As the economy tanked over the past year, there was a flurry of invitations to so-called pink slip parties - gatherings that first gained popularity during the dot-com bust of 2000, when the jobless were looking for ways to congregate, commiserate, and ultimately, connect in the hope of finding work.
The experienced pink slip party host will tell you three elements are necessary for a successful recession soiree: unemployed guests, a handful of recruiters or others with great connections, and tasty refreshments - preferably, free.
David Fisher and his friends threw a few such parties at Betahouse, a co-working loft in Cambridge. "It really helps people realize, 'It's not just me,' " said Fisher, who had been laid off from his advertising and Gsales job.
At one such gathering, guests at Betahouse noshed on homemade crepes, exchanged business cards and war stories, posted party updates to Twitter - which was used to organize and advertise the party - and vied for the chance to win a "resume refresh," a professional update of the key document of the day.
