Archive for September, 2011
Occupational mobility is a fancy word used today when switching careers. Experts say it occurs three to seven times in the lifespan of the average American worker. Today, 40-plus workers are most likely to make the change due to layoffs, pay cuts and salary freezes.
Making the decision to change career paths and identifying the right occupation to seek can be very difficult, especially when a change of vocation may require retraining. Luckily, Jewish Family and Children’s Service now offers many Jewish career services, including career counseling and coaching assistance. They help individuals identify transferable skills, job interests, work values, career values and aptitude for a variety of positions and industries.
The recession has prompted people to go back to school for advanced business degrees. Many are seeking jobs in industries perceived to be recession-proof such as Healthcare. Joe Perez, director of professional development at the Phoenix School of Law, stated that about a quarter of the school’s evening classes are composed of working professionals.
At Jewish Free Loan, we offer interest-free education loans. If you are seeking a different career path and feel one of our loans would be helpful, visit our website at jewishfreeloan.org. Simply download and complete a borrower’s form and fax it to us at 602.230.0180. Hurry, the deadline for funding the next round of education loans is November 1st!
Our fractured Jewish community has been in the doldrums for a while, and many members are still licking old wounds. Now that the New Year beckons and September is here, it is time to dust ourselves off and begin building a new and vibrant Jewish community.
We invite everyone to join us on Sunday, September 11 from 1:00pm – 5:00pm at ASU’s Memorial Union, for an event where everyone will have the opportunity to provide input to our community. At this event we will address important subjects like welcoming newcomers, organizational and synagogue collaboration, youth and young adults, the cost of being Jewish and many more relevant topics. Sponsored by the Jewish Community Foundation, in partnership with Hillel at ASU, and nearly 40 other Jewish communal organizations in the Valley. Everyone in the community is welcome; there is no cost to attend.
The event is titled “Can Jewish life bloom in the desert?” It is for those who have worked tirelessly for years and have provided services in the past. It is also for the next generation that is interested in being a part of the future development of our community. Also it is for anyone who has not been involved but has ideas that will help move the community forward. This is our time; this event is a powerful opportunity to get it right.
Recently, I heard that there are people in our community who feel that the leadership involved with the Jewish community are a tight clique. Whether or not this is true is besides the point. The perception is there. However, this is not the time to hold onto old judgments. Now is the time to decide what kind of community we want to build.
It is so easy to be the fence sitter who points out things that will not work, instead of contributing to be part of something that will work. While we can’t be a part of everything in the community, we can pick a niche that appeals to us, and work to make it functional. By being welcoming and collaborative, we become a positive influence for others in the community.
Attend the “Can Jewish life bloom in the desert?” event on September 11 to make your voice heard! Building the foundation for a great Jewish community in the New Year would be a wonderful way to end 2011.
