Our Journey

PSGCNJ is the answer to an important public-policy question that hasn’t been asked: Where do talented, downsized professionals go?

The short answer: They go nowhere. They sit in front of a computer and send countless resumes and cover letters to employers’ applicant tracking systems…in between sporadic rejection letters. They travel to networking groups, reciting their “elevator” pitch and handing out business cards to strangers. And they are left feeling overwhelmed, frustrated and alone, while their skill sets deteriorate.

Our Challenge

Once unemployed, professionals will find themselves staring at the bedroom ceiling the first Monday morning, wondering how their lives have changed. At that precise moment, they will begin to lose seven intangible items:

Purpose

Structure

Social interaction

Ability to maintain skill sets

Ability to acquire new skill sets

Ability to achieve new accomplishments

Confidence

Our Programs

The next time that you sit in front of a hiring manager, you will need to demonstrate those seven intangibles. PSGCNJ’s educational and workforce development programs were created to address this root problem.

The nonprofit’s education program features Accelerated Career Training (ACT), a 2 1/2 day workshop. Advanced classes are offered in resume review, interview questions, marketing plan and goals, LinkedIn, accomplishment stories development, one-on-one mock interview and Improv for Business Communications.

The organization’s innovative workforce development program also drives the nonprofit’s success rate. To gain full access to PSGCNJ’s free services, members are required to join one of six business units that operate the corporation and donate their talent to advance the mission. Volunteering on projects that advance PSGCNJ allows members to regain the seven lost intangibles, while building meaningful relationships with other professionals. They can turn a bout of unemployment into an experience that makes them more valuable in the workplace.

Our Creation

Ultimately, PSGCNJ represents more than just a place to “go” when professionals are in career transition. It is a special place where professionals can build meaningful relationships with other professionals, a place where they maintain their skills, a place where they can learn new skills, making them more valuable to their next employer.

For employers, PSGCNJ represents a risk-mitigation platform for an educated, talented portion of the existing workforce. PSGCNJ’s programs keep experienced employees engaged, structured and hopeful so they will not quit until they return to the workforce.

For society, PSGCNJ represents a cost-effective way to keep self-reliant individuals self-reliant. Every time a PSGCNJ member reenters the workforce, it will mean more tax revenue and fewer services for the local, state and federal levels of government.

Our Past

PSGCNJ was originally part of the N.J. Department of Labor’s Professional Service Group program, which was launched in June 2008. There were 11 statewide chapters, including PSGCNJ, based in Somerville, N.J. The State of New Jersey defunded the PSG program on May 25, 2012.