Executives Available marks 30th year

"Our 30th anniversary," he mused as he was about to host an anniversary cocktail party for guests at their offices on Hymus Boulevard last Thursday. "I don't think anyone ever dreamed it would last that long."

For the past decade, the Pointe Claire-based non-profit organization has been funded through Emploi-Québec.

The group was founded in October 1977 with the help of Father Tom McEntee, who was at St. Edmund of Canterbury church in Beaconsfield at the time.

McEntee, now retired, said the idea for a self-help, member-operated group came up after some parishioners fell on hard times in terms of employment.

"We started with six people at our meeting, nine came next time, then 13," he recalled. "When we started, we never thought what was going to happen. But it kept on growing and growing.

"The biggest thing from the start was that people were able to network," he added. "We've kept that philosophy of being member-operated."

Executives Available offers workshops and one-on-one sessions with counsellors. Participants will be given directions on preparing CVs and strategies on securing the job that's right for them, be they engineers, managers or PhDs. What EA doesn't do is find jobs for its clients.

"We're not pro-active placing people but many people know about us and call us," Chartier said. "About 15 per cent of jobs (found by our clients) come from our corporate network, people who are former members or through word of mouth."

A current client is Sherif Kassabji, a 55-year-old Beaconsfield resident who emigrated from Egypt about 30 years ago. He is married and has an adult child who lives in the United States.

Although he speaks four languages, has managerial experience and holds a master's degree from Concordia University, Kassabji has been out on the job market for several months without finding the right offer or opportunity. While he is still looking for employment after taking some workshops with EA, he said they have been a tremendous help.

"I only heard of Executives Available earlier this year," he said. "They're very professional. They've been very helpful, indeed, especially with the CV sessions, techniques for telephone calling, cover letters and how to search the job market."

While he has landed dozens of interviews, Kassabji believes, "sadly enough," his age and experience hurt his chances of getting a job offer. "Sometimes people think you are over-qualified," he said.

Kassabji, however, is not giving up and hopes with EA's assistance he can land a manager's job in the purchasing sector.

Chartier said Executives Available, which has a staff of five, helps people from across the island of Montreal and that its clients are now about 65 per cent French-speakers and about 23 per cent are immigrants or visible minorities.

"Being a visible minority is a problem when it comes to hiring, whether we want to admit it or not," he said.

Chartier said while he recalls one EA member landing a position that paid $286,000 annually, the average salary is in the $70,000 range, with many taking jobs in the $50,000 range.

Although Canada's economy is solid and its unemployment rate is relatively low these days, the fact the loonie is on par with the U.S. greenback may result in some job losses in the first quarter next year for Montrealers working in the export or import markets, Chartier said.

"Unemployment is down now so things have dropped a bit here with us," he said. "We don't want people to lose jobs but it's our job to help them when they do."

For more information, check www.ea-cd.ca or call 514-697-2227.