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.
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.
posted by Joe Wollet at 2:31 PM
1 Comments:
Hi Joe.
This is FANTASTIC!! Curious if you might have some time to speak with me about this ministry.
Thanks!
Cathy
CatVollmer@comcast.net
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