SJN Job Network assists persons in career transition

Finding a new career opportunity can be daunting in the best of times. When the economy is in the tank, unemployment is high and job-seeking methods have evolved by leaps and bounds with the advent of new technology, the challenges are even greater.

Founded in early 2009, the St. John Neumann Job Network (SJN2) helps those in career transition navigate the waters of finding work. The SJN2 vision is to bring together job seekers and networking contacts in a faith-based, volunteer-led group that assists people in securing employment while providing each other with spiritual and motivational support.

The SJN2 core team uses two primary methods of assisting others: monthly meetings and ongoing communication via Yahoo Groups, an online community.

Meetings begin and end with prayer, consistent with our faith and our firm belief that we need God at the center of our lives. In between, new members are welcomed, networking contacts are introduced, success stories are shared, job-hunting challenges are discussed and information is disseminated on job openings. Attendees introduce themselves to the whole group using an “elevator speech,” summarizing their experience and target positions in 10-12 seconds. Time is included for informal networking among attendees—a valuable way to meet new people who might assist seekers in making additional contacts.

After several core team planning meetings last winter, led by parishioners Joe Wollet, Kevin B., Sally Ann G., Ellie S. and, later, Diane R., the group opened its doors in March.

At the first monthly meeting in March, nearly 90 persons participated, far more than the group’s founders anticipated. Since then, most meetings have had at least 50-60 persons attending, nearly half of them first-timers.

“That speaks volumes about the unemployment situation in our parish and the broader community,” said Wollet. “Many people think of the current recession as affecting primarily manufacturing jobs or skilled labor positions.

“What we’ve found is that the people who join our group are mainly white-collar management professionals,” Wollet continued. “If we were to start our own company, our members would fill the ranks of strategic planners, economists, design engineers, project managers, manufacturing engineers, supply-chain directors, quality specialists, career sales and marketing professionals, web designers, human resources people, CFOs, controllers and other finance executives, and administrative staff.”

Between monthly meetings, members receive emails nearly every day, most containing postings of open positions across a broad spectrum of fields. Jobs are shared with other job networking groups in Northeast Ohio, including several other faith-based ministries in the southwest suburbs.

Other services the group provides include online reference materials, critiques of résumés, tutoring on the latest job-search techniques and tips, use of social media, including LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter, and practice job interviews.

“Several human resource professionals have stepped forward to assist with résumé reviews and interviewing skills,” Wollet said. “A number of parishioners have provided leads on job openings that have not been advertised to the general public, too.”

The biggest need the group has is involvement from employed parishioners. Most jobs today are found by networking, Wollet said, not through newspaper ads or even online job postings.

“Think of the ‘Kevin Bacon game,’ also known as ‘Six Degrees of Separation’,” Wollet said. “Most likely, it won’t be your friend or neighbor who has a job for you, but it’ll be the neighbor of a friend of a relative of a former boss. Four or five degrees of network separation are not uncommon.

“Where we need help from parishioners is them letting us know when they hear of openings or providing introductions to persons who may know of an open position.”

SJN2 meetings are held at 7:30-8:30 p.m. on the third Wednesday of every month, typically in the parish Gathering Room. The group is open to all and its services are free of charge.

Success stories grow as seekers find new positions

The prayers of parishioners and the work of the St. John Neumann Job Network are beginning to reap results. In the last few months, multiple job seekers have become alumni of the group.

One of the first members to become an alumnus is Joe B., who started working in May as a business systems analyst for a law firm in Cleveland.

“I worked on projects with one of the managing directors from ’90 to ’92 when he was a lead attorney at National City Bank,” Joe said. “The power of networking!”

After years of working as a quality engineer in the automotive industry, Bob O. started work July 1 as a quality engineer for a medical device manufacturer in Mentor. He succeeded in using his past knowledge to secure a position in another industry, a challenge faced by many job seekers coming from stagnant or contracting industries.

Al B., a member of SJN2 and several other groups, started a new position in mid-September as the chief financial officer of a company in the Detroit area. Persistent networking and casting a wide net that included relocating were key aspects of Al’s search.

Nancy M. landed a position working for the Internal Revenue Service in downtown Cleveland as of October 1. She learned of the opportunity through parishioner Joyce T., an IRS “insider” who notified SJN2 founder Joe Wollet that her agency was hiring. Joyce also coached Nancy on job responsibilities and required skills that helped her land the position.

“I am glad that St. John Neumann started the job networking group,” said Joyce. “Otherwise, I don’t know how I would have gotten the word out.”

Paul P. started work October 5 as a senior information technology clinical analyst with a local healthcare provider.

“I will be their IT representative for all information technology initiatives,” Paul said. “I obtained this position by networking through an old boss, who put me in touch with a friend who worked in the business operations end of the Ireland Cancer Center at UH. He, in turn, gave me the IT hiring manager’s contact information and the rest is history.”

Paul said it took four months of networking before he received the job offer.

“I want to thank you for all that you have done for me and for SJN2,” Paul wrote. “May God bless you for all your kindness and consideration. I keep you and all the SJN2 members in my daily prayers.”

The SJN2 core team requests that all parishioners continue to pray for the unemployed and to let the core team know if they hear of possible job openings.

Chocolate chili

There's a cool nip in the air lately, a sure sign that autumn is coming and that it's time for Gold Rush Camp! Each year, Troop 701 ensconces itself at Camp Butler in Peninsula, OH for that time-honored tradition of Gold Rush.

Esprit de corps grows within each patrol as they compete with one another for gold nuggets. Events typically include Scoutcraft skills and various games.

For a couple of years, the competition even had a chili cook off. The most memorable year was when a young patrol leader, who shall remain nameless, obtained a recipe for chocolate chili. At the age of 13 or so, though, finely-measured quantities were of little import to him. Thus, instead of adding a wee bit of chocolate--say, two ounces--this intrepid young man decided to add a whole (large) bar of chocolate. More is better, right?

As one of the guests who had to endure the meal, I can attest to the fact that chocolate does add a unique character to chili. That being said, though, I would strongly recommend sticking to the quantities specified in the recipe.