Corrections or additions?
This article was prepared for the January 16, 2002 edition of U.S.
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Downsizings Hit Young Workers and Executives Alike
Unemployment is up along the Route 1 corridor, and it
is bringing desperation to the under-skilled and the over-skilled
alike. Rachel Weitzenkorn is coordinator of Project Re-employment,
a service of Jewish Family and Children’s Services that is open to
everyone, regardless of religious affiliation. “People come into
my office and they are so depressed, so discouraged,” she says.
The next session of Project Re-Employment, which exists to get these
displaced workers back to work, begins on Wednesday, January 30, at
9:30 a.m. at the agency’s offices at 707 Alexander Road. There is
no charge, but attendees are required to attend all four sessions.
The other three take place on Thursday, January 31, and on Wednesday
and Thursday, February 6 and 7. Call 609-987-8100.
“There are definitely more inquiries,” Weitzenkorn says.
“We
see as many as 25 people in Project Re-Employment, and I also see
people individually. Those inquiries definitely have risen a lot.
A lot of local businesses are downsizing.”
Weitzenkorn is seeing people at both ends of the age and income
spectrum.
Younger people — in their 20s and 30s — who have never
completed
college are finding it difficult to land jobs. Many worked for 10
or more years, lost a job, and are finding that employers now consider
a four-year degree a baseline requirement.
The other group turning up at Weitzenkorn’s office are executives
in their 50s. During the past year, many have been from the financial
industry, and especially from banking. “They were vice
presidents,”
says Weitzenkorn. “When banks merge, they only need so many vice
presidents.” Re-entry into banking does not appear feasible for
many as the industry continues to shrink.
The misery is compounded for a number of former bankers, who are on
their second, or third, or fourth lay-off. “They have been laid
off again, and again,” says Weitzenkorn, “and at a high
salary.
A lot come in pretty frustrated, and depressed.”
Prospective employers see 20-plus years experience on these resumes,
Weitzenkorn says, and their immediate reaction is: “We can’t
afford
these people.”
Ph.D.s, laid off from pharmaceuticals, have a similar problem. Like
experience, a high salary, or a lofty job title, the credential
triggers
too many dollar signs in the eyes of would-be employers. Highly
qualified
candidates, says Weitzenkorn, are being passed over without a good
look.
The result for scores of families in our area is a soul deep
depression.
After one too many lay-offs, there is little will to even look for
another job, to risk yet another pink slip. “They just want to
sleep,” Weitzenkorn says of these discouraged job seekers.
Project Re-Employment exists to help. It brings in personnel experts
from the state’s Labor Department, who teach networking skills and
have contacts with local employers, representatives from credit
counseling
services to help individuals plot near-term economic survival, and
other job search experts.
After a little over a year as the program’s coordinator, Weitzenkorn,
who holds an MSW from Rutgers and a bachelor’s degree from Boston
University (Class of 1999), has some advice to pass along.
Put on a happy face. By the time unemployed individualsreach out to her agency, many are about as low as they can go. Thisattitude comes through in interviews, and can sabotage opportunities.She knows it isn’t easy, but Weitzenkorn says it is essential to doeverything possible to stay up-beat.Regular exercise, contact with supportive friends, time out forenjoyableleisure activities, and a set daily routine all are important. Joininga job hunters support group is helpful too.Get more education. This advice is for job seekers withlittle education beyond a high school degree. Obtaining a four-yeardegree is hard, especially for anyone with a family. Weiztenkornsuggestscommunity college programs as an alternative, a way to learnhigh-demandskills that can translate quickly into a good job.Consider a career change. High-level jobs in someindustries— banking, for instance — are not going to appear in greatabundance any time soon. Downsized executives in this, and otherindustriesundergoing consolidation, may need to assess their transferableskills,re-package themselves, and switch to another career track.Write a functional resume. Putting “20 years asexecutivevice president of XYZ Corp.” at the top of a resume is no longera great idea in many industries. Instead of years in a particularposition, create a resume around core skills.Don’t pay a lot for help in finding a job. “Don’tpay $4,000 for information you can get free,” says Weitzenkorn.Databases, publications, and counseling all are available at nocharge.Paying job search agencies a large fee does not guarantee a job,Weitzenkornsays. Relentless networking generally is a better bet. In her opinion,”You could be better off talking to people in the grocerystore.”Consider teaching. Right now, schools at all levels arelooking for teachers, Weitzenkorn says. Executives with years ofexperiencein science or technology often are welcome on campus. “You won’tearn six figures,” she says, “but the work can be morerewarding.”For those who are just looking for a way to earn a little cash whilecontinuing a job hunt, she suggests substitute teaching as a goodpart-time job.Go it alone. Weiztenkorn is seeing executives who havehad it with the trauma of serial lay-offs, and are looking to gaincontrol of their destinies by starting a business. This can be a goodmove, she says, but it needs to be carefully plotted.The job outlook along the Route 1 corridor has been rosier,but employers and placement agencies are telling Weiztenkorn thereare opportunities out there. The key thing employers are looking for?”The right skills,” she says. “And flexibility.”Willingnessto bend on everything from salary to hours to travel requirementsare in, at least until the economy turns up again. What’s more, thoseclaiming new jobs in an atmosphere of downsizing will have to bewillingto take on the extra work that comes with all those empty desks.Top Of PageCorporate AngelsJoseph Taylor, CEO of the Matrix Development Groupof Cranbury, and his wife Leslie Taylor, along with the MatrixFoundation,raised over $1.2 million for the Cancer Institute of New Jersey. TheAward of Hope Gala was the event through which the money was raised.This year’s gala raised 50 percent more than was raised through lastyear’s event.The gala was co-hosted by Frank Van Grofski, executive vice president,retired, of PNC Bank, and Richard F.X. Johnson, senior vicepresident of development, Matrix Development Group, and MaureenJohnson.The Taylors began working for the Cancer Institute seven years agowhen they co-sponsored a pro-am golf event at Forsgate Country Clubthat attracted thousands of attendees and began building communityawareness of the Cancer Institute. Since that time, with the supportof the Matrix Foundation, they have worked to increase financialsupportfor the institute and to bring the public information about themedicalresources offered by the institute.The Cancer Institute of New Jersey, the only National CancerInstitute-designatedcancer center in New Jersey, was created to improve the prevention,detection, treatment, and care of patients with cancer through thetransformation of laboratory discoveries into clinical practice.A number of area businesses are providing support for the WinterBall, the annual benefit of the Friends of the Princeton UniversityArt Museum. Taking place on Saturday, February 2, the event raisesmoney for educational outreach initiatives in the museum’s newdepartmentof education and academic programs. Among major supporters areDeracomConference Call Services, American Re-Insurance Company ,Bloomberg,Bristol-Myers Squibb, Fleet Bank, Johnson & Johnson, andPNC Advisors.The employees of Norris, McLaughlin & Marcus, a law firmwith offices in Bridgewater, have raised $812 for the Susan G. KomenBreast Cancer Foundation through a Denim dressdown day. The firm haspledged to take part in four more drressdown events this year. Itparticipated in Lee National Denim Day on October, and on thatoccasionraised $580.For more information on Denim Day, call 800-521-5533 or visitwww.denimday.comYardville National Bank’s Community Division will behonoredas “Organization of the Year” by Community Options on Friday,February 1, at its annual awards dinner at the Hyatt Princeton.Community Options, with offices on 16 Farber Road, is a nationalnon-profitproviding residential and employment support to people withdisabilities.Housing assistance provides support to these individuals as they movefrom institutions into the community. Employment programs focus onplacing individuals in competitive jobs or community volunteerprograms.Yardville Bank has helped the organization meet its goals by findingquality employment and housing for its clients.Princeton University and the Van Alen Institutecontributed $8,700 to print 20,000 copies of the map of the site ofthe World Trade Center. Laura Kurgan, an architect who teaches atthe Princeton University School of Architecture, designed the map,called “Around Ground Zero.” Its purpose is to help visitorsfind their way into an area that defies easy access. Kurgan has beenquoted as saying, “People are extremely disoriented. They haveno idea what they are looking at.”Kurgan worked with architects, designers, researchers, and students,all of whom donated their time. It took about a month to produce themap, which highlights an area from Duane Street to Bowling Green atthe tip of Manhattan.Along with streets and public transportation routes, the map showsthe locations of unobstructed sight lines, impromptu memorials, andthe new viewing platform. The severity of building damage is markedby colored stars. The flip side has an aerial photograph of the site.Kurgan herself has been passing the maps out to visitors.Van Note-Harvey Associates, an environmental engineeringfirm with offices at 777 Alexander Road, support several Mercer CountyHead Start day care centers. Principals Don Fetzer and Dick Wizerman,along with their employees, provided toys, food, and clothing tochildrenat three of these day care centers.Sherry Bachman, director of corporate administration, and otheremployees,delivered the gifts.The Karma Foundation, established in 1996 by SharonKarmazin,a retired public library director, has awarded 21 grants of $5,000— to be distributed over two years — to libraries, includingthe Monroe Township Library, and the East Brunswick Library. TheseKarma Foundation Tipping Grants challenge libraries to demonstratehow a small amount of money can make a big difference.The Monroe Township Library will use its grant to develop marketingplans to identify the library needs of families in the township. TheEast Brunswick Library will use its grant to produce 11 decorativequilts that will hang on a 40-foot wall in biography area of the youthservices department as a permanent visual displaPrevious StoryNext StoryCorrections or additions?This page is published by PrincetonInfo.com— the web site for U.S. 1 Newspaper in Princeton, New Jersey.
