Professional Background
It gives us great pleasure to feature Neil Smith, an Advisor for Hudson Job Search. At HJS it is our volunteer Advisors that bring all the value to the clients (job seekers) as they work with each client, one-on-one, to provide coaching and structure. Neil Smith's background includes more than thirty-five years of foundational manufacturing operations experience - engineering, facilities management, quality systems, continuous improvement, and operations leadership in addition to global operations and business consulting. Neil has helped lead global organizational culture change and supported strategic business re-alignment. His proudest experiences have been in talent and leadership development and organizational optimization.
Hudson Job Search Volunteer Advisor
Neil brings his experience and passion for helping others to Hudson Job Search as a volunteer Advisor, donating his time and expertise to job seekers looking for a little extra guidance, support and structure during their process.
Q: What inspired you to become an Advisor with Hudson Job Search?
A: My first exposure to HJS was at the trail end of my job search. I participated in one meeting and accepted my job offer the following week. During job search, I met Liz Okuma. She landed about the same time as me and we have remained in touch. In sharing with her how I would like to "give back" to support others, she suggested I connect with HJS as an Advisor.
Q: How long have you been an Advisor and what do you enjoy most about helping job seekers with their journey?
A: I have been an advisor since February, 2024. My most enjoyable part of helping job seekers is helping them feel like they are not alone. Having gone through a recent job search, I know what this feels like and can bring much empathy to the current job seekers.
Q: How did you learn how to advise Job Seekers?
A: Going through job search personally, I had a fantastic outplacement support team. I learned much from them. My background in business consulting has taught me how to ask questions and coach leaders and has provided relatable skills toward advising job seekers.
Q: What general advice would you give to someone who has recently lost their job or is just getting started in their job search?
A: Relax! Take time to reflect on what you really value and want in your career and next employer. Understand you are not alone and there are many people willing to help you. Look forward and don't harbor negative emotions towards your previous employer and/or former co-workers. Celebrate all of your successes and use them to help elevate yourself to something bigger and greater. Also, be deliberate in what you want and don't want in your next role. Don't race to get a job, only to be unhappy in it and still looking.
Q: What would you say to someone who is thinking about becoming a Hudson Job Search Advisor?
A:Follow your passion in helping others. All of us learn and grow through being an advisor and we continue to gain new connections, something that we should always keep doing. Nothing is guaranteed to anyone and staying active in helping others helps us sharpen our networking skills as well.
Q: Anything else you would like to add about your experience with Hudson Job Search - as an Advisor or job seeker?
A: For my first client, it was great to see how he absorbed the tools I shared with him and applied them to perfection in preparation for his interview. The interviewer commented how impressed she was with his preparation which helped facilitate a great interview and subsequent job offer.
Q: If Hudson Job Search had the people and resources, what changes or other services would you like to see the organization offer in the coming years?
A: It would be pretty cool if each client would have their own portal inside of HJS website where the advisor and client could share all information, including a messaging feedback loop. Thinking of this being like an individual CRM file for each client/advisor.