Phone: 234-380-6808
Since 2014 Hudson Job Search job seekers have been benefitting from the guidance and support of John Blickensderfer. As an organization of volunteers we are so grateful for his service and devote this post to highlight John’s history and contribution to Hudson Job Search with this interview. Volunteers truly do make a difference!
Professional Background
John Blickensderfer has been a part-time employee at Lee Hecht Harrison (LHH) since 2016 as ICEO Advisor and Career Consultant providing career transition services to executives and professionals in transition. Prior to this, he retired from The Lubrizol Corporation, a Berkshire Hathaway company based in Wickliffe, OH, in 2014, having served as Director Global Product Regulatory Affairs for 19 years. Earlier positions in product regulatory affairs, product technology and research and development were at AkzoNobel in NY, GE Plastics in MA, NY, and IN, and Union Carbide in NJ. Throughout his career, he led global teams throughout the U.S., Asia-Pacific region, and Europe. He received an MBA in Finance from Rutgers University, Newark, NJ after receiving a PhD in Inorganic Chemistry from UCLA, Los Angeles, and a BS in Chemistry from the University of Wisconsin, Madison.
Q: What inspired you to become an Advisor with Hudson Job Search?
A: A neighbor of mine, Mary Kirby, served as an advisor at Hudson Job Search and encouraged me to join. What I enjoyed most during my career was coaching and developing staff, and Hudson Job Search afforded me the opportunity to leverage those skills in support of those in transition. I have found the volunteer work highly rewarding.
Q: What do you enjoy the most about your role as an Advisor with the organization?
A: I enjoy learning about a *client’s life story, their career evolution and working together to brand them effectively and create an effective job search strategy. It is most rewarding to see clients leverage Hudson Job Search resources toward effective networking, interviewing, and negotiating to ultimately land their next job.
*At Hudson Job Search our volunteer advisors, like John, are paired up to work with job-seekers one-on-one, checking in with the job seeker and reporting back to the organization in our monthly updates. They refer to the job-seekers as clients. All the services offered are at no-cost to the job seeker / client.
Q: What’s your favorite Hudson Job Search story?
Every Hudson Job Search job seeker I have supported has had his/her own special story, so I do not have any particular “favorite” to share.
Q: What would you say to someone who is thinking about becoming a Hudson Job Search Advisor?
A: Hudson Job Search is a very welcoming and supportive organization that allows one to give back to the community in a special way. Losing a job is one of life’s most stressful events, and to assist individuals land their next job provides a great deal of satisfaction.
Q: How did you learn how to advise Job Seekers?
A: Initially, I learned from Jim Ahern, past President of Hudson Job Search, from the structured program that Hudson Job Search offers, and the sharing of best practices among our advisors. Since 2016, I have also been able to leverage my career advising experience at Lee Hecht Harrison (LHH).
Q: If Hudson Job Search could do anything, with limitless donations, what would you like to see the organization accomplish in the next 5 years?
A: I think that Hudson Job Search is currently on the right path to expand our offerings beyond Hudson, OH, and to leverage social media to get the message out to more people.
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