American Society of Safety Engineers

I am writing this letter to ask you to make a personal commitment to help our fellow safety, health and environmental professionals who are out of work during these harsh economic times. In my brief time as your society president, I have come to learn of the devastating personal effects that this recession has had on too many of our friends, colleagues and fellow ASSE members. I have heard difficult stories about the impact of extended job searches, the financial strain on families, the stress on spouses and children, and the health issues related to anxiety and lack of sleep worrying about the future.

I cannot help but sympathize with the frustration, self-doubt, and hopelessness that have driven some to the point of depression. We need to come together to do more for our colleagues and friends in need. ASSE has developed several new tools and services for members searching for a job but we are also asking you to make a personal commitment to help fellow safety professional in their job searches.

Following is a list of just a few of the things you can do to help someone who is searching for a job:

Help them build their network of contacts. Make calls to your contacts to get leads or other ideas to expand the scope of their job search. Follow-up with these contacts. You may want to view this as an opportunity to build and strengthen your own networks so you are better prepared if you are ever in the unfortunate position of losing your job.

Stay in regular contact with them. Buy them lunch or a round of golf. This will help them keep their spirits up because they know they have someone supporting them and someone to talk to.

Review their resumes and provide constructive comments and encouragement.

Talk them through practice interviews. Give them ideas on what questions might be asked and how to answer them. Try to build their confidence.

If you do not know anyone who is looking for job, you can still help by registering to be an ASSE networking partner. As an ASSE networking partner you will be asked to work with a job seeker to help them expand their networks and develop job leads. Volunteering your time to be a networking partner will be a rewarding experience for you and may be a life changing experience for the job seeker. For more information on the ASSE Networking Partner program please visit our website at (link).

You may wonder what ASSE is doing to support our safety professionals seeking jobs.

Following is an update on some of the recent activities:

ASSE is deferring membership dues for members who have lost their jobs and are currently unemployed. If you have personally experienced this situation and are unemployed or know a member who is in this situation, have them contact Geri Golonka in our membership department at ggolonka@asse.org to learn more about our hardship program.
ASSE has developed a series of training modules for job seekers which are free of charge to members:

General Advice
Resumes & Cover Letters
Networking
Interviewing
Using Job Boards
Online Social Networking
Negotiation

The job seekers resources website has been expanded and improved.
We have developed resources for the chapters to improve their networking and job search capabilities.
We have developed a new online networking center.
We have partnered with other associations to increase the number of new listings on the Nexsteps job board.

Safety professionals shine when it comes to doing what’s needed to help people stay safe and well. Now, we have friends and colleagues who need our help to be employed and well. Together, let’s commit to make a difference in someone’s life. If you have any thoughts or suggestions or have done something to help someone, I’d like to hear about it. Let me know at chris.patton@covidien.com.
Thank you for your time and your ongoing efforts on behalf of our fellow safety professionals who are searching for jobs.

Best Regards,

C. Christopher Patton, CSP
President

Job Search Essentials

Resumés and Cover Letters

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