BUSINESS D-A - For the Fast Track KIMBERLY LIFTON Staff Writer Photo by Glenn Triest JVS' Galina Drits discusses job prospects with a Soviet man. INAI arty Benson believes 90 days behind the counter will prepare immigrants for the American job market more effectively than any class. So in the past few years, the cash registers at his West Bloomfield American Bulk Food store have been manned by many Soviet pro- fessionals. Among them are engineers, bookkeepers, jewelers, biologists and com- puter programmers who fled persecution in the Soviet Union to find freedom in the United States. "The initial problem that they face is getting comfor- table with language, learn- ing how we handle problems, what are the expectations and how do we do business," 48 FRIDAY, JUNE 7, 1991 Mr. Benson says. "That real- ly is the most important thing. You can learn a lot from books, but the counter is the best place to learn. "At first, it is frustrating; they are forced into learn- ing," Mr. Benson says. "They are slow. Then they get used to it, and they pick up the language. They all help each other and it reminds me of family." Still, starting at the bottom is not so attractive to the highly trained, college- educated Soviet masses entering the country at a rate of 40,000 a year. Last year, Detroit resettled almost 800 Soviet Jews. Al- ready this year, 140 Soviet immigrants arrived, and an- other 60 are expected this month. They arrive in droves — ready and able to work. Ac- companying them are skills that are not always transferable. And they bring along expectations. "I want a house, a car and some money — enough to have a full life," says Larisa Peysin, a wife, mother of two, and a draftsman by trade who became a seamstress after im- migrating here a year ago. "I want a good, professional job for myself and for my husband and a good future for my kids. "I want a job in any profes- sion," Mrs. Peysin. says. "I don't want to be a seam- stress." Despite Soviet Jews' high- level skills, many do start over in the United States. No matter how talented or educated, some jobs — like those of economists or ac- countants — do not translate without retraining. Some doctors are being re-trained as lab assistants. Engineers often opt for careers in repair. Many women are op- ting for work as cosmetologists and seam- stresses. Leonid Neveleva, an elec- tronics engineer in the Soviet Union, immigrated here a year ago and has since become a technician for Inatech in Troy. "His job is close," says Leonid's wife, Olga Neveleva, a bookkeeper who can't find work. "But it is not satisfying. He can do more. He was a good engi- neer and he knows some management." Mrs. Peysin, who has lived in Oak Park for a year, thinks the situation will change. Her husband, an art designer who took a factory job, was laid off four months ago. "We like it here much better," she says. "We have difficulty with the language. I've had a few interviews. Maybe my English is not good." By anyone's standards, the first order of business on the newcomer checklist is learn- ing the language. "Language is the big prob- lem," says Galina Drits, co- ordinator for refugee employment for Jewish Vocational Service. "People who come here prepared to speak English will find jobs more easily." JVS' refugee program has grown in the past 15 years. A few years ago, a staff of one and a part-time inter- preter made up the depart- ment. Today, refugee ser- vices employs nine, in- cluding a part-time translator. "The economy has chang- ed so drastically," says Karol Moxley, refugee pro- gram supervisor. "Americans are competing for jobs, so it is tougher now for the Soviets. People who have recently ar- rived have a more difficult time getting in. The com- munity needs to help us by calling us and giving us refer- rals." JVS provides skills retraining. To retool Soviets for the American job market, the agencies receive government and private funds to upgrade business, clerical, bookkeeping and computer skills. Services available to each Soviet are: assessment of work-related skills, job placement assistance, job readiness training, previous skills analysis and resume writing and interviewing workshops. "Our goal at JVS is to assist the client in becoming self-sufficient in the speediest time possible," Mrs. Drits says. JVS officials say they keep no placement statistics, but estimate that 60 percent of their clients are Soviets. Soviets are referred to the agency through Jewish Family Service. Placement, they say, is somewhat slower than it was during the im- migration wave 12 years ago. Barbara Nurenberg, JVS assistant executive director, says that Soviets typically remain on the active case file for six months, when they get their first job placement. Some jobs don't work out; and then they come back, she says. "The concept of worker ex- pectation is different in this country," Ms. Nurenberg says. "But this wave is better prepared than the immigrants who arrived here 12 years ago." Ms. Nurenberg reiterates the main employment prob- lem: English. "One of the quickest ways to learn is to get out into the working world. English improves more rapidly among those who are working than among those in classes all day." Mrs. Nurenberg says 22 percent of the Soviet clients opt for extended training; 55 percent of their caseloads are closed within 90 days due to job placement.