Jobless profile: Mark Swisher

By Sean F. Driscoll

BusinessRockford.com

Part of an occasional series profiling the unemployed in the Rock River Valley.

Mark Swisher
Age: 54
Hometown: Rockford
Family: Married for 33 years; has four grown daughters
Out of work: Almost six months
Swisher last worked at Ecolab, which provides cleaning and sanitation equipment and services worldwide.

What did you do last? I was a project manager and director of operations. My base was in St. Paul, Minn., and I traveled across the country for three and a half years. I managed a team setting up business systems at Ecolab’s different sites across the country.

What kind of job are you looking for? I’m seeking a leadership position with a midsized manufacturing company. Every company has different titles, but something in the realm of vice president of operations, director of operations, general manager.

Have you had any interviews? It comes and goes. It gets really active for a while then goes quiet. It all depends on what companies are thinking. In April and May, they seemed to be thinking things were about ready to pick up and I had a lot of activity and interviews, but then I either wasn’t the top candidate or they just canceled the search and delayed hiring. I had some where they were delayed for two months, then they started back up only to have it delayed again. It’s been quite a roller-coaster.

How has unemployment affected you? I’ve never been laid off before, so I’ve tried to stay very active. The biggest change for me is not being busy, not having several tasks to do at once and constant pressure to deliver results. My strategy is to develop my network and really polish my interview skills. There are so many people out there that the big part is how to present myself.

I’m really just trying to identify opportunities and get in line for those that match my skills.

Have you considered moving from Rockford? My job search is across the United States. Right away, I could see the manufacturing market here isn’t that good. I’ve been in manufacturing my whole life, and there aren’t a lot of positions here that I’m looking for.

What’s surprised you the most about being unemployed? You could see the downturn coming, but you never think that you’re going to be unemployed. I talked to many, many people who said it would take a year to 15 months to find something. I’m not sure I didn’t believe them, but it has surprised me that it’s taken this long to find the type of job I’m looking for. I guess I shouldn’t be surprised. I know a few people who have gotten jobs, but many, many more who have been unemployed even longer than I have.

Reach staff writer Sean F. Driscoll at 815-987-1346 or sdriscoll@rrstar.com.

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