2009, JCI London
London Junior Chamber of Commerce