Employment

Alliance Ground International (AGI) has been a strong employer partner to HIAS Immigration & Citizenship, providing cargo, shipping and receiving warehouse positions to candidates—regardless of their English proficiency.

Even highly experienced jobseekers can benefit from working with career counselors at JCFS Chicago. Each person’s path to employment is unique, and everyone needs different kinds of support.

“Our goal is to empower them to find their next adventure,” said Career Counselor Marcy Miller. “We’re here to support them through that process, whatever that looks like.”

When Rivka was a high school senior at JCFS Chicago’s Knapp School & Yeshiva, she worked with a JCFS employment specialist to plan for her future.

A few months into her new marketing role, Kim sent an email to her JVS Career Counselor Sandra Saltzman, thanking her for her guidance, encouragement and expertise during her 1.5-year job search.

JCFS Chicago is one of six agencies that are partners in the Strategic Workforce Opportunity Collaborative (SWOC). This collaborative of trusted workforce professionals focuses on increasing employment opportunities for Chicagoland individuals with disabilities, and just as important, assisting employers in hiring qualified, pre-screened candidates.

One of the janitors who is employed through JCFS Chicago’s Contracted Employment Services (CES) accompanied CES Assistant Director Virginia Hopkins to SourceAmerica’s annual Grassroots Advocacy Conference in Washington, D.C... where he first shared his employment story with a group of fellow advocacy teams, and later presented a shorter version to legislators.

When Anna came to JCFS Chicago she was in the process of finishing her bachelor’s degree in English. Anna has a passion for reading and libraries, and she expressed to her employment specialist her desire to find a job in a library.

As a recent high school graduate, Daniel turned to JCFS Chicago’s Duman Opportunity Center for help finding employment. He began working with an employment specialist to explore opportunities that would highlight his strengths, build his confidence, and prepare him for long-term success.

They say when one door closes, another one opens. But it isn’t always that straightforward when employment specialists are helping refugees find jobs.

In the early 2000s, Sarah was struggling to pay her bills while living in Chicago and attending medical school. Her grueling academic schedule didn’t allow time for a job to help. A classmate, who also was Jewish, told her about a JVS Career & Employment scholarship offered to Jewish students studying in the health field.