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August 9 • 2018
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tic. I know I’m a very monotone
NEXTWork, our professional
speaker.”
networking series, has been incred-
So we worked together on being
ibly successful and attracted more
genuinely enthusiastic in an inter-
than 450 people since its launch a
view without “faking it.” A skill like
few years ago. We offer NEXTWork
that isn’t something you
events three or four times
ABOVE: Rachel
necessarily learn in school;
a year, and they’re a great
Devries.
it’s something you need
way to meet other young
one-on-one help with to
Jewish professionals from
perfect — and a lot of prac-
a variety of professional
tice.
backgrounds.
The NEXTGen Connect lay leader
WHAT SERVICES DOES NEXTGEN
committee is made up of local pro-
fessionals, most of whom are outside
CONNECT PROVIDE FOR
of the “NEXTGen age” bracket, who
JOB SEEKERS?
• Free workshops occur multiple
have great professional connections
times a week, both at the JVS loca-
within the community. I meet with
tion in Southfield and at the
them regularly to share information
about the job seekers I am working
Hermelin ORT Resource Center
with.
at the JCC in West Bloomfield.
Committee members, in turn, look
Topics range from LinkedIn basics,
at the resumes, meet the job seek-
networking, how to stay positive
ers and then identify if they have a
when you’re going through a long
connection or contact to share that
job search, resumé writing, any-
would be beneficial for their search.
thing you can think of. Either a JVS
This committee really demonstrates
employment specialist or a career
how giving and eager people are to
counselor teaches these workshops.
help one another in our community.
• One-on-one sessions, either in
These are established professionals
person, over the phone or via email.
who have been successful in their
We try to be as accessible as we
careers for years and are excited to
can. I’ll meet someone at Starbucks
help young adults just starting out.
or they can come to my office. If
Then there’s me — I grew up here.
someone reaches out to me who’s
I have deep roots in Detroit, I was
thinking about moving to Michigan
and currently living in another state, involved in Tamarack, Adat Shalom,
NCSY, BBYO, Hillel Day School,
we’ll start the conversation and the
Frankel Jewish Academy, University
job search over the phone.
of Michigan and Michigan State,
• Time with career counselors
and I use my personal network to
and employment specialists. I’m an
help my clients. I’m always happy to
employment specialist, so I meet
make introductions.
with people who are able to do an
We all have such complicated
independent job search on their
and interesting networks and now,
own, meaning they know what they
because of social media, we have a
want and they could do it by them-
way to stay in touch and expand our
selves, but they would benefit from
networks. It’s amazing when you
some help.
know someone who knows someone
• A career counselor is a master-
who knows someone, and you put
level clinician who can help some-
these perfect puzzle pieces together
one who isn’t quite certain of the
to make something great happen for
type of job he or she is looking for.
somebody else. •
A career counselor will ask different
questions and conduct tests with a
If you would like to learn more about
client to identify skills and interests
NEXTGen Connect and employment services,
and figure out what career options
contact Rachel Devries at rdevries@jvsdet.
would be a good fit.
org. Becky Hurvitz is a content strategist for
• Opportunities to network and
the Jewish Federation. A longer version of
access to a broader network are so
this story first appeared on myjewishdetroit.
valuable when looking for a job.
org.