The most effective way to land a job today is networking. It’s no longer what you know, it’s who you know. In St. Louis, young Jewish professionals looking for work in a bad labor market can now turn to the Federation’s Employment Assistance Program (EAP), which pairs each young job-seeker with a successful business veteran.

EAP began in 2008 when Barry Rosenberg, executive vice president of the Jewish Federation of St. Louis, came up with the idea to help emerging young Jewish leaders who were in trouble due to the declining economy.  “They had lost jobs or businesses. It was very important that the Jewish community reach out to these people, to provide whatever assistance Federation can offer and to demonstrate our appreciation for the work they have done on behalf of our community,” said Rosenberg.

Rosenberg thought it was important that lay leaders drive this effort.  So he asked Michael Litwack, past Federation president and board member, to get a program up and running.  Litwack took the initiative and formed a task force of 11 leaders. “It sounded like a great idea–directly in line with Federation’s vision, which is to become a more inspiring, caring and united community.”

EAP is not a replacement for Jewish Family & Children’s Service (JF&CS) and MERS/Goodwill’s Careers in Transition Program, the primary agencies helping people in economic distress in St Louis, cautioned Litwack. “This is a limited effort to reach out to young people in distress who are active or becoming active in our Jewish community.”

“EAP is a wonderful community resource,” said Bonnie Solomon, a networking consultant. “It shows both sides of Jewish Federation–there are financial resources and human resources. This underscores the need to continue to infuse human resources into our community.”

One young professional said that contacting EAP was the best move he’s ever made. “I owe so much to Federation in terms of where I am today. One day, I’d like to be a catalyst for the next generation. My goal is to become a premiere donor. With time, I know I can.”

Click here for more information about the EAP program.