Gibson, 57, graduated from UC-Berkeley with a major in English and a minor in engineering. He has been in sales for 30 years. The products he has sold are all over the universe. One is on the moon, one on Mars and several on the satellites orbiting around the earth. If he cannot find a job, who can? But Gibson has been unemployed since July 29, 2002.

"There are times I feel sorry for myself, but I try not to let stress bother me," Gibson says. "Negative energy is the last thing I need now. I try to focus on how I can accomplish things instead of why I can't."

Gibson is among 8.5 million Americans who are asking themselves why they cannot find a job.

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, although the unemployment rate remained at 5.8 percent in February, non-farming payroll employment fell by 308,000. In California, the unemployment rate was 7 percent, with one million people out of work.

"This economic downturn is very comprehensive and severe," says Chuck Divine, who has been a career counselor for 25 years. "This might be the worst since the Depression."

The job search and support group headed by Divine reflects the demographics of this widespread job loss.

Among the 12 regular members of his group, there are men and women, Indians and Caucasians, Christians and Hindus. Their work experience ranges from sales to social work. Every Tuesday morning, his group members come from all over the Bay Area to meet at St. Cyprian Church in Sunnyvale.

With so many people laid off these days, members of Divine's group say they do not feel as much stigma as people did in the past.

However, the job-hunting skills needed today are different. A good résumé is not enough. Divine stresses meeting people face to face through networking, a point he has made over and over since the group first met in September. And the networking starts when group members come to class and reach out to each other, something invaluable for lifting their spirits.

Divine, 70, is retired but found a new mission when his church, St. Cyprian, announced it was looking for

an experienced career counselor to help unemployed people. He runs the workshop like a boot camp. His voice is so energetic and loud that it rises above the bell ringing at St. Cyprian Elementary School in the same building.

Group members are required to read Richard Nelson Bolles' What Color is Your Parachute? A Practical Manual for Job-Hunters and Career, a book Divine calls "the job hunter's Bible." At the beginning of each meeting, Divine makes group members stand up and give updates on their job-searching efforts. He and other members sometimes jump in to offer advice and encouragement.

Like most laid-off employees, the members of Divine's group feel depressed and isolated. They have to cut expenses and readjust their lifestyle. Some move back in with their parents; some spend more time at home with their children; and some explore their interests and hobbies.

The group's weekly meeting has given these laid-off workers some stability and reassurance.

"This meeting gives me a reason to walk out of the house," says Steve Parker, 33. He has been out of work since November of 2001. He says moving back to live with his mother has caused stress. "I feel better when I walk out of the meeting than I felt when I walked in."

The networking they do in the group has not only provided moral support but is also a good starting point for learning networking skills.

"More than 85 percent of jobs are not listed in the newspapers," Divine says. "People hire people. Papers don't hire people. The most effective way to get a job is talking to people. It was true 50 years ago. It is still true now."

Charlene Needham, 60, says she had never thought networking was necessary in job hunting until she joined Divine's group. She had worked in administrative support for a computer company for nine years before she was laid off in May 2002.

"In the old days, you just had to walk into an office, hand in your résumé and you got a job," Needham says. "In today's world, you have to go out and talk to people."

Divine suggests people start networking by talking to friends and acquaintances, attending job fairs and joining professional and alumni organizations.

The next step is to arrange information interviews. Information interviews are different from job interviews. The purpose of information interviews is to get information, not a job, although getting a job is the ultimate goal.

"For people who want to change careers, information interviews are helpful because they learn what the field is like before committing their time, effort and finances," Divine says. "For people who are already in the field, information interviews can give them more information than simply confirming the skills needed and the salary range. They can get referrals or even meet their future boss."

Despite the benefits Divine touts of an information interview, it is difficult for many job seekers to call people they barely know.

"I consider myself a private and shy person," says Mark Babiarz, a 49-year-old hardware engineer. Babiarz was laid off last November. It was not the first time he had been laid off. The last time it happened was 15 years ago. "It is very difficult for me to talk to strangers and strike up a conversation. But I am learning. And I am getting better at it."

Now a firm believer in the power of networking, Babiarz has joined the Catholic Professional and Business Group and has attended various job fairs.

Networking has proved to be effective in job hunting.

Anupam Sharma, 35, was hired by a law firm in Palo Alto after an introduction by a former colleague. Sharma has a law degree from Stanford University and a master's degree in engineering management. He has worked in the venture capital, engineering, legal and banking fields. After being laid off in February, he took advantage of the opportunity to explore his interests by talking to his friends and former college classmates.

"When you are working, you are so caught up in your job," says Sharman, who used to work 72 hours a week. "Being laid off forced me to make decisions. I always believe when something bad happens, something better will come."

Good news like this sustains Jim Gibson's optimism.

"I believe the economy will turn around eventually," he says. "I just need to keep up my spirits to get through things."

For more information about the job search support group at St. Cyprian Church, call Charles Divine at 408.739.2580.