How I got to the Career Development Center

(The following account is from Pam Day)

While today is my only my second official week working as a Career Consultant at the JFCS Career Development Center, my journey with the center actually started long before last week. Several years ago I was for looking for new volunteer opportunities in the Pittsburgh area and came across a posting for individuals who wanted to volunteer their time with the JFCS Career Development Center.  Although the posting was short and didn’t really say what types of experiences and qualifications the organization was looking for, I decided that I would give it a shot. Having spent nearly 10 years working in the career counseling field,

I was excited to come across a volunteer opportunity that would allow me to continue helping people explore their professional goals and successfully navigate the job search process.

After a quick but very informative orientation at the Squirrel Hill offices, I became a JFCS Career Development Center volunteer.  

As a volunteer I was involved in a wide range activities, from helping out at job fairs and participating in networking events, to assisting clients one-on-one in  in the JFCS Career Development resource center. I truly enjoyed helping out and was continually impressed with the dedication and professionalism of everyone at the center. Truth be told, before I became a volunteer my understanding of JFCS was very limited, but I quickly learned just how many people the organization helps out in so many different ways.

Fast forward to today, where I am proud to be a part of an organization committed to helping people through life’s challenges and changes. Like most people, I have gone through many job transitions in my own life, often struggling to find the right fit both personally and professionally. When an opportunity came up to work as a Career Consultant at JFCS I knew that it was one that I could not pass up.

While it as only been a week, I must say that I have learned so much more about JFCS already.  JFCS is an incredible place to work with a team of people who go out of their way to make newcomers feel welcome. This not only translates to the people who work here, but to every client and visitor that walks through the door.  I truly look forward to coming to work each day and know that this is an environment where I can learn from and join together with my colleagues to help people reach their career goals and aspirations.