Date: Fri 04-Sep-1998

Publication: Bee

Author: KAAREN

Quick Words:

business-Jobseekers-Brimmer

Full Text:

For Jobseekers, It's A Matter Of Getting Your Story Told With Impact

(with photo)

BY KAAREN VALENTA

It doesn't take a nosedive in the stock market for people to be worried about

their jobs. Even in good times there are people who are unemployed,

under-employed, or thinking about making a career change.

"Change is always going on in companies," Bill Brimmer said. "People will be

`transitioned' out or the job will change and they won't be happy with what

they are doing."

As an executive with an outplacement firm in Stamford, Bill Brimmer knows

about the stress that frequently comes with a change in a person's job status.

His firm, Drake Beam Morin, is hired by companies to help their staff members

who, because of relocations, cutbacks or other reasons, are losing their jobs.

Sensitive to the anguish which many jobseekers feel, in 1995 Mr Brimmer began

a jobseekers support group as a community service in Newtown, where he serves

on the Board of Selectmen and on the Parish Council at St Rose Church.

The Newtown Jobseekers Support Group will begin its third year with a program

on "Resumes That Work" on Tuesday September 8, at 7:30 pm in the second floor

conference room at the St Rose Parish Center on Church Hill Road. Mr Brimmer

will present this month's program. Guest speakers will present many of the

monthly programs which will focus on other aspects of the job search.

"People often ask me why the group exists when the economy is so good out

there," Mr Brimmer said. "But there is always a need. Attendance at our

meetings has actually grown throughout the three years."

"It's a tough time for people -- a very emotional time (when they are out of

work)" he said. "People don't necessarily want to talk about it with friends

at parties, but actually everyone you see when you are in transition is a

potential contact for some other company."

Resumes are an integral part of the job search process because they document

your accomplishments, Mr Brimmer said.

"It takes a lot of work to put together a resume," he said. "It should be

thought-provoking, and start with a summary of what you've done, but probably

no longer than five or six lines. I believe in being brief and to the point.

When you list your jobs, be chronological, working backwards from the

present."

The employment history should begin with the company you currently are

employed by and a brief job description -- no more than two lines, he said.

"Below that list your accomplishments. People miss the boat when they list

what they do in their job rather than what they have done -- what they have

accomplished."

"How did you save the company money? How much did you increase sales?

Companies want to know what you can do for them because it tells then what you

can do if you work for them," he said.

A resume should never be longer than two pages and should never contain

mis-spellings or typographical errors.

"If you can't spell a word, don't put it in your resume," he said. "Don't use

words that people can't define. And never list your hobbies."

Mr Brimmer said that one tip he always gives is that in a job interview, don't

immediately pull out your resume.

"Wait until the end, when you are ready to leave, to produce it," he said.

"Otherwise the interviewer will focus on the resume rather than on you.

Chances are, everything in it you will discuss anyway."

Mr Brimmer said this year's schedule of programs will include advice from

recruiters, interviewing techniques, how to job search on the internet, and

other topics.

All meetings are free and guest speakers are not permitted to solicit

business. Mr Brimmer's role is as a facilitator, not a recruiter. He does not

find jobs for people.

"This is simply a nonprofit, volunteer community service," he explained. "It

doesn't take tons of my time. I decided to start the group because I asked

myself why can't I give something back to the community. It's very rewarding."

The jobseekers group meets monthly except in July and August. Meetings are

open to anyone who is unemployed or thinking about making a career change. For

more information, call Mr Brimmer at 270-9885.