CINCINNATI (Feb. 6, 2013) — Fifth Third Bancorp and NextJob, a nationwide re-employment solutions company, have teamed up to offer an industry-first program that gives unemployed mortgage borrowers job search assistance, including one-on-one dedicated coaching, weekly webinars and online job search software, paid for by Fifth Third Bank.
The two companies piloted the program throughout 2012 with unemployed Fifth Third customers who were in serious risk of defaulting on their mortgages. On average, the individuals had been out of work for 22 months. In the pilot program, nearly 40 percent were fully employed after six months, and, as a result, the pilot was expanded.
With the signing of a multi-year contract with NextJob, Fifth Third Bank moves the program out of pilot phase and incorporates it into the way the company does business, according to a press release from the bank. Fifth Third Bank is the first financial institution to offer this type of assistance to mortgage customers.
“Up to half of mortgage delinquencies are due to job loss,” said Steven Alonso, executive vice president and head of the Consumer Bank, Fifth Third Bancorp. “With NextJob, we immediately recognized an opportunity to go the extra mile to assist our customers. This is specific, one-on-one training that helps people identify their transferable skills and re-gain the financial stability of a new job.”
NextJob’s service features three parts that work to help borrowers find meaningful employment: one-on-one job coaching, job search software featuring nine modules, and Job Talk, a weekly webinar on a critical job search topic. Together they help Fifth Third borrowers:
♦ Create an effective resume and cover letter that gets the attention of hiring managers
♦ Develop and carry out a detailed job search action plan
♦ Evaluate one’s career direction and identify skills that could transfer to another industry or field
♦ Discover jobs that are open, but never advertised
♦ Use the latest and most effective Internet tools and techniques
♦ Train and prepare for successful interviews.
One of the program’s successful participants, now working in the insurance industry said, “I just want to say how much I enjoyed working with my coaches. If it hadn’t been for their work helping me, I probably would still be unemployed. They gave me such hope and empowered me in ways I never would have used on my own.”
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