There's a lot of JVS's on Yelp, not sure which one is correct but I went to the one on Sepulveda in the Culver City/L.A. area and told them I finished one of their training programs. They looked at me like they had absolutely no clue what i was talking about. I asked for help finding a job and they handed me a sticky note with the names of 2 places: Carrer One Stop and Find Local Help. Is this what our tax dollars are going to? Pathetic. read more

This organization has fallen really hard from what it used to be. The services offered have gotten worse and the organization as a whole seems to not care about people. Avoid taking part in their services. read more

i was a participant and was disappointed At their one in one career services. During my first meeting with my counselor, I was already feeling discouraged at the way the job market is, but to be interrupted by my career Counslor when I wanted to express my feelings? she interrupted by saying, "let me talk!" then she was to pass my resume & cover letter to a contact at Disney. I worked on them & emailed to her but in return I received crickets. when I followed up, she had no idea what I was talking about. during another meeting, she said she wanted the list of places I was to apply to so that she can see if jvs has any contacts but she did the same. no follow up just crickets and had no idea what I was talking about. during our program meetings, she would be swaying side by side. it was so distracting. would not recommen. read more

Excellent service JVS knows how to help people find good, living wage jobs. Staff is welcoming nice and friendly. I learned new skills not only do they help with learning they have great resources to help with assistance if needed. JVS has been helpful and provides great support. JVS has help me with my career on improving my math skills and updating my resume and any anything that has to do with the automotive industry through the pre apprentice program. I highly recommend them. Thanks again for the training and support! read more

JVS - Employment Agencies Near Me - San Francisco, California

The best place to waste your time and be disrespected at the same time. I don't understand how everyone got hired at this NPO. No single word from anyone's mouth is reliable. They don't know what they are doing at all. For example, they supposed to start their medical assistance training this summer, but right now they are just finished 2nd round interview which means their MA program won't even started this year. And the internship will not be started right after the training. So literally candidates will waste a year on obtaining a certificate for a dead end low pay job. And you won't even be hired for that job since you lack other necessary certifications. Their interviews are great opportunities for you to waste time and watch an eye rolling show because you will clearly see they judge on any of your response which is not a copy from any job research workshop teaches. See the attachment, they can't even do schedule right. This is how they treat you and their job. Well, none of the NPOs actually work since they want you to be unemployed, to not have stable housing, to be poor and need their services but never receive it, therefore they have a secured job. read more

JVS - Employment Agencies Near Me - San Francisco, California

JVS is one of the best places to go to for assistance in employment searches. I went to this 3 week retail and customer service skills training workshop. This was one of the best 3 week courses I have ever been to. They even have course sessions that will teach you tips on writing up the best resume and cover letter when you look for a job. I have really learned a lot and this knowledge is useful during the span of the course or at a later time. The staff who works here are very friendly and that's always a good thing. Want to learn more about the services at JVS? Feel free to click on www.jvs.org for complete details and information. Not sure where to start with the job search process? Questions with contents that goes on your resume, cover & thank you letters? There is always an event, workshop or course session (s) at JVS that will answer some of these questions you may have! Overall, I have positive experiences at JVS. read more

Well intended organization with good people! I highly recommend them based on my own experience. You will benefit from the overall program, even though some of their approach is Ra, Ra, Ra. read more

You're number of 415-391-3600 is not working. The machine that answers, says you have not set up your voicemail yet then hangs up. Please fix this. read more

JVS is a great place! It has helped me out so much and it continues to help me out. The staff really care about you here. You can only get what you put in here... So make the best of it! read more

It's crazy how much some organizations can care and put effort to produce real results. The team at JVS is by FAR the most caring, passionate and success - driven group of people I have ever had the privilege of working with. I've been using JVS' services for the past few months now with a goal of transitioning into tech (Salesforce) after ending my military enlistment. They definitely don't spoon feed you, but really help you in every goal you plan to structure yourself towards finding where you aren't hitting your standards. They understand people are human and help us use our human connections and passions to lead our work/career goals. Really couldn't see how far I would be without their help and aid along in my career journey. Can't give enough praise for the effort they put in each individual. BIG shoutouts to Jim Dowling and Katie Herstein for all you've taught me so far. More than excited to see where the future will take me! read more

This place has been a cornerstone in my transition from an untamed force of the elemental nature to a refined professional with Noble qualities. My 1st experience here was with the Community Health Worker Class, which led to my achieving two certifications in Community Health Work culminating in a Graduation Ceremony at City Hall followed by a placement which resulted in fulfilling years of employment with the City and County of San Francisco's Social Services Office as a Client Navigator/Health Worker I from 2014-2015. My 2nd stint with JVS was with the BankWorks Business Class in the wintry of 2015. I graduated with a Certificate in Banking which leads to the account written therein~ Through a combination of my own hard work backed and encouraged by the amazing empathetic and intelligent staff of JVS, I entered this place in the autumnal season of 2013 a blue-collar working class street kid with a savage streak and now stand before the Nine Realms a refined Personal Banker employed by Wells Fargo complete with suite and tie. A shoutout to the intelligent beautiful Leah Olsen for bringing me in initially who forged the Social Worker side of me and to the fabulous Jonathan Berg for his guidance making me the excellent Banker I am today. I whole heartedly thoroughly recommend this establishment to any individual seeking to attain and maintain a lucrative career/turn their life around. Woohoo! PS- I am utilizing my Community Health Worker knowledge in conjunction with my Banker skillset to deliver amazing experiences for my WF clients everyday. JVS, tops off to you fellas. Rawrrr!!! read more

I've been taking the Microsoft classes and am pleased with them. However, once I've completed these I will not return here for any further assistance. The staff in the "Technology Access Center" is just plain rude and condescending. Treating job seekers like children is unacceptable. While I appreciate the training and that that training is free, I don't need to be treated like a stupid adolescent. Idiots. read more

An impressive array of resources, support, classes, counseling etc. They have a large computer room, offering free use. The info session was basically useless, a waste of time reading through forms you have to sign. And don't let them talk you into any of their computer classes unless you don't know how to type or have never heard of Microsoft Once you get to see an personal career specialist, they're very helpful, with everything from help re-writing your resume, with valuable tips on where to find openings you might not have considered, and how to get yourself considered for jobs. They seem to have real strengths placing people in the health care field, and in clerical / administrative / secretarial positions in general. read more

JVS is a real gem to discover in the Bay Area. I've been pleasantly surprised by the range and depth of free services, experienced and caring staff, and clientele. The name suggests vocational training only. And while they offer vocationally oriented services (e.g., healthcare), their classes and workshops also cater to clientele who are highly experienced as well as entry level -- Vice Presidents, Managers, etc. Among their offerings: Classes include beginner and intermediate Excel, Word, Powerpoint and Outlook. Workshops include, but are not limited to, LinkedIn, Developing Your Pitch, Impactful Interviewing ll, Twitter for Job Search, Strategies for the Experienced Professional, and Strategies for Job Seekers 50+. In order to qualify for an Employment Specialist who works with you one on one, first you must complete 4 core sessions -- Cover Letters, Resume Writing, Interviewing and Job Search Planning. Most of the of coaches and instructors are outstanding, as is the content. There is also a Technology Access Center, with free computers, training programs, and online resources and courses. Volunteers and staff are available to help you. The only negative I've encountered is that it can take a few weeks or so to get a first meeting and subsequent sessions with an Employment Specialist/Coach. It's not because they don't care, it's the volume of people wanting services vs. the number of staff available. The technology for setting up appointments needs to be updated. All in all, problems that most non-profits face....... read more

Yay. I got reject by these bozos for the free Salesforce Administrator traing class! Well, they get one point for providing a link for a self study guide. But that is the *exact* same material is what is found on the Salesforce site. So what's the difference? One has a JVS affiliated link while the other doesn't. I guess these people want to try to get free marketing data and/or ad revenue from reject applicants who are naive enough to take the bait? read more

I have a networking group that I usually meet with every week, and some folks from that recommended JVS as a good resource for job hunters, so I went to the JVS website and signed up for a bunch of different workshops. I've only taken 2 classes/workshops here so far: Impactful Interviewing I and Excel Pivot tables. I enjoyed the energy and enthusiasm the instructor leading the Impactful Interviewing workshop had, but that class basically reinforced things I already knew or is common sense (e.g. dress, nicely, send thank you notes, etc.). In the Excel pivot table class, I learned how to create and manipulate them, which was valuable to me, as that was something I had been wanting to learn for awhile. It's a 3 hour class, and you should keep in mind that there will be people in the class who are very new to Excel, or haven't used a version newer than 2003. I do feel that you're getting a good deal here, considering most of JVS' classes and workshops are free. However, *my* impression so far (and mind you I've only taken 2 classes/workshops!) is that the audience JVS focuses on and caters to is *generally* a little less technical/computer-savvy, and *may* be new to or reentering the workforce. Just something to keep in mind. read more

JVS offices are at 225 Bush St- West building, 4th floor. I was late to the 1-2pm Wed orientation for client services because i was trying to find affordable parking. Take mass transit- parking is not easily available or cheap. It's steps from the Montgomery BART station. The only thing you can do if you don't have an appointment and miss an orientation is fill out a client sheet. A counselor will get back to you in two days. There are various half-hour tech orientations if you just want to use their computers and take the non-client service workshops. The hour orientation is if you want to become a client. It's free (I think you need to show proof of unemployment). You're assigned a counselor and have access to the more advanced job skills workshops. My friend has gotten three good job leads through his counselor. *An intake counselor called me the next day, but there were no available intake slots for about two weeks. So get in there quick to get an appointment! It's free. read more

Back job hunting, again. The more I use JVS, the more I appreciate all the services they have to offer. This is one of those cases of the old saying, "The more you put into something, the more you'll get out of it." Again, I can't say enough about their services. If you are looking for work in the San Francisco area, get your behind down there and get some support! read more

I went their welcome session. The presentation was about their programs and workshop they offer. It was only 30 min and the rest 30 min was Q&A. The presentation was really clear and easy to understand. They offer lots of free intense program, which are competitive and need to apply. They also offer workshops, which everybody is welcome. They have free salesforce certification training program. After the training, you will get a certification from salesforce, which is kinda amazing considering it is free. They are originally serving for Jews but now they opened for everybody. read more

The Winners; 1) the JVS staff have nice jobs 2) Tech Companies have lots of trained people in the queue who may be able to Salesforce, Microsoft,... work (cheap cause they are desperate) The Losers 1) students (market is flooded), class material is too generic and soft, opposed to hands-on / practical Summary: Staff are condescending, unreasonable and down right disrespectful. They avoid answering questions like "how many job leads do you have", "what are your placement numbers" (not that the answers would be credible). JVS should be more transparent. Only go if you have no expectation of a rewarding experience or outcome. read more

This is pertaining to the Salesforce Administration program only. While many others in the cohort shared the same thoughts and feelings, this review is all my personal experience and opinion about how the program was run. Pros: -You keep your skillset "fresh"; they review old networking skills, studying habits, techniques, etc and make you face your fears, embrace your experience and do their best to build up your strengths. -You connect with new people who are also striving to improve their lives. -It provides structure when unemployed and searching. -The location is decent and close to public transportation. -It's "free" (more about that later). Cons: -In my opinion, they oversell and misrepresent just how marketable you are post-Salesforce Admin certification; recruiters are *not* hounding you on LinkedIn; this was, in essence, how the course was presented. In fact, you actually need the second tier certification that follows, the Advanced Administrator SF certification, to even really be an attractive option to recruiters. Otherwise, you just have some random tech certification under your belt. It's not a quick fix. Even though it is in demand, it takes a very long time to get to the point where you have real leverage in the market. Many of us believed they inflated how attractive you would be to get their funding. Their digital marketing course was canceled due to a lack of funds. -As someone else mentioned in an older review, they help to saturate the tech market with Salesforce Admins with little to no experience; I believe at least half (or more) of my 27-29 person cohort is basically still unemployed. The ones who were scooped up right away by big-name companies were in their 20's (2 people). It took approximately 8 months after graduating in March 2019 for one friend/fellow cohort to finally land a job. 8 months is an eternity when you really need money. Another one of my other fellow cohort friends is still unemployed and they have two solid degrees and awesome work experience. -The coordinator will do their best to guilt you when you can't attend class; even call you at home when you are ill, have an appt, etc. It's really ridiculous. My classmates and I believe that they do this because they lose $ when someone doesn't show. They literally need bodies in the seats. Also, the stress of dealing with their current inexperienced, special instructor really impacts the program as a whole; many of us agreed that given a choice, we would never, ever take another class from their current instructor. All in all, if you already are in tech and wish to fortify your skillset on someone else's dime, go for it. But you are better off investing in yourself and paying $$$$ for a professional, intense certification course through a professional tech company and feel confident that you really understand the material and know how to actually be a SF Admin. You really do get what you pay for. read more

THE GREAT: Free Classes! I have been taking courses at JVS for the past few months and I have found these classes to be extremely beneficial. All the classes are free and worth the time if you're a little rusty like me when it comes to resume, cover letters, interviewing, and networking skills. And as an added bonus, every instructor I have worked with has been very pleasant and informative. THE BAD: Disorganize. JVS gives you the option of meeting with an employment specialist after completing three specific courses. After completing these specific courses, I was assigned an employment specialist. A few days prior to my initial meeting with my assigned person, I was told by chance that my specialist no longer works for the company and that I was to be assigned a different person. I found it strange to be told of this change at the last moment, and only because I had asked the person at the front desk for a confirmation of my initial meeting. More noticed would have been nice. Maybe an email or a phone call to notify me of this change? So, I meet with this new person only to have her tell me that she would not be working with me from beginning to end because she was an interim and that someone else would be assigned to me. Okay. I'm glad we got that cleared from the beginning because it gave me time to focus on the remaining classes I had chosen to take before seeking employment. Now that I am ready to return to the work, I was hoping that I would be assigned a permanent person who would help me with some one on one coaching. Unfortunately, I am still working with this "interim" because no one has been assigned to take the work load of my original person. UPDATE: I am truly frustrated by my current "interim" lack of service in working with me on specific goals because she is overwhelmed with clients whom she is working on only as an "interim". When I asked her supervisor for assistant in re-assigning me to someone can truly work with me on a one on one basis, I was denied. Therefore, I am now dropping a star from JVS due to their inflexibility and insensitivity on the matter. Seriously, if you decided to take classes at JVS, don't bother following their protocol of completing the courses necessary to speak with an employment specialist. It would just be a waste of your time and theirs. LESSON LEARNED: JVS is good for providing tools only. Going in, I knew that JVS was not job placement agency, but I thought they would be able to provide a little one on one coaching when I was assigned an employment specialist. I made the mistake in believing that they could. What JVS is great for is supplying you with the tools necessary to get back into the work field through their many free classes. Although I haven't used their TAC, (technical access center) services, I'm hearing from other students that it's great. If you decided to try out JVS, go for the classes only and don't bother wasting your time or energy with an employment specialist. If you do, I hope you have better luck than I did with getting some one on one coaching. read more

When I arrived at my first JVS workshop, I was concerned that the classes would be too basic because of the broad audience targeted. I very nearly decided against participating. Because the services are free, however, I decided to keep with it, eventually participating in about eight workshops. I am so glad I did. The positive energy of the workshops was spirit-boosting and every workshop presented at least one useful tip or tool that ultimately helped give my job search a leg up. I especially benefitted from the workshop I took with Dylan Ruggles, and panel-led workshops featuring guest presenters. The workshop handouts were a valuable return--especially from the interview workshops, in my case. As an introvert, I often struggle in interviews, so I took several hours to methodically go through the interview packets from both interview workshops before my interviews--it made a substantial difference in my self-presentation. The workshops also presented a valuable opportunity to network with other job-seekers. The diversity of people making use of JVS' services is truly inspiring. I met accomplished people from many industries, all of them very willing to share their personal network to help other job seekers. I am aware of at least one networking encounter that I participated in during a workshop that led to an interview and then to a job offer. In addition to the free workshops, I took advantage of a couple of other programs that were especially useful to me: First, I joined the cohort program, another free service provided by JVS. The cohort program is specialized into different industry tracks. For six weeks, I met weekly in a small, closed group with a facilitator and a handful of really bright, talented people seeking work in the same industry in order to hone a personalized strategy for our individual career goals. The opportunity to have half a dozen people bring focused, intelligent attention to the nuts and bolts of my job search every week was incredibly helpful. Our facilitator, Donna Caranto, created a warm, safe space for open sharing and feedback, and provided targeted self-marketing training. One of our group members landed what she described as her "dream job" during our cohort period. Another made some significant revelations about her career goals. I am signing a contract this week for a job with a company that runs a top-ten website. Donna provided one-on-one mock interviews tailored to my position description before my first and third interviews. Her constructive feedback and upbeat encouragement made a concrete difference in my confidence level heading into all four interviews. I believe her support was critical to getting a job offer. Finally, I took advantage of the career coaching service, the only service at JVS that is fee-based. For the reasonable cost of a $100, I met once with Mark Guterman, the Career Coach at JVS. During this period of vocational soul-searching, I had been following a few career coaches in order to glean whatever resources I could, but, frankly, I'd found the resources to be fluffy and lacking depth. However, Mark Guterman really blew me away with his perceptive, intuitive listening and the rapid precision with which he identified tools that would be genuinely supportive for my particular blocks. He did not take a cookie-cutter approach to our session. He responded to my individual circumstances with empathy and solutions-oriented feedback that felt relevant to my life. I think JVS is a top-notch nonprofit in San Francisco. It's fantastic that they make such practical, life-impacting programs available almost entirely for free. Thanks so much to all of the JVS staff for your game-changing support! read more

Oddly enough, JVS was actually a resource referral from another employment non-profit, LGBT Center's Job Club, but JVS is much more polished, supportive, in-depth, and has more resources available in their approach. As another poster mentions, to have a 1:1 with an Employment Specialist (ES), you have to go through a mandatory workshop. Mine was 2 weeks of intense, practical strategies of the basics of searching for a job. This is an important structure as it prepares you to optimize your meeting with your ES, plus the ESes teach the workshops so you're actually building a relationship with them along with your peers (read: chat it up during wait periods and start networking; your job search begins now). Workshops have great info: It's been a while since I've had to job search, and the industry has changed dramatically (eg, attire for certain business industries, not necessarily suit and tie). They are interactive, such as presenting your elevator pitch and mock interviews with peer evaluations (what a great idea). It was nerve wracking as heck, but it was also necessary for me to log in some practice time. The main instructors were Patricia Acosta and Patrick Barresi, both had good energy, were encouraging, and informative. I loved that one of Patricia's homework assignment was 'to go to a park and give yourself a break.' It's so important to de-stress and give yourself an opportunity to reassess your approach as a whole. Make this part of your routine when you're feeling the stress of and are discouraged by the job search. Commitment and keeping the motivation up is a full-time job. They have special events like panel discussions on networking, mock interviews with actual volunteers from an industry. Laura Alei was spot on at matching me up with a Salesforce volunteer from Marketing, which was not only one of my target companies but also with the employment category that I was particularly interested in. This was my first 'interview' in like 4+ years...right? Ugh. I felt the pressure to make a good impression, and it was intense. Since this is a mock interview, I actually have the advantage of receiving immediate feedback from the interviewer (Katherine, I think) who was incredibly insightful and detailed. I very much appreciate that they volunteer and the amount of their effort and professionalism -- invaluable. JVS also has technical resources available: tutorials on various software, computer and web access, printer, etc. Jennifer Volk has an orientation that is condensed and useful to get the most out of these resources. All that's required is that you give her your full attention. read more

When I was unemployed and needed to focus on what I was doing wrong during my job search, I went to JVS. There are a lot of available introductory workshops on resume writing, cover letters, job search, etc., but JVS was the first place where I felt like I always walked away having learned one new thing. I haven't taken every workshop or worked with an Employment Specialist yet, but I have spent enough time there to feel comfortable recommending their services (possibly even too much time learning/not enough time searching for a job). Searching for a job can be very discouraging, especially while unemployed, so it's nice to have a scheduled workshop during the day and a chance to meet people in similar situations. Everything they offer is free, except for career coaching, and the range of services is fairly wide. I am currently considering their career coaching services because the price is reasonable per session ($100) and the coach seems to know what he's talking about. read more

After having three more months under my belt at JVS I am better prepared to review their services. As my previous review mentioned, they are not a fast track to a new job, but they do have a plethora of services available and they won't stop trying to help you until you find one. To make the most of their services you have to be patient and get smart about which workshops you sign up for. My previous gripes about the front desk staff have been fixed and I've seen JVS actively try to create programs that better fit the needs of job seekers. I think of their services as two distinct offerings. The main hurdle to access the second phase of services is a 2-week/6-session boot camp meant to get your resume and networking skills to a minimum level. Before the boot camp you are stuck with only the workshops mentioned in my first review. After the boot camp, you are assigned an Employment Specialist and mine (Kristie Harris) has exceeded all expectations. I also now get invitations to networking events where folks from local companies are in attendance. From just such an event I was able to network my way into a series of interviews with an extremely desirable company. They are also piloting a Digital Marketing boot camp with General Assembly that might be a job search game changer for me if I can get in. In summary, if you don't have a lot of experience job searching and can afford the time, JVS will help you get your job search on track. Their biggest strengths are in building interview skills through mock interviews, one-on-one coaching, job search prioritization and guidance after you get an offer. If you hang around long enough, JVS will help you brush up your hard and soft skills enough to find a job. read more

I've been very frustrated with their process. Took all of the required classes and had an intake appointment and then they just dropped off the face of the earth. 4 phone calls and a month later, I sill cannot get anyone to return a call for next steps. Not happy at all with the way I've been dealt with - not very professional. read more

Helpful in every way. There are computers available - and even better - classes for all basic business software. Classes on Networking, using LinkedIn, Twitter - all ways to help with your job search. Other job seekers are great to network with - but it is the staff who really put themselves out there. Many thanks to JVS - it is reassuring to have a partner in my job search. Check it out yourself: jvs.org (PS to JVS - you should double-list under Jewish Vocational Services too - could not find you that way.) read more

JVS has friendly, knowledgable staff who come from a variety of backgrounds. They have free job search workshops, computer training, tutorials, tests and more. (Make sure you read the workshop description or you could find yourself sitting in a workshop that doesn't pertain to you, when you could be looking for a job! read more

I'm an alumni of Lee Hecht Harrison as well as JVS. Where LHH is paid for by the company losing the employee, JVS is funded by grants earned by getting people back to work. How I experienced this was JVS being much more pragmatic and systematic. The 6 week cohort had a set schedule and we were expected to plan how many hours we'd spend on which activities each week, then come back and report what activities brought us the most success. The practicality and discipline of this approach gave me a sense of stability and progress during my search. The coaches are great too. Sure, they don't have a coffee bar and relaxed corporate feel like LHH, but that's not why I'm here. I heartily recommend JVS. read more

The JVS (Jewish Vocational Services) is the Bay Area job seeker's greatest resource. They offer a wide variety of very professional workshops, support groups, and mentors to assist people in obtaining their dream job - and almost all services are completely free of charge. I am posting this review because finding the JVS has been life changing, and I want to make others aware of this amazing opportunity. If you are unemployed or considering changing jobs, give your career its biggest boost and attend the JVS orientation, where they will explain everything they can do to help you succeed. JVS fundamental workshops on job search strategies, resumes, cover letters and interviews will give you the information and confidence needed to effectively compete in the job marketplace. It is empowering to find an unbiased advocate whose only goal is to help us succeed in finding our a great job. Take advantage of this amazing resource (http://www.jvs.org)! read more

The JVS' free workshops are information packed with guidance and cover a broad range of job seeking skills from crafting effective cover letters and resumes, using LinkedIn and preparing for interviews to salary negotiation. Numerous other free ob preparation and job training services are offered, and programs change regularly to keep up with the times. Attending the orientation can feel like a waste of time, especially if you know exactly what you're looking for, but it does make sure that one isn't missing out on additional pertinent or specialty programs, of which there are many. I've seen people of all ages and from every imaginable walk of life at JVS. This tells me that its programs are designed to serve a broad base and there's likely to be something for anybody who's serious, or perhaps even curious, about finding a new job. Not everything is for everybody, there are services one would like to see but that are not offered, and one may feel drawn to some staff more than others. The experiences one has in group settings (workshops, support groups, employer events, etc.) are partially defined by that day's participants as well as by the presenter and other factors. While the material is consistent you never know who's going to show up and some groups turn out to be livelier than others, so I found it informative and useful to attend sessions on topics of interest repeatedly. My experience is that, for the most part, the JVS staff are welcoming, knowledgeable, respectful and accommodating. They attend to keeping up to date with job market trends. They understand what it feels like to be unemployed or dissatisfied with one's job, and they sincerely strive to be helpful and supportive in practical ways. While JVS has natural limitations, the information and assistance it provides are high caliber. read more

JVS assisted me a lot in my job search. I am grateful for its free services and knowledgeable staff and volunteers. I participated in many of the workshops and classes. Some of the most useful ones for me were Resume Writing, Cover Letters, Networking, Microsoft Word Mail Merge, and Excel Pivot Tables. The informational resource packets that are provided with each workshop are very thorough and practical. My resumes and cover letters are much more effective as a result of taking those workshops. Getting started with an employment specialist takes a while because of four mandatory workshops and the large caseloads they have (I think it took about two months for me) , but I appreciated the one-on-one attention and small-group opportunities from having an employment specialist. If you are relatively tech-savvy, then taking the computer skills and social networking classes might feel a bit slow and basic to you. But even though I was familiar with most of the software, I still learned a few new things at the workshops. I recommend checking the JVS website calendar early in the month to sign up for computer skills and social media workshops - they tend to book up the fastest! As a recent college graduate, I felt a little odd sometimes because most JVS clients were quite a bit older than me. But I enjoyed the camaraderie of exchanging advice and stories with people of all ages, backgrounds, and fields. read more

I was referred to JVS by a friend who works in tech. She informed me of their free Salesforce Administrator training and I went to their website to learn more. I was super excited about the program, but noticed the upcoming session was during the weekdays. I wondered if they ever offered the SA program in an evening or weekend format and sent an email requesting that information. What I got in reply was a short and fairly snarky email that did not answer my question, but only reiterated what I already knew...that the program runs Monday-Friday from 9am-5pm and suggesting I head to the library. Really? Thank you for this unhelpful reply. It was my first contact with this organization and I was surprised by the rude, abrupt, disrespectful tone of the email. But now in checking out some of the negative reviews from others who have interacted with JVS, again and again, I see very similar feedback to mine. Both sad and frustrating that an organization whose mission is to transform lives by helping people build skills and find work to achieve self-sufficiency does not understand the importance of common courtesy, basic respect and compassion for fellow human beings. I will look for Salesforce Administrator training elsewhere. Don't need all the bad attitude while I'm working to improve my life. No thanks! read more

Maybe you consider your resume, cover letter and interview sills to be fairly good. Maybe they are. But, why not go to a non-profit organization of experts who offer an astounding array of free classes and services to help you with your job search? Seriously, by taking many of the JVS classes and joining a cohort there, I went from pretty well prepared to very well prepared. Then I landed a job quickly. Don't wait till you're discouraged from struggling through too many interviews, or not been invited for interviews. I entered the process with an honest interest in reviewing the good and bad experiences of my career, and learning from them. That's the trick as far as I'm concerned. I found the classes very helpful in making my way through that process. You really can't go wrong at JVS. Thank everyone at JVS! R read more

Went on a recommendation from a friend. Went to their orientation and then onto their 4 core classes. The instructors were positive and helpful, but the classes and materials are geared more towards those re-entering the job market after many decades at the same career. If you're in your 20s and 30s and you've been on the job hunt at all in the past few years, this stuff be should pretty old hat by now. "How to write a cover letter", "How to create a linked in profile" etc etc. A few nice tips, but mostly a lot of massive paper handouts (information overload if you ask me). After completing my core classes and orientation (after which I was supposed to be called by a counselor/specialist- I never was), I finally after a month called them wondering what the next step was. The "Intake Specialist" was on vacation for 2 weeks. OK, no hurry, I called back a few weeks later. I did receive a call setting up an appt. Was sent an email detailing about 8 different documents I needed to bring for the meeting (resume, cover letter examples, job description printouts for positions I'd like etc). At the meeting, the specialist didn't even look at anything I'd brought. Just asked me what I was looking for. I said I was looking for employment in non-profits/Ngo's with a specific focus on X issues. She said that she couldn't help me and that I was not ready to talk to an Intake Counselor. Told me to do an online podcast and that I needed to know the EXACT Position I wanted to apply for. If I knew that I wouldn't be here, would I? Why didn't you inform me of this BEFORE I paid $8 and spent 2 hours on Bart there and back to meet you? Isn't that WHY I'm coming to you- to figure this all out? Ah, but no- that will cost you: $100 per hour for career counseling. Sorry, I've wasted enough time coming downtown on my off hours. Unemployed people don't have cash to throw around on those kind of prices, even Bart rides cut into our wallets. I was hoping for some better clarity and/or help, but clearly I'm in the wrong place. Won't be coming back. read more

I can't say enough good things about this organization. Everyone I have met and worked with there has been helpful, professional, and so supportive. Like anything, you have to be willing to put in the time and effort, to see results, however, with the offerings of workshops, guidance from employment specialists, and mock interviewing opportunities, they really do provide the right environment to set you up for success in your job search....love 'em! read more

JVS provides job search workshops, computer classes and support to job seekers, and access to a computer lab, in a very professional environment. The staff are dedicated and have adapted to an increasing demand for their services which provide a lifeline for people looking for work who need help with resume-writing and cover letters, job interview preparation and computer skills, in a challenging job market. read more

I've had the opportunity to avail of several classes and workshops at JVS (Jewish Vocational Services) to keep my professional skills up to date when searching for new employment. The instructors I've had are all very knowledgeable and engaging. I would highly recommend JVS to any professional who is seeking work or wants to update his/her skill set. It's also a great way to network! I also highly recommend their job search cohorts where you get much more in-depth attention to detail with a small group that meets weekly over 6 weeks. You'll learn a lot just through the others you meet and the knowledge and information you all share. read more

I have been taking the computer classes Word, Excel, Powerpoint, the instructor Brian, is great and JVS has saved me a lot of money. Although they only do beginner and intermediate computer training still is worth the time to attend. (I give 5 Stars for the computer class and instructor but the other workshops 2 stars). As far as the other workshops, I'm not getting as much out of them. A lot of the career workshops information they give you can find on the internet. What is an employment specialist? I signed up 3x on different days and no "employment specialist" contacted me. And some of the workshops you need their approval to attend. I noticed that JVS tends to gather to people who are going from welfare to work programs. I have taken 4 career workshops besides the computer classes. One workshop was How to fillout online job applicatons. If you are a professional, this is a total waste of time. The workshop is great if you are applying for a job at Sears, Target but you are a professional its not worth the time. I also took the Resume I workshop, and that too was not helpful. There were 25 people in that room and each giving their 'feedback" on how your resume should look. I was under the impression that the instructor was going to review resumes 1-on-1. The counselors that conducted the workshops are in healthcare, well that doesn't help me. They conduct the workshops if you are seeking employment in healthcare. Alot of that information did hot help. If you want to really get more information about how to handle job interviews, resume writing go to the internet, you will get a lot of of detailed information than what the JVS will offer. read more