Career Coaching for Challenging Times

Job Hunting Tips

DO... expand your horizons, and consider a variety of industries that would suit your skills.

DON'T... only send out resumes through online job listing websites. Take in-person networking seriously. This is how most job searchers find leads, interviews and job opportunities. 

DO... keep your resume to one page, if you are an entry-level candidate.

DON'T... use vague or general statements in your resume. Highlight specific achievements, quantify your accomplishments, and use active words to describe your work.

DO...volunteer actively to maintain your skills, build new ones and expand your professional and social network.

DON'T... forget to do your research! Prepare questions to ask your interviewer, and be prepared to answer challenging questions such as these.

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Catholic Charities launched the Help & Hope program in January 2009 in response to widespread layoffs within some of New York’s largest and most prominent industries.

“We don’t promise them jobs, but we help them develop a plan,” said Msgr. Kevin Sullivan, executive director of Catholic Charities New York.

Led by a professional career coach, Help & Hope workshops offer resources in the published job market, guidance on tapping into the unpublished job market, and networking strategies and techniques. Workshop participants are also provided three individual sessions to discuss their job search. Strategies include individual resume review, honing of interview skills and job negotiation techniques. During these sessions, participants can choose to explore their vocational goals and are encouraged to develop their own voice to identify and achieve employment that is a reflection of an authentic life purpose.

In addition to workshops, Catholic Charities also offers short term crisis counseling for individuals throughout the Archdiocese who have lost their jobs, anticipate a job loss or need to change jobs.

Since the launch of Help & Hope at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Scarsdale, Westchester, the program has held 25 sessions and has helped 390 individuals.

According to Mary Ellen Ros, director of Hudson Valley Services who helped create Help & Hope, many participants say that the program helped jump start or revitalize their career search in the midst of a challenging time. One such testimonial was received by Catholic Charities in August 2010, and is excerpted here.

I am writing this letter to praise the work done by Catholic Charities, specifically as it relates to the programs offered to those going through a career transition or facing the uncertainties of unemployment. Prior to the start of the new year I was in such a position. One day I noticed an advertisement in my local church bulletin advertising a free career services workshop at Catholic Charities and with nothing to lose decided to attend.

Not only did the session help me to realize that I was not the only one facing future uncertainty, but it gave me the confidence in myself and my skills to move forward. Now several months later, I look back and am happy to say that my attendance at the session was invaluable as I have lined up what I hope to be a positive transition to a new job.

More importantly, I cannot say enough about the career transition and reinvention coach who lent her time and expertise to those present that day. Additionally, she made it a point to follow up with me several months after the original session to gauge my job hunting progress and as it turned out, reconnected just in time to help me skillfully navigate the negotiation and interview process with my future new employer. Her willingness to act as a sounding board for my questions and concerns was vital in my obtaining the job.

Thank you for your time and continue the good work at Catholic Charities.

Resources for Job Seekers:

Job opportunities at Catholic Charities New York

Volunteer opportunities at Catholic Charities New York

"Laid Off: Now What?" (a special collection of articles from Monster.com)

Volunteer opportunities, nonprofit jobs, and internships (at Idealist.org)

How to Work Your Social Network to Find Jobs (from NPR.org)

 

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