Lombard recruiter helps unemployed find jobs

The jobs report released by the federal government on Sept. 2 stunned the markets when it said employers had stopped adding jobs.

That meant the federal unemployment rate remained unchanged at 9.1 percent during August and has nudged President Obama into further action to create jobs.

The unemployment rate in Illinois was at 10 percent in July, while August numbers should be released soon. While the jobless rates remain high, those who make up those statistics need encouragement, resources and strategy.

And Paul Cameron of Lombard is helping to provide just that.

While Cameron is founder and president of the IT search firm DriveStaff Inc., he is a co-host of JobTalk at 4 p.m. Thursdays on Elmhurst-based WJJG Radio 1530 AM. The program was founded by Joy Maguire-Dooley, a job counselor in Lisle Township, and Terry Tierney.

“If people spent more time learning the job of getting a job, which is a full-time job by itself, then they would find their job searches to be shorter and easier to manage,” Cameron said.

Cameron also helps other job clubs and networking groups around the suburbs by speaking at their programs or events, such as those at St. Hubert Job and Networking Ministry in Hoffman Estates.

“The advice is exceptional, realistic and they do helpful interviews with job experts, list job fairs, job opportunities, give information on meetings and other events held across the Chicagoland area, all assisting the job seeker,” said Bob Podgorski, coordinator of the St. Hubert Job and Networking Ministry.

Cameron’s route to the radio likely started after surviving a head-on collision with a drunken driver. That’s when the financial adviser started talking to high school students about the impact of drinking and driving.

By the late 1990s, Cameron turned to job recruiting to help place technology professionals into jobs with Fortune 100 companies.

His recruiting experience led him to start DriveStaff Inc. in 2002. It now has offices in Elmhurst and Wheaton with 11 employees, who recruit software engineers, database advisers, IT directors, project managers and others. Cameron joined the JobTalk host lineup about four years ago.

“At first it was a little nerve-racking,” he said about first being on live radio. “But it was just like having conversations with people and trying to help them, so it became easier.”

He offers job seekers advice on resumes, interview techniques and follow-up with companies. He also takes call-ins and often has guests on the program.

While most call-ins have serious questions, there is an occasional strange situation. One time a guest said he was filling out a job application, but stopped, crumpled up the paperwork and left.

“He thought it was an attempt to steal his identity,” Cameron said.

He also warned job seekers about typos in their resume, dressing appropriately for interviews, doing the right research on the company, and then following up with a thank-you.

All that helps to give people an edge they might not think about. But since the competition is stiff, every edge helps, he said.

“If someone is in a job transition, this is what you’re up against,” he said.

And with all the advice he doles out, he gets the occasional thank-you himself from a listener who said they landed a job.

“The show has been my way of giving back,” he said.