UNIONDALE — CSEA Nassau County Local 11th Vice President Eydie Hardamon was working in a law office when she found herself at a personal crossroads.
She was helping people, but not in the meaningful way she had pictured. While pursuing a master’s degree, Hardamon began interning at Nassau County Department of Social Services (DSS), where she found her calling as a job developer.
In the DSS Job Development Center, community members seeking employment meet with workers like Hardamon, who help job seekers identify employment opportunities, arrange training, provide work attire and schedule updates to ensure participants are on a path toward gainful employment, as well as connect them with other resources.
“People who have lived in Nassau County their whole lives don’t know that we’re here,” said Hardamon. “This is the perfect place for county residents to gain resources they or someone they know can use to help them out of hard times.”
Hardamon holds classes four times per week, where she speaks with job seekers one-on-one to ensure they are actively searching for work.
“Temporary assistance is just that — temporary,” said Hardamon. “The more you look for work, the more likely you will find employment.”
After meeting with Hardamon and other members of Nassau County DSS Job Development Center, job seekers often become more comfortable with the staff and start believing in themselves and their ability to achieve a better future.
In cases where clients have a note from a doctor indicating they cannot work for physical or mental health reasons, job developers refer them to a department that can offer the services they need.
According to Hardamon, Job Development is a “no-judgment zone,” noting that she has lived enough life to know how easily someone can fall on hard luck.
“People have this idea that the people who visit Job Development are all the same, but that’s not the case,” said Hardamon. “We have people come in here who have master’s degrees, Ph.Ds, some doctors, and others who don’t have those things. Either way, you don’t judge them. You meet them where they are and try to help them.”
Hardamon recalls success stories that keep her motivated, including when people visit to share that they found a job. Many of them hug Hardamon as they thank her for helping them during their job search. Others mail letters of thanks — one woman even sent Hardamon a thank-you letter every month.
Although she is grateful for their appreciation, Hardamon reminds her clients that they should be proud of themselves because they are the ones that chose to listen and work toward their goals.
The positive feedback reminds Hardamon why she began her work at Nassau County DSS.
“It’s really fulfilling when I see people are happy because they can feed their families and be self-sufficient,” said Hardamon. “It makes me want to go harder and find additional resources for them.”
— Wendi Bowie