Jewish Social Services Agency
November 2010 - October 2011
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Financial support from the Wolpoff Family Foundation has helped Jewish Social Services Agency to offer a broad range of innovative group-focused programs, at no charge, that include a highly successful two-day Job Search Boot Camp, mini groups for boot camp alumni, weekly job search networking groups, and community lectures and workshops on a variety of today’s most relevant employment topics.
Following is the story of one of JSSA’s recent “graduates” who directly benefited from the programs that the Wolpoff Family Foundation generously supported. “I found myself out of work, in my mid-fifties, in the midst of the worst economy in decades. I did not comprehend the perfect storm I would encounter…” Mr. G*, a mid-career financial management professional, had always found jobs easily. But when the economy suddenly crumbled last year, this husband and father of three found himself suddenly laid off and face-to-face with a completely different job market than he had ever experienced. Mr. G spent several months searching the Internet and applying for what he felt were suitable openings. He received no replies and began growing increasingly despondent – a common experience for today’s job seekers. “Without any positive feedback it didn’t take long for me to feel like I was spiraling down as fast as the economy…” When Mr. G turned to JSSA’s Employment and Career Services (ECS), a professional career coach immediately helped him regain optimism. She worked with him to devise an aggressive job search strategy, including ways to improve his resume and to work more effectively with recruiters. The advice transformed his understanding of how to market himself. “It didn’t happen overnight…but I know that without JSSA’s expertise, I would have spent many more months looking for a job than I did.” |