Career Resource Center Offers Assistance to Job Seekers

Although the latest Illinois Unemployment Rate has dropped from one year ago in August, many people are still struggling to find a new job or career. And, as anyone who has ever had to look for a job before knows, finding one on your own can be an overwhelming task. In fact, the San Francisco Federal Reserve economists found that only around three in ten people are able to find work in the first few weeks of losing their jobs, with that number falling to just one in ten per month after a year of being unemployed. This is where the Career Resource Center steps in. The 22 year-old Lake Forest-based non-profit has assisted over 11,000 individuals since its creation. A survey released by the organization on Monday found that those who use its services found it very important to their job search.

Of those surveyed, 92% said that they would recommend CRC to others in a job or career transition, and 74% of respondents are currently employed. Around 76% of respondents said that the CRC had a positive impact on their job search.

“The CRC offers so much that job seekers can’t achieve on their own,” said Kelly Clark, Office Administrator of Career Resource Center. “They offer the expertise in resume review, interview practice, formulating a job search strategy, building value statements, as well as personalized, individual, confidential one-on-one mentoring. I do not think you will find this kind of personal attention elsewhere.”

The organization is also unique in that it offers a sort of “office environment” to members, along with resources such as a reference library, computer lab and conference room, which they may use as a workspace.

“This keeps candidates moving forward by keeping them in the ‘work’ state of mind, and gets them away from the isolation or distraction of conducting a job search at home,” Clark explained.

The CRC aims to help seekers with a variety of different backgrounds, ranging from sales to marketing to social services. Positions that members have recently hired for include hospital administrator, CFO, Sr. Financial Analyst and Media Designer.  

The CRC is staffed with one full-time and three part-time employees, with over 120 volunteers helping out. The organization gets its financial support from foundations, corporations, townships, community service groups, religious organizations, the United Way, alumni, volunteers, benefactors and board members. The organization does charge a membership fee to use their services. CRC also has programs – including workshops and speakers – that are open to the public, typically for a $10 fee. The organization serves the metropolitan area of Chicago, focusing primarily on Northern Cook and Lake County.

For more information on the CRC, visit their website at http://www.CareerResourceCenter.org, or call (847) 295-5626. The organization is located on the Grove Cultural Campus at 40 East Old Mill Road in Lake Forest, IL.