In these tough economic times, many career coaches are cashing in by charging high fees to help the unemployed find work. However, Ethan Chazin, a career coach and Hoboken resident of 13 years, is taking a different approach.
Chazin holds free monthly seminars to help the unemployed market themselves for the job they desire. Different times call for different approaches, and Chazin believes the entire job market is changing permanently.
“Unemployment has been cyclical in the past,” Chazin said. “But it’s been transforming since the 1980s, and it all changed when industry became globalized.”
‘As [people] are sitting in their offices, their jobs are becoming obsolete.’ – Ethan Chazin
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“The Postal Service is laying off 200,000 workers,” he said. “We should have seen this coming.”
So, how does his Jobs Boot Camp help out?
“I tell people to stop writing a resume, stop doing job searches on Career Builder,” he said. “You’re focusing on external things that won’t get any results. What are you most passionate about, and what are you the most confident in? Find where those two worlds collide.”
Chazin advises against using the mega-job searching websites, saying that thousands of people apply to the same job, decreasing an opportunity for an individual job seeker.
If there’s someone who knows how to find a job, it’s Chazin. He’s been laid off due to downsizing eight times in his career, but “never for performance” he said, and has been able to bounce back each time.
Chazin tells people to seek the job they want by being proactive and reaching out to employers after studying and finding out where the company can improve.
A marketer by trade, Chazin previously worked for management teams in popular businesses before he left the industry to form The Chazin Group, his Hoboken-based company.
The first Jobs Boot Camp, held in August, drew approximately 30 people.
“I tried this two years ago at Stevens and we never got more than 10-15 people during the three times we did it,” Chazin said. “When we had the event in August and 30 people showed up, I was shocked. But at the same time, I wasn’t really that shocked, because I know the way the economy is going.”
Who attends?
Chazin said there are basically three groups of people that show up to the Jobs Boot Camp: people who are just out of work and are looking for a new job, people who want to change careers, and people who haven’t been in the job market for a long time and are trying to re-enter.
“The methodology of what I teach is fundamental to everyone,” he said.
Chazin also donated his time recently to meet with residents of the Hoboken Housing Authority projects to discuss the job market.
One resident who attended the Boot Camp in August is Brian Wagner, 45, who has been “affected by the economy for a year.”
“It’s been extremely difficult trying to get re-employed,” Wagner said. “I’ve been interviewing regularly. I’m told the interviews go well, and am told I have a good skill set. The problem is that everyone is afraid to pull the trigger and increase their head count.”
Wagner added that since he has been working for 21 years in a very specialized market, his pay demands are higher than what is available.
Wagner said he has followed the instructions in Chazin’s camp, and has since received callbacks from companies.
Other job groups
Our Lady of Grace Church has hosted a support group on a weekly basis for residents who are looking for jobs.
Wagner said he attended, and that it also has been helpful.
“We’re holding each other accountable,” he said. “We ask how many calls you’ve made this week [to employers], and how many jobs you have applied to.”
Chazin believes even people with jobs should be preparing for potential job losses.
“People that are working today don’t understand how on a precipice they are,” Chazin said. “As they are sitting in their office their jobs are becoming obsolete…people aren’t being given the big picture.”
Chazin also said he believes the United States will not return to the “normal” 4 to 5 percent unemployment.
“This is the first time in America’s history that we’ve had a decade with a net zero gain in job growth,” he said. “You need a fundamentally different way to think about work.”
The boot camp formed a partnership with the city, and officials are allowing Chazin to utilize the Multi-Service Center for free to hold the Jobs Boot Camp.
Chazin’s seminars are free of charge to Hoboken residents and will be offered the first Friday of every month from 6:30 to 7:45 p.m. at the Multi Service Center at 124 Grand St. The remaining dates are Sept. 2, Oct. 7, Nov. 4, and Dec. 2.
Ray Smith may be reached at RSmith@hudsonreporter.com