At this time of reflection I have been looking back on my twenty six years of career counseling.  My thoughts lead me back to a time when Northeast Ohio’s steel mills and auto plants filled the sky with a hazy gray cloud that smelled of eternal prosperity and optimism.   My Chevrolet Chevette was the most technologically advanced American car.

Today I sit in my garden, as a tableau of clouds drifts across the sun in my rosemary and lavender scented retreat.

The vibrancy of the Jewish Community Employment-Related Support Program is reinforced for me every day.  Our offerings help job seekers and career transition seekers explore options, refine job search, focus energies effectively, all in a supportive environment with innovative programming.

As a career counselor, I am honored to work with Jewish Cleveland’s candidates in these challenging economic times.   The candidates often hear me refer to job search/career transition as “lifework”.   Together we work to identify career options that integrate and challenge our skills, personality, values and interests.  Put simply, we work to identify the unique richness that each of us brings  to this world.

As we begin a new year of service I keep in mind the seminal vision of  the late twentieth century Jewish philosopher, Dr. Seuss as he so eloquently wrote in his book, Oh The Places You’ll Go   “You have brains in your head and feet in your shoes and you can steer your self any way you choose.”

L’ Shana Tova, a sweet new year,
Martin  Elliot Jaffe, JFSA Career Counselor
Jewish Community Employment-Related Support Program

In challenging times, our community is here to help. Strengthening and Growing Jewish Cleveland in partnership with the Jewish Family Service Association provides a comprehensive network of support for job seekers.  The Jewish Community Employment-Related Support Program assists all Jewish community members facing layoffs, unemployment, under-employment and re-entry to the workforce as a result of the economy.