Job Hunting Club Offers Support to Baby Boomers

The Long Island Breakfast Club (LIBC) gathered early last Saturday morning in a donated space courtesy of Local 338 RWDSU in Mineola, to share stories, exchange job-hunting tips and provide moral support as they face a dismal job market.

Founded in 2006 by Valentina Janek to help assist job seekers in their forties, fifties and sixties, non-profit LIBC advocates on behalf of the older job seeker, offering monthly meetings, networking, job-leads, guest speakers, guidance and support.

LIBC started out with five people; its first two members being Janek and her current vice president, who met while interviewing for the same job. "I was interviewed by 17 people," Janek said. "I left thinking there is no way 17 people can decide on one person. We decided to go out for breakfast and the group was launched."

Janek's survival instinct, prodding to think out-of-the-box and "get out there" mantra is not just talk, knowing firsthand the sting of rejection and the frustration of job seeking in mid-life. "I set out to reinvent myself and I did," Janek said. "The entire company resides in the trunk of my car.  Unfortunately, the economy has impacted our efforts. We used to have over 100 people attend events, now they can't afford it."

Board member Elise Negrin was downsized after holding a job in finance for 25 years. "I didn't know what to do," she said. "I didn't have a resume, I was lost." Negrin found a job but was again a victim of downsizing after 15 months. She is currently turning her passion for birds into an Internet business, earning a fraction of what she used to, and is still seeking employment.

Lori Scollo was a victim of the 2008 Wall Street collapse, finding herself unemployed for the first time in her life. Through volunteer work, she has secured a position funded by a grant. "I felt like I was thrown in a lion's den," she said.  "Any way you can stay engaged and involved in the workplace is a plus."

Rob Castro, a former Chase employee who just landed a job, advised the group to continue to network, network and network. "A former colleague saw my resume and remembered me," he said.

Numerous stories were shared; particularly heartbreaking were those who lost jobs due to outsourcing to other countries. Many had taken advantage of President Obama's education incentives but the jobs promised have not surfaced. An English as a Second Language (ESL) teacher lamented that younger counterparts are often hired over her because they are less expensive than someone with a Masters degree.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, older workers spend more time looking for work and stay unemployed for a longer period of time. "Unless you're homeless, there's nothing out there for people like us," one member remarked.

As part of LIBC's mission to think outside the box, Janek arranged a presentation by self-publishers, Legwork Team Publishing. Yvonne Kamerling, Legwork's CEO provided an overview of the benefits of self-publishing and how sharing a platform can reinvigorate career options.

Janek herself has authored In Love and Friendship, and commented that venturing into a new realm can provide more opportunities. "It's a different side of me that I can showcase to employers," she said, adding her new book, Life After the Big Bad Boot, which will chronicle members' stories.

"Go back to who you are and what you love" is Janek's best advice. "Get involved in a project and see the joy that it can bring to you; become an expert in a field. We're all victims of corporate America."