Hillsboro Chamber of Commerce proposes to help unemployed network with hiring companies

Hillsboro Chamber of Commerce meetings for the unemployed
include the basics, and may go beyond them if program is
funded next year. Contact the Hillsboro Chamber of Commerce
business development office to express your support. (Susan Tait)

What would happen if Hillsboro  employers  presented their companies to Hillsboro area job seekers? It's part of the Chamber's Job Seeker Support Group. The pilot program may be renewed if there is sufficient interest. Visit the Hillsboro Chamber of Commerce Job Support group website page for more information about  the program.

A new program by the Chamber of Commerce promises to put representatives of Hillsboro companies in the same room as well-prepared job seekers to help the two connect, face-to-face, as part of the regular Job Seekers Support Group program. 

The Chamber's experimental once-a-month meeting with area employers could be welcome news to experienced job seekers grown weary of hearing the same free sales pitches from career coaches and third-party recruiters on unemployment basics.

"You've heard it all, but you're still unemployed," said guest speaker John MacLeod, of MacLeod Erickson & Associates, in his talk titled "Sick of Jobs Falling into Someone Else's Lap? Take Control." Mr. MacLeod instructed the group to continue networking, find their passions, work on their elevator speeches, and add accomplishments to their resumes. Focusing on what you can control, he said, would make you feel better than focusing on what you couldn't. Regrettably, however, it's not clear that taking control guarantees job outcomes, as many experienced job seekers can attest.

Basic Unemployment is a class for the newly available, and there will continue to be people in that role. However, many people are ready for an Intermediate or Advanced Unemployment class. The problem with many job support groups is that they focus on delivering the same speech from different speakers, all of whom begin from the Zero Degree of Knowledge. Usually this includes dressing well, know yourself, be open to change, prepare for interviews, have an elevator speech ready, look for opportunities with personal and online networking, be proactive, and track your efforts daily.

If you don't already do those things, meeting with employers is not going to help you, he pointed out. However, if you already do those things, it's discouraging to sit through yet another advertisement for services that won't get you closer to the inner circle of jobs but continues to promote the hidden job market.

The Chamber has hit on a great solution, if business and job seeker interest is high enough.

Hillsboro Chamber of Commerce Regular Job Seeker Program to help unemployment
Tuesday, 3:00 to 5:00 P.M. at the Hillsboro Chamber. Participants will learn how to fine tune their resume to truly reflect their skills and experience, incorporate key words to get identified by online searchbots, and develop their interviewing techniques

Contact Information
Doody Boliba or Jon-Michael Kowertz at 503.726.2151
Hillsboro Chamber of Commerce
5193 NE Elam Young Pkwy # A  (next to the daycare) Hillsboro, OR 97124-6680

Website: hillchamber.org‎