Another man’s gold

By Joan Slattery Wall

While networking traditionally has been a means for employees to find jobs, some Columbus employers find it’s also a way to fill vacancies.

Each month, nearly 50 human-resources professionals, members of the Columbus Employment Assistance Network, meet to exchange résumés they have on file and information about positions they need to fill.

“We’re a good source when companies are downsizing or have outplaced people,” says Susan Diday, director of national account sales for Andrews Moving and Storage Co. in West Columbus.

Diday, who volunteers her time to coordinate the network, has been involved since it was formed in 1985 to help find work for the spouses of out-of-town job candidates local companies wished to hire.

Now, the network boasts more than 150 members, including businesses such as Nationwide Insurance Enterprises, Banc One Corp., King Thompson Realtors and Metatec Corp.; eight educational institutions; nine state agencies; and 16 nonprofit organizations. The group is not open to employment agencies.

“Right now the ratio is probably 50/50, openings to résumés,” says Diday, adding that jobs range from administrative assistants to six-figure-salaried executives.

Julie Holbein, staffing specialist for Wendy’s International Inc.’s Columbus division, says her company this year used the network to hire an operations division secretary who provides administrative support to district managers.

“It’s a great way to find out who’s out there and what jobs are in demand,” Holbein says. “It’s an exchange of recruiting ideas. When you find someone seeking to fill a similar position as you are, you say, ‘How are you going about it?’ I think it gives you some refreshing ideas that you can take back and use in your workplace.”

The Columbus Employment Assistance Network meets at 8:15 a.m. the second Thursday of each month. For more information, contact Diday at 777-1515.