JVS is a non-profit, non-sectarian agency, fully credentialed, which provides career counseling and job placement to Chicago area clients. The Agency is supported by the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago and public funds. Click here for a summary of our licenses and professional affiliations. JVS assists clients in evaluating their interests, aptitudes and experiences to clarify career direction. Clients can choose from a range of services which include networking, exploring the job market, learning job search strategies, obtaining job placement assistance and support groups.

• JOB PLACEMENT

JVS' professional staff assists individuals in organizing a strategic job campaign: resume development and cover letter writing; self-assessment and clarification of an appropriate career path; how to do research and use the Internet to find job leads quickly; how to sharpen your interviewing skills: how to manage the information interview; networking - how to make contacts and get the most from mentors; and negotiating - how and when to ask about salary and benefits and the way to handle objections and negatives. Job ready applicants are matched to appropriate positions from the JVS database. Jobs range from entry-level to executive opportunities. JVS works with an extensive network of metropolitan Chicago employers. There is no fee for this service.

For JVS locations and contact information, click here.
To schedule an appointment with JVS click here

• CAREER COUNSELING

Clients are assisted in evaluating their interests, aptitudes and work history in order to clarify their career options and match their personal work style with potential career opportunities. Fees for counseling and testing and assessment are on a sliding scale.

For JVS locations and contact information, click here.
To schedule an appointment with JVS click here

• GROUP SERVICES



JVS offers a wide array of special programs to assist job seekers and career changers.

Job Finders is an intensive program which teaches the unemployed professional the fine art of job campaigning. It features a special emphasis on telemarketing and networking as approaches to developing job leads and offers videotaped mock interviews with constructive feedback. Sessions cover important elements of conducting a job campaign such as: researching companies; resumes; cover letters and follow-up procedures; networking; interviewing; and negotiating. Job Finders meets for a total of twenty-four hours over a three day period, in Skokie. For information call or e-mail .

The Suburban Resource Network (SRN) SRN is a cooperative program between Jewish Vocational Service (JVS) and Jewish Family and Community Service (JFCS) designed to meet the needs of Jewish individuals who experience the difficulties associated with long-term unemployment, and underemployment. The program offers support as well as many strategies for coping with family tensions and marital problems resulting from the pressures of career reversal. SRN is held at various locations. For further information call or e-mail .

Career Connections For Young Professionals is designed for the '20 something' young adult who wants assistance in planning a career strategy. The program includes career counseling and assessment, individual job placement, frequent seminars and mentoring services. For further information call or e-mail .



The Jewish Employment Network (JEN). JEN is a cooperative partnership between JVS, more than 60 affiliated congregations, the Chicago Board of Rabbis and the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago. It serves middle and upper level managers and professionals whose jobs have been impacted by corporate restructuring as well as career changers, young professionals and college and post graduate students.

JEN offers a wide array of services to congregation members and their adult children, enabling them to wage a successful job campaign in today's rapidly changing marketplace. These services include: networking events, listing in a publication (Talent List) which is distributed through the congregations and sent to Chicago area companies; a job matching system; monthly Roundtables featuring volunteer career search experts; support groups; job listings; and computer/Internet services. Unemployed senior executives are linked with mentors in the Jewish community. For more information call or e-mail .

Work Wise offers twenty hours of instruction in Windows software over a four-week period plus ten additional hours of job campaign and placement services. This program is customized for adults (50+) who need to upgrade their skills in order to increase their employment opportunities. For information call or e-mail .

Resource Information - JVS locations have computer resources where clients can conduct job seeking research, create resumes and cover letters or work with knowledgeable staff in expediting an individual Internet job search. Publications highlighting the latest labor market trends and effective job campaign techniques are available. This service is by appointment through your JVS counselor.

Special Events/Seminars - Events highlight critical aspects of a job campaign and present cutting edge techniques to succeed in the rapidly changing marketplace and technological revolution. Check with the JVS Events Calendar for monthly listings.



Refugee Placement Program - Services to refugees from the former Soviet Union feature English-as-a Second Language (ESL), career counseling, training and job search strategies in preparation for entering the American job market. JVS offers a number of short term training classes to upgrade or increase marketable work skills. Free job placement is provided upon completion.

An extensive corps of JVS volunteers provide opportunities for new Americans to acculturate through practicing conversational English, mock interviewing with human resource or other business professionals and participating in seminars relevant to their career areas.

For information on resettlement services, training opportunities and eligibility, call or e-mail .

For volunteer opportunities, click here

English-As-A-Second Language Program (ESL)
The JVS/ESL program was established to help foreign born clients learn conversational English and to communicate in the American world of work.Truman College provides highly qualified adult educators through Chicago City Colleges' Adult Skills Learning Program. The focus of the classes is on vocational communication: oral and listening skills are primary. Classes are non-credit and without charge.

Entering students are tested for their English language level and placed in an appropriate class. Classes meet Monday through Thursday from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and 1:15 p.m. to 5:15 p.m. Students who work during the day are encouraged to attend Monday through Thursday evenings, 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. A babysitting service is available on site for children ages two to five while their parents attend during the daytime. The JVS Volunteer Program supplements the ESL program, providing students with additional out-of-classroom practice, specialized vocational language courses, and acculturation activities. For further information call or e-mail .