Job-Hunting Profile

Paul Coon, mechanical engineer

Paul Coon has been out of work for two years.

Despite networking and applying for jobs since being laid off from Teradyne, the 47-year-old mechanical engineer from Mont Vernon went a good six to nine months last year with no response. No calls. Nothing.

Fortunately, his wife is working.

“It’s a constant battle, trying to remain positive, not letting it get you down,” he said.

There have been times he’s wanted to give up.

“I remember a two-week stretch where I didn’t look at the newspaper, I didn’t look at the Internet, I didn’t make any phone calls,” he said.

Then he went to a networking meeting. One of the friends he met there saw he was in a slump, and began pushing him to make those networking calls.

“It’s when you stop calling . . . you’re cutting down your opportunities or chances,” Coon said.

At networking meetings, like the Nashua Job Seekers, which meets every Monday morning at 9 at the Nashua Public Library, Coon gives and gets leads, moral support and encouragement.

In his job search, Coon has found that it’s an “employer’s market,” meaning they can outline the exact job requirements they want.

Coon, who has been in engineering management for the last 10 years, is looking for a job in manufacturing management, engineering management, project management or operations management.

“It’s very different today than it was five years ago,” he said.

Today, if he had 90 percent of the qualifications, he’s passed over, where as five years ago, if he will find a job this year.

“One of the first things I learned when I joined the networking groups was the fact that this will come to an end,” Coon said.

“There is a job out there for you. You have to work for it, you have to find it, but it’s not the end of the world.”

– KAREN SPILLER