[ back ]
Goal for jobless is to 'Go Forth,' find work
(by Sue Hoffman - January 05, 2011)
Goal for jobless is to 'Go Forth,' find work
By SUE HOFFMAN
Joe Rettman, of Solon, has been unemployed since being laid off in August 2009 from a sales and marketing job for a recycling and sustainable energy business.
While he spends most days "knocking on doors, turning over rocks," networking and following leads for possible employment, he also has sought a way to help others. A member of Congregation Shaarey Tikvah in Beachwood, he shared his thoughts with the Conservative synagogue's men's club, which is involved in service projects.
"I brought it up and said, 'Are we doing anything for anyone out there to help?'" said Mr. Rettman, who also served as a sales representative for a janitorial equipment and supply distributor and as a manufacturer's representative during his three decades in the work world. "I'm certain I'm not the only one unemployed."
Actually, he is one of three members of the men's club board of trustees who is currently unemployed, he said.
"We just can't sit here," he told them. "We really need to do something to help. The majority of the people I know who are unemployed are 45 and older. I don't see that market coming back anytime soon."
Working with the Jewish Family Service Association of Cleveland, Mr. Rettman and the men's club are offering a monthly program from January to June at Shaarey Tikvah to help people find jobs. It is called "Go Forth and Goal," which is a positive twist on Biblical and sports references, Mr. Rettman said.
The monthly program, scheduled from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. on the second Wednesday of January through May and third Wednesday in June, will be offered to the entire community, he said.
"People will learn to reconnect and get their motivation up," he said. "We want to give information, ideas and positive reinforcement."
The speaker will be Marty Jaffe, a career counselor at JFSA. Mr. Jaffe said several topics will be covered over the next six months.
First on the agenda is "DARE to MOPE," he said, which are acronyms for Direct (through) Ads, Referrals and Energy, and Motivation, Organization, Planning and Energy. Other topics include: "Why Should I Hire You?" regarding interview preparation; adult career transitions and skills inventory; "work-casting," in which applicants assesses their most comfortable employment settings; and "mythology."
One myth is that 80 percent of the jobs are gained through networking, said Mr. Jaffe, who also leads career counseling groups at JFSA. That is not true, he said, as several resources should be explored in the job search.
"We know there are folks out there who need help," Mr. Jaffe said. "The job market is better than a couple of years ago, but still difficult. They're struggling."
[ back ]
