Harper program gives volunteer opportunities to unemployed

Good things happen when people volunteer. They gain confidence. They gain skills. They feel needed, and they realize their potential for doing good work. All of that can spill over into job interviews, giving volunteers a clear job-hunting advantage in a competitive market.

That's the reasoning behind Catch 22, a new Harper College program that places unemployed Northwest suburban residents in volunteer positions - allowing them to build their resume, boost their confidence and get a foot in the door of a potentially new career.

"When you're unemployed, a lot of people don't want to hire you," says Nancy Wajler, Adult Learning special assistant. "This new program is helping those who are out of work gain valuable experience, explore new passions and strengths, and show potential employers they can be valuable in the workplace. It can really increase their marketability."

The program kicks off this month on a pilot basis, with volunteers working in various departments on Harper's campus. "Harper is a city within a city, with numerous opportunities for volunteers to expand their skills in various areas," Wajler says. The goal is to eventually take the program on the road, placing volunteers in businesses across the suburbs. The potential volunteer pool already comprises about 400 local residents with a variety of skills and employment histories. All are members of Harper's Career Stimulus program, launched last year to provide post-layoff help to local workers.

The process used to link Catch 22 volunteers with internships will mirror the process of hiring a full-time employee. Applicants will meet with a Harper career coach to review their resume, undergo a background check, and be interviewed by their potential supervisor before a decision is made. Volunteers will work for 30- or 60-day periods, or be assigned to complete a specific project.

"It's really a great situation for everyone involved," Wajler says. "This will provide invaluable experience for the volunteer, but it also will provide supervisors with additional help, at no extra cost."

Catch 22 participants must be Career Stimulus members - annual memberships can be purchased for $85 - and have completed Harper's NetWorthing seminars on making networking worthwhile. The next Career Stimulus meeting is from 9:30 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. Friday, April 30, at the Wojcik Conference Center on Harper's main campus, 1200 W. Algonquin Road. Each monthly meeting includes networking opportunities and breakout sessions on things like acing interviews and building resumes. For more on Catch 22, contact Mahreen Mehdi at (847) 925-6000, ext. 2388, or mmehdi@harpercolleg.edu.

For more on Career Stimulus, visit www.harpercollege.edu.