Ready to Work
Last month, several Denver-area job seekers joined us for our first JFS on-site Job Fair in over four years—and the event was a tremendous success!
While our Employment Services department ran the Job Fair, it truly was an agency-wide collaboration to bring together HR professionals, recruiters, and those looking for employment opportunities for this event. Over the course of nine weeks, members from seven teams, who represented several JFS departments, met weekly to define tasks, share ideas, and assign roles.
With a goal of 50 participants, the number of individuals who attended the event topped more than 100, doubling our previous record number of attendees. Job candidates practiced their elevator pitches, had headshots taken for LinkedIn, learned about JFS programs and services, signed up for classes, and enjoyed free lunch. Most important, however, was the opportunity for job seekers to apply and interview on-site with 13 organizations, such as Walmart, RTD, Hyatt, and Habitat for Humanity, as well as with National Jewish Health and other partners in healthcare, manufacturing, education, and staffing.
“This was an ultra-collaborative event between several JFS departments and program areas, and it was fabulous to see that collaborative spirit and feel the “buzz” and energy in the room filled with so many people,” said JFS Career Services Manager Heather Seiden.
While it’s too soon to know the number of interviews extended and accepted job offers, we’re already thinking about future job fairs and are planning to host two fairs in the next year! And we know our employer partners are eager to return as well! “It was great to come to your job fair,” shared our Hyatt representative. “What a great response you all had—there were a lot of people. We look forward to doing it again! Thank you, Heather and team! It was a great event. Looking forward to the next one!”
In addition to helping people find employment, we also welcomed newly arrived families from Ukraine and helped several families from Venezuela and Columbia who had recently arrived within the week and had nothing. Heather shared, “Our Vocational Program Manager Gloria Padilla helped interpret in Spanish, and we provided these families with food, information, clothing, diapers, and a bouncy seat for a baby. They were incredibly grateful.”
Thank you to all our staff who made our Job Fair a success, including:
Bi-lingual team members who provided interpretation: Ruby Chavez (Spanish), Omar Al Ezzi (Arabic), Saif Ayar Lemar (Dari/Pashto/Farsi), Sabrin Mohammed (Farsi/Dari/Arabic), Shams Rahman Rahmanzai (Dari/Pashto/Hindi), Gloria Padilla (Spanish), and Aziz Vahobov (Russian, Dari).
The Yana Vishnitsky Refugee Resettlement team recruited job seekers and helped transport them to and from JFS.
The Marketing team for creating flyers and promoting the event across multiple platforms.
Volunteer Services for coordinating the photographer, Courtney K., to take headshots.
The Facilities and Accounting teams for overseeing set up, take down, and cooking lunch.
Team members from every program area within the Employment Services department for helping plan each aspect of the job fair, including recruiting employer partners, making gift bags for participants, cooking lunch, and securing a donation of breakfast items for our employer partners.
To our employer partners, we are incredibly grateful for your support and participation. We can help our clients advance their careers because of your dedication. Thank you to everyone who joined us, including:
Allied Universal
Amazon
Craig Hospitals
Denver Public Schools – Careers Division
Express Employment Professionals F
edEx Ground
Flagship
Habitat for Humanity
Hyatt Regency and Thompson Hotels
National Jewish Health
RTD
Walmart
For more information about JFS’s employment services, visit jewishfamilyservice.org/employment/for-job-seekers.