TORONTO — The economy is in shambles, job interviews are terrifying and no one will take your business card.
Helen Wilkie
That’s where Jewish Employment Toronto (JET) comes in.
JET, a joint initiative with the Jewish Urban Meeting Place (JUMP) and Birthright Alumni Committee (BAC), offers programming and social networking opportunities for Jewish young professionals aged around 22 to 34.
Launched late last month, JET combines lectures from successful businesspeople and workshops on topics such as networking and resumé writing.
“[JET is for] skilled professionals who are really unhappy with their current position or who are just having difficulty finding employment,” said Shira Webber, a JET organizer, adding that it can be used as a support system for recent graduates. “You’re out there to fend for yourself. There’s no real guidebook of what to do once you’ve graduated.”
The idea for the program was born this past summer and has taken several months to organize. For Weber, who moved to Toronto from Montreal about two years ago, JET’s filling a void.
“I didn’t really feel, as a new person to Toronto, that this existed,” she said. “I lived in Montreal – they do have a variety of social networking groups that I was part of. I looked for that and didn’t find it here.”
Shoshana Allen, JUMP’s program and marketing manager and a JET organizer, said that social networking programs are available in Toronto but few target Jewish professionals.
“All of these things are available somewhere else, but the point is doing it in a Jewish context,” she said. “It just brings [participants] closer to their own identity and to meeting other Jews. It builds a stronger and more unified Jewish community.”
So far, JET, which is funded by private donors, has held two events, a lecture given by Joelle Adler, the CEO of Diesel Canada, and a networking workshop with Helen Wilkie, a professional speaker and workshop leader.
Wilkie, who had about 50 participants at her workshop, sees the program as an important networking opportunity.
“Young professionals… have access to other people who can help them through the obstacles of the business world,” she said, adding that networking is easier when it takes place within organizations such as JUMP, BAC or JET.
“I always say if [young professionals] are active in a religious organization, this is a great place to start your network. It means you have something in common with these people, something that is a major part of your life,” she said.
Wilkie sees a bright future for JET.
“The people running it now appear to be very enthusiastic and very confident,” she said. “They’ve got some good ideas… I see no reason why it shouldn’t succeed.”
Some of these ideas include a referral group, which would meet monthly.
The group would include one representative from several selected professions and would encourage participants to refer friends and family to these professionals.
JET’s next event, on Jan. 21, is a talk by Michael McGauley, a professional speaker. McGauley will discuss the importance of persistence in business and personal life.
