Reconnecting a passion with a career opportunity

Sarah connected with the JFS Career Services team after receiving employment support for laid-off nonprofit professionals through JFS, which provides one-on-one career coaching. Like many job seekers in today’s market, Sarah came in discouraged after months of applying with little traction. 

When Sarah first attended Job Search Accelerator (JSA), which is a one-day, in-person workshop that helps identify the skills you enjoy using and want to bring to your next role, determine the type of work environment where you’ll thrive, write a dynamic resume, and more, she was visibly nervous, quiet, hesitant, and lacking confidence after a difficult job search experience. During her time with us, Sarah worked closely not only with her career counselor but also with the broader Career Services team. She regularly attended office hours and stayed engaged, seeking support with her resume, job search strategy, and overall direction.  

When Sarah felt like giving up, she was encouraged to focus on “filling her cup” and staying connected to purpose while navigating the stress of the job search.  Sarah took that advice to heart and began volunteering with our Workplace English class to fill her cup and build her resume. With a background as an English as a Second Language (ESL) teacher, Sarah reconnected with her passion for supporting refugee communities, particularly Spanish-speaking individuals learning English. This renewed focus made a meaningful difference, and as Sarah’s confidence and sense of purpose grew, so did her momentum. 

Shortly after, Sarah secured a position teaching ESL, earning a strong salary, with our partner organization, Emily Griffith Technical College, an opportunity she had long been interested in. Sarah’s journey is a strong example of resilience, community support, and the impact of staying engaged even during difficult moments.  

*If you have recently been laid off from a nonprofit agency, JFS is offering no-cost one-on-one career coaching tailored specifically to you. Learn more today!