Don’t think you can find a job? Yes you CAN

A new Catholic Charities-sponsored program helps the unemployed network, navigate Internet-based job searches and discern their vocations.

After a 25-year career, Elizabeth Lucas recently — and suddenly — got downsized out of a job.

Though devastated at her life’s abrupt change, she took appropriate steps, identifying and attending a networking session at McLean Bible Church. There, she realized she wasn’t alone.

How could she be?

According to information released at the beginning of June by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the number of unemployed Americans increased by 787,000 in May for a total of 14.5 million. The country’s unemployment rate, currently at 9.4 percent, has grown by 4.5 percent since December 2007.

But though she was in good company, Lucas — who last looked for a job in the mid-’80s — found herself to be a fish out of water in the now Internet-based market.

“I realized that I didn’t know how to do a job search anymore,” she said. All the rules had changed. “Now everything revolves around the Internet and social networking.”

Inspired by the faith-based networking approach at McLean Bible, Lucas, working with Bill Hummel, a parishioner of Nativity Parish in Burke, developed a Catholic version: Christians Are Networking (CAN). The new program provides career counseling to those seeking jobs in a Catholic environment.

“So many people think that the Catholic Church is out of touch with what is happening with the world,” Lucas said. “We wanted to be able to demonstrate that the Church is listening and that it knows what people are going through.”

Held Thursday evenings at St. Martin de Porres Senior Center in Alexandria, CAN centers on eight different modules to empower job-seekers to find work. Based on a workbook developed by Lucas and Hummel, these modules focus on résumé writing, self-marketing and developing networking relationships. CAN is not a job placement program, but rather an opportunity to learn current job search tricks and tips in a faith-based environment. Regular prayer will be intertwined, reminding seekers the goal is to discern a vocation more than just a career.

“It starts out with thinking about their purpose, what they’d like to do and praying about that,” Hummel said.

Indeed, in the first session last Thursday night, participants considered three questions: What are my skills, where am I passionate and where are opportunities?

“The convergence of those things, we would define as a purpose,” Hummel said. That leads to vocational discernment.

With increased numbers of unemployed people turning to Catholic Charities for help, CAN is a timely initiative, said Steve Luteran, director of Arlington diocesan Catholic Charities, sponsor of the program.

“It seemed to be a natural fit with what our mission is” — a mission that aims to serve not only the poor, but anyone who has fallen upon hard times, he said.

Job searching during the current economic climate can lead to multiple rejections, which in turn can affect mental health and relationships with family and friends, Luteran added. Through fellowship and prayer, CAN will support the unemployed people who may feel isolated and hopeless.

“We want to help people get back their own personal power and self esteem,” Lucas said. “We want to give them the tools so that they can do an effective job search.”

Tom Solak, communications director for the Catholic Business Network of Northern Virginia (CBN-NV), said the program is a resource for small businesses to offer employees they may have to lay off.

“Oftentimes in the business world when you have to let people go, you try to help them in relocating or getting a different job,” he said. “This is a program that can be supported.”

CBN-NV members also are being tapped to assist as CAN volunteers.

These and other volunteers will continue to meet with job-seekers on Thursdays as long as there’s a need, Lucas said.

And as for Lucas’ own search? She’ll integrate it with her leadership of CAN — “prayerfully hoping” that the program she developed to help others will help herself as well.

Workshops are held Thursdays at St. Martin de Porres Senior Center, 4650 Taney Ave., Alexandria, from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Note: June 18’s meeting will begin at 7 p.m.

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Christians Are Networking