Hobokenite Wants You To Find a Job

Ethan Chazin never wants to go back to the corporate world.

After a 25-year career filled with ups and downs, changes and downsizing, he has found a new calling: helping others find a job.

And now, every first Friday night of the month from 6:30 to 7:45, Chazin, 45, is offering a free workshop open to Hobokenites of all ages, at the Hoboken Multi Service Center.

Last month, Chazin said, during the first work shop, close to 30 people showed up. The city is providing the space at the Multi Service Center to Chazin for free. Two years ago Chazin started a similar initiative, but that "fell off" after a few sessions.

But this time around—with unemployment numbers much higher than a few years ago—"I have a feeling that this will go on on an as needed basis," Chazin said.

In 2008, Chazin was laid off from Time Warner cable, he said. After being dowsized eight times over the course of his career, he said, he didn't want to go back to a desk job anymore.

"I'm not ever going to work for another organization," Chazin said.

As part of the Chazin group, Chazin gives speeches and classes to schools, universities and other organizations. Although the class he teaches at the Multi Service Center is free, Chazin usually charges a flat hourly fee of $75.

Most people, when looking for a job, don't understand the culture of the companies to which they're applying, Chazin said. Part of his course, is to help people research companies, jobs and professions.

On top of that, times are tough. 

"Jobs are leaving by the hundreds of thousands," Chazin said.

After many different jobs, Chazin said he is happiest now, working independently. "I have been working my whole life," he said. "I put myself through business school." According to his LinkedIn resume, Chazin completed an MBA at George Washington University.

Chazin said he knows how hard it is to find a job, especially a perfect one. After all, it took him more than two decades to realize what he loved to do. But now, he said, "it's time to start giving back."