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January 25, 2009

Morris, state offer job-search services

Attendance up at library career seminars
By Tehani Schneider • Daily Record • January 25, 2009
Sixteen years ago, the Morris County Library began its career seminar courses when the nation was gripped in a recession and the job market reflected the economic malaise.

The economy rebounded and the job seekers to the library dwindled over time.

But as a new economic slump worsens, the numbers for the courses are mushrooming again, said reference librarian Lynne Olver, who instructs the course.

"We're a good barometer of the economy," Olver said. "(In 2007), we ran 51 sessions and received 472 people. Last year, we ran 54 sessions and received 745 people."

Those figures are likely to go up as the number of unemployment claims skyrocket in New Jersey and nationwide. The state's unemployment rate of 7.1 percent is still below the national average of 7.2 percent. Morris County's jobless rate, however, was 4.3 percent as of November.

Olga Burns, director of employment and training services for the county's human services department, said the county is anticipating more layoffs this year and is part of a state response team to offer job-search assistance.

The county assisted 1,300 residents in finding jobs last year, she said.

"We operate what is known as the learning links, the computer labs, helping to increase introductory skill levels and provide introductory computer training as well," Burns said. "We try and provide as many training opportunities as possible (and) also refer to free training that may be available throughout the region as well."

The state operates career centers in Morristown and Dover for Morris County residents who are unemployed and seeking aid in updating resumes, honing skills and finding jobs.

Gordon Cross, a Sussex County resident, credits the state's unemployment office in Dover for helping him find new employment.

The 48 year-old, who was laid off at the beginning of 2008, was facing an uncertain future without a college degree. He took the advice of employees at the Dover office of the Professional Services Group and earned his associate's degree from the County College of Morris last fall.

"It's incredible how well (the PSG program) works, between the classes to get you ready to go back into the job market and the opportunities, looking for openings in New Jersey," Cross said.

Private counseling
The county job-placement services are not the only agencies to experience a boom over the past few months. Career counselors -- who offer a more intimate setting and cater to a smaller number of clients -- have also seen a significant pick-up in business.

Dover resident Yolanda Mendez, who runs a Flanders-based counseling service, offers monthly career-counseling services to a wide variety of clients.

"I have some folks from real estate, some from the design industry, IT, finance," Mendez said. "It's really a broad range. Even the public health sector. Everybody's hurting."

Back at the library, Olver, too, is seeing the effects of cuts in various industries. Those who are unemployed, however, see the library as a site for networking opportunity, she said.

"One of the things that's really nice about the library sessions is that we're in neutral territory. It's not the same stigma as going to unemployment offices," Olver said. "People get to meet one another in the same circumstances."

In fact, Olver -- a Randolph resident -- even encourages job seekers to use the resources at the library, a free service that their taxes pay for.

"We allow people to use the library databases and resources in order to research companies, over and above what you could do from Googling," she said. "That very well could put you over and above someone else who has similar qualifications, because you've gone above and beyond doing research and using these tools. It makes the difference between having a job and not."

Tehani Schneider can be reached at (973) 428-6631 or tschneider@gannett.com.

Posted by tumulty at January 25, 2009 11:12 PM

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