Jan Goodman

There’s a reason why so many career changers and unemployed people rely on Jan Goodman’s expertise: “I’ve always had a social conscience,” she says. For Jan, the cause is employment for all. As program manager, career advisor, trainer and coach for a New Jersey employment center, she helps people get jobs and reinvent themselves. Sit by Jan’s office for a short time and you’ll observe her sure-footed resource-sharing. On the spot, she lines up access to people and services related to any job seeker’s interests utilizing Multiple Natures to help them understand their strengths and potential. “The idea in job coaching and counseling is to strategize so the person I’m working with can successfully re-enter the workforce,” says Jan. That approach has been a boon to laid-off corporate executives, first-time job seekers, individuals with disabilities, and those re-entering the workforce after an absence. All of them know Jan as a motivator with keen empathy and endless resources. Along with one-on-one counseling, she runs workshops to train job seekers on interviewing skills, effective communication, business etiquette, stress management, attitude and self-perception.

On a broader scale, she contributes to numerous regional workforce development committees where her practical knowledge is tapped by nonprofit, government, academic and community service leaders.