4R | SUNDAY , APRIL 17 , 2022 | THE RECORD P

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By ELI AMDUR SPECIAL TO NORTH JERSEY JOBS

illions of young workers who started their careers since the onset of the pandemic have still neither been to their

Eli Amdur

employers ’ brick and mortar addresses nor met any of their coworkers in person . Millions more haven ’ t been to the office enough times to know what “ going to work ” feels like as a regular element of normality .

With that backdrop , I pose the following question with all the gravity I can harness : What does reality look like to them regarding work , jobs and careers ? Do they see it the way the rest of us do ( or did )? How do they view working relationships ? Sharing physical space ? Team dynamics ? How are their nonverbal communication skills : eye contact , facial expressions , body language ? Do they know these things are important ? Do they care ?

It may be too early to tell , but these are serious questions , given that we ’ ve gone to great pains since World War II to identify generations , generally by a defining characteristic or two .

CAREER COACH

We Baby Boomers ( born 1946-1964 ) were where the whole generation-naming thing started and then led to naming subsequent Gens X , Y , Z ( Millennials ), and retrospectively , Seniors . But it started with us Boomers , and as we are declining in numbers in the workplace , it shouldn ’ t surprise anyone that the younger half of the workforce doesn ’ t even know that we ’ re so named because we were the largest birth rate boom in history . That ’ s right , kids ! Really !

So , as one of the oldest Boomers – and someone whose job for the last 25 years has been to know what ’ s going on in the job market and labor force – I hereby take the liberty of designating these workplace newbies – the generation described at the top of this column – as “ Baby Zoomers .” So far , their defining characteristic is that their reality comes to them through Zoom . It ’ s what they know .

This is more serious than you might think , and it sharply brings to mind The Allegory of the Cave , Book VII of Plato ’ s Republic , one of the most profound influences on how I learned to see the world . Written as a dialog between Plato ’ s brother Glaucon and his mentor Socrates , it tells the story of captors holding prisoners in a cave , chained so they can see only the interior wall , and where their only light is a fire behind them casting shadows on the wall . Soon , they acclimate to a completely controlled but unreal environment , believing shadows are real images , and that the only light in the world comes from that flickering fire behind them .

Then , supposes Socrates , if one captive were to be unchained and turned around to see real images , he might not recognize them and will be blinded by exposure to the flame ’ s light . Socrates continues his supposition that the man who was compelled to look at the fire would try to turn his gaze back toward the shadows he perceived as real . Then what if he were brought out into the sunlight ? Wouldn ' t he be distressed and unable to see “ even one of the things now said to be true ” because he was blinded by the light ?

After some time in the open , however , the freed prisoner would readjust , recalibrate . He would see more things around him , until he could “ look upon the sun , the source of the seasons and the years , and ... the steward of all things in the visible place .” In other words : truth and reality . Profound . Do you see the same parallel I do ? That cave wall and those Zoom screens are the same thing :

a two-dimension representation of a three-dimension world , artificially lit and dynamically controlled , rendering genuine interaction impossible . Being unchained or going out into the sunlight , on the other hand , is the same as returning to work .

Now , so you don ’ t get me wrong , let ’ s pay Zoom its due . That technology ( and others similar ) flat out saved us ( it sure did me ) and I can ’ t imagine working without it anymore . For this treatise , though , I ’ m using “ Baby Zoomers ” because it ’ s so much catchier than “ Baby Microsoft Teamers ” – and this all has a recent historic connection ( Boomers ) and an ancient reference ( Plato ’ s Allegory ).

But the issue – re-acclimation , reintegration , cohesion , etc . – remains , and the responsibility for returning to old norms or forming new norms belongs to us all : executives , managers , and supervisors ; line staff and HR ; corporate leaders and educators .

And , of course , to Baby Zoomers , whom we welcome to the office .

Career Coach Eli Amdur provides one-on-one coaching in job search , résumés and interviewing . Reach him at eli . amdur @ amdurcoaching . com or 201-357-5844 .

PART-TIME OPPORTUNITY

BOROUGH OF RIVER EDGE ( BERGEN COUNTY )

The Borough of River Edge is accepting employment application for 1 part-time Senior Bus Driver position within the Department of Public Works . Hours will vary from 8 to 29 hours per week . Eligible candidate must have a valid Class B driver ’ s license and passenger endorsement . Proof of Covid-19 vaccination will be required .

Interested candidates may visit the Borough of River Edge website at www . riveredgenj . org / jobs , or you may pick up an application in person at the Department of Public Works , at 500 Riverside Way , River Edge , NJ .

Application must be submitted in person by the close of business day , Monday , May 2 , 2022

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Full Time - Borough of Tenafly , Bergen County

DPW DRIVER / LABORER - The Borough of Tenafly is seeking a driver / laborer to work within the Department of Public Works . Responsibilities include but are not limited to manual labor , recycling , road maintenance , sewers , buildings and grounds , vehicle maintenance , grass cutting and snow plowing . Applicants should be prepared to perform duties in all weather conditions and work mandatory overtime . This position is subject to pre-employment and random drug testing . Applicants must possess a Class “ B ” CDL ( Class “ A ” preferred ). Hours are from 7:00am – 3:00pm , 35 hours per week . Must be available for weekend stand by and on call for emergencies .

Interested applicants should submit an application to careers @ tenafly . net

Applications are available at www . tenaflynj . org / DocumentCenter / View / 329

The Borough reserves the right to interview and / or appoint a candidate prior to the deadline . Tenafly is an Equal Opportunity Employer .

NR-GCI0857080-01

Full time realty office Monday-Friday

Bookkeeping / accounts payable . Diversified duties .

Send resume & salary requirements to : anj911 @ aol . com

• Driver

• Counter Help

• All positions available No experience necessary will train Part Time & Full Time available Starting at $ 14-16 / hr

( 201 ) 567-2616

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NR-GCI0866408-01

NR-GCI0862287-01

Full Time Maintenance Technician

South Bergen County - Management company seeks a non-residential maintenance tech . for a large multi-unit apartment community . This is a support position for an already established crew which works at turning over apartments ; also , the candidate must be capable of working independently on repair orders in occupied apartments . Knowledge of general maintenance methods and tools for carpentry & tile . Additional duties would include basic electrical repairs on outlets , fixtures & switches , and light plumbing : clearing blockages and replacing fittings . This is an excellent opportunity to be part of a great team and grow with the company . Medical benefits available after established period . Must have NJ driver ’ s license .

Please send resume to riverviewgarden @ comcast . net

FULL TIME OPPORTUNITY

BOROUGH OF RIVER EDGE ( BERGEN COUNTY )

NR-GCI0863350-01

The Borough of River Edge is accepting employment application and resume for 1 full-time Laborer II position within the Department of Public Works . Must have a valid Class B , air brake , Commercial Driver ’ s License and must be able to obtain a tanker endorsement within one year . Interested candidates may visit the Borough of River Edge website at www . riveredgenj . org / jobs , or you may pick up an application in person at the Department of Public Works , at 500 Riverside Way , River Edge , NJ .

Application and resume must be submitted in person by the close of business day , Monday , May 2 , 2022

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Full Time Leasing Agent

Full-time Leasing Agent needed for large residential apartment community . Must have a current New Jersey Real Estate license . Amazing opportunity for newly licensed agent looking to gain hands – on professional experience , or a more seasoned agent tired of chasing commissions . Applicants must possess excellent organizational and interpersonal skills . They should be capable of working both independently and as part of a team . New employee will be mentored by experienced colleagues . Pandemic guidelines in place . The position requires a valid NJ driver ’ s license with a reasonable commute . Forty hour work week with benefits .

Please email all resumes to riverviewgardens @ comcast . net

FINDING A JOB SHOULDN ’ T FEEL LIKE ONE . The smartest way to hire .

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