18 | MARCH 3 • 2022 

T

he deadline is approach-
ing fast for the JVS 
Jeanette & Oscar Cook 
Jewish Occupational Internship 
(JOIN) program. The JOIN 
summer internship program 
is for full-time Jewish under-
graduate and graduate students 
from the Metro Detroit area. 
The purpose of the program 
is to enhance leadership skills 
and encourage involvement and 
interest in Jewish communal 
life, whether that be profes-
sional, volunteer or through lay 
leadership. 
The JOIN program also 
provides professional job expe-
riences to help build a student’s 
resume and work experience 

overall. Throughout the sum-
mer, the JOIN program gives 
students an opportunity to 
increase their knowledge of the 
Detroit Jewish community and 
develop a career, volunteer and 
lay-leadership interests. Interns 
also gain an understanding of 
the importance of community 
interrelationships. 
Here are how some of the 
participants from last year 
shared how the internship has 
impacted them:
• “I feel I made many mean-
ingful contributions to the 
Detroit Jewish community by 
helping the WDJCLP provide 
interest-free loans to help 
Jewish students pay college 

expenses.
” 
• “Forming close relation-
ships with each senior and 
impacting them half as much as 
they impacted me.
” 
• “It opened up my eyes to all 
the programs and work avail-
able within the Jewish commu-
nity.
” 
• “I felt accepted and appreci-
ated which helped my learning 
even more.
” 

• “Encourage people to do 
JOIN because it is a fantastic 
program!” 
“I love Jews and I was 
reminded of why, we’re always 
there for each other.
”
The internship runs from 
June 13- Aug. 5. For more 
information and to apply, head 
to www.jvshumanservices.org/
join-2022-application. 

JVS

JOIN program is looking for full-time 
Jewish undergrad and grad students. 

JVS Recruiting 
Summer Interns

RACHEL SWEET ASSOCIATE EDITOR

OUR COMMUNITY

TOP: Last year’s JOIN interns post for a photo.

J

VS + Kadima will be 
offering a free, live 
webinar on Zoom 
entitled “Your Brand in 
2022,” to help Michiganders 
understand and create a 
professional brand both 
clearly and concisely, to help 
secure their dream jobs. The 
program, which will be held 
live on March 7, at 11 a.m., 
aims to help individuals con-
vey to potential employers 
their value proposition that 
distinguishes their skillset 
from other jobseekers in the 
marketplace. To register, visit 
www.jvshumanservices.org/
events/whats-coming-up/. 

Career Counselor and 
Internship Employment 
Specialist at JVS + Kadima, 
Gerard Baltrusaitis, who is 
also one of the webinar pan-
elists, explained that just a 
few years ago, a great resume 
could be a ticket for employ-
ment. “Now you need to 
offer up to an employer who 
you represent, how people 
identify with you — a big-
ger picture of who you are, 
which is more specialized,” he 
explained. 
Baltrusaitis said an example 
might be an accountant who 
might assume their qualifi-
cations would secure a job. 

“Nowadays companies want 
employees who can make 
an impact right away, which 
might not be a generalist,” he 
said. “They might be looking 
for an accountant with auto 
experience who has been 
working for a $5-$15 million 
company who will be able 
to jump right in and make a 
difference. You need to brand 
yourself to show that you are 
the perfect candidate for that 
position.”
The webinar will provide 
steps to secure a dream job 
such as tweaking a resume 
by offering a branding state-
ment, updating LinkedIn, 

providing videos on YouTube 
and updating social media 
sites such as Twitter, Snapchat 
and Instagram. 
“Some people are fearful 
of branding, but it’s just a 
new way to promote your-
self in the job market in as 
many ways as possible,” said 
Baltrusaitis, who will be pre-
senting the program with JVS 
+ Kadima Business Relations 
Specialist Kathy O’Bryan. 
JVS + Kadima also pro-
vides one-on-one career 
counselling to metro 
Detroiters. Contact employ-
menthelp@jvshumanservices.
org for more information. 

Career Seminar