“Contrary to popular belief, there are jobs out there. In order to get them, you need to understand how to navigate the system.” It is with this conviction that Daniel
Gordon, The Chicago Chesed Fund’s new Job Link director, is now running the
organization’s job counseling, placement and training program.
“I have a global understanding of how companies work and how they decide to hire,” he says. And the reality, he adds, is that many interviewers hire the best interviewee, not necessarily the person best suited for the job.
To this end, Job Link now not only matches job seekers with job
openings, but also offers individualized career counseling, testing and assessment of skills, and interview preparation techniques.
“Job seekers need to be able to articulate why they are good at what they do – a resume doesn’t do that,” says Mr. Gordon.
That’s why he provides candidates with simple methods and exercises that enable them to identify their strengths, which they can then effectively present on a job interview.
He also introduces them to what he calls “The Golden Circle of Interviewing,” a 1-2-3 interactive approach that communicates to prospective employers: “What are the challenges of this position? I am qualified to do that. And I’m highly interested in this opportunity. “
If the positions Mr. Gordon has helped fill are any indication, this is a system that works.
When Mr. Gordon is not busy meeting one-on-one with job seekers, he tries to expand Job Link’s existing database. He has made contact with over 50 area synagogues and organizations to set up points of contact at each one in order to assist people in need of better job situations.
Mr. Gordon is also reaching out to the business community. He meets regularly with companies and hiring authorities to find out about additional job openings. He hopes that in the long run, business leaders will take a greater hands-on role in battling unemployment by offering internships, training programs, and even creating new jobs.
“My goal is for everyone to learn that people shouldn’t feel awkward, or have low self-esteem if they don’t have a job,” he says. “The bottom line is that if people contact us, we’ll meet with them. Even if we can’t match them to a new position, we’ll provide direction and motivate them to move forward in their job search.”
His advice to those seeking jobs: “Dedicate at least 15 to 30 minutes a day to your job search, and do it in an orderly way. Consistency, he says, is the key.”
“Even if you are down and out, there are ways to improve your situation,” he says. “Start by getting job interviews even for positions that you would not have considered in the past. This will create momentum and get the juices flowing.
“From there, amazing things can happen,” he says.
