Suburban unemployed just doing what they can

In January, Don Oehlert of Arlington Heights met his boss at a restaurant near O'Hare International Airport. But they weren't having dinner.

Instead, his boss handed him a pink slip.

The 52-year-old sales manager wasn't entirely surprised to learn that his position had been eliminated due to the recession. Still, he had to gather himself together to tell his wife Julie and their three children. He now had work to do to find a new job.

As Labor Day approaches, Oehlert remains among the 450,000 people in Illinois who are collecting unemployment benefits. The unemployment rate in Illinois reached 10.5 percent, compared to 9.4 percent nationwide, in July. The top five hardest-hit sectors in the state have been manufacturing, construction, professional business, trades-transportation-utilities, and leisure-hospitality, according to the Illinois Department of Employment Security.

"The breadth and scope of this downturn has produced a consistent level of unemployment across all job sectors," said IDES spokesman Greg Rivara. "The highest unemployment rates in the state tend to be in areas with the greatest concentration of manufacturing, such as Rockford and Decatur. Suburban Chicago has a mix of all job sectors and that is the greatest reason why you see a similarity in the unemployment rates and how the rates have increased compared to last year."

With such a tight job market, Oehlert armed himself with the necessary tools.

One of the first things he did was to get his human resources file. He picked out items of his successes and used those to update his resume. He's been looking in sales and is open to a variety of full-time positions.

"I'm a relationship guy," Oehlert said. "I always work best dealing face to face with customers."

But it's been a hard road so far. He's already used up his severance and unemployment benefits and is about to tap into his 401(k) retirement savings. Some family members also have offered some assistance, if it becomes necessary.

"People should not be embarrassed about being laid off," Oehlert said. "It used to be a bad mark on your record. But it isn't anymore."

Oehlert also networks with various groups, including St. Hubert's Job and Networking Ministry in Hoffman Estates. He had already been a volunteer at St. Hubert's Church. Now he needed help himself.

Several such churches and organizations around the suburbs offer some type of help for job seekers.

Another organization is the Community Career Center, a job and resume resource center in Naperville. The center had averaged roughly 50 new clients per month last year. Now, it's about 100, said Executive Director Amy Webber.

"We are seeing more males than females and the majority are over 50," Webber said. "These individuals tend to be in the higher-income bracket. Because they are older, demanding higher salaries, we are seeing many job seekers taking up to more than a year to find a job."

One of those who stops in for job leads is John Hess, 54, of Wheaton. He worked as a collection manager for 29 years until his company in Lisle closed in December. This is the first time he was forced to update his resume and start applying for another job.

Like Oehlert, Hess started building his skills and his networking abilities, often attending up to five job-related activities a week.

"Employers are now in the driver's seat," said Hess. "There are just so many talented people out there looking for a job."

Single, Hess lives in an apartment and keeps a tight budget. But he's concerned about what will happen if his unemployment lasts much longer.

"I'm concerned for myself, and other people I talk to who are in the same situation," Hess said. "It can take six, nine or up to 12 months to find a job. That's not unheard-of. If someone we know finds a job in one month, it's a miracle these days."

But all job news isn't grim. St. Hubert's formed 15 "accountability groups," where about eight people meet on a regular basis to discuss their job seeking activities. The process provides a chance to bounce off ideas, get critiques or just ask questions. Some participants have found it more than helpful, said Bob Podgorski, a volunteer leader for the job seekers.

"They've been meeting for about six weeks now, and already there's been 21 hires," Podgorski said.

<div class="infoBox"> <h1>More Coverage</h1> <div class="infoBoxContent"> <div class="infoArea"> <h2>Stories</h2> <ul class="links"> <li><a href="/story/?id=319420">Where the jobs are -- or where they will be in the suburbs<span class="date">[9/7/09]</span></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div>