Southfield, Mich. (January 15, 2020) – JVS Human Services, one of the leading human service agencies in metro Detroit, is launching “Recent College Graduate Success Group”, a virtual support group for new college graduates in Michigan trying to find work in a severely challenged job market due to the pandemic. Recent research showed the national unemployment rate for 15 to 24-year-olds was 11.7 percent in October 2020; this compares with a national average for all ages of 6.7 percent in November 2020. A Michigan State’s Collegiate Employment Research Institute survey released in the fall of 2020 found that a quarter of surveyed companies said they were not planning to recruit from colleges last year, and of 2,408 employers questioned, a quarter had stopped recruiting or even rescinded job offers to recent graduates.

“Our new college graduates started their academic journey at a time when the economy was doing well. Now, in these unprecedented times, they are faced with a new reality that the competition to secure jobs is very steep,” said Jason Charnas, Director of Business and Career Services at JVS Human Services. “In addition, they are also presented with unusual challenges like virtual interviews and obstacles to networking, so our program will provide them with some vital tools for the job search process.”

The new series begins January 27, and runs from 11 a.m. to noon, for four consecutive weeks, and is open to recent college graduates between the ages of 21 and 25. Topics to be covered include:

• Week 1: The art of resumes and cover letters
• Week 2: Networking your way to success
• Week 3: Creating a smart job search plan
• Week 4: Perfect pitches and mock interviewing

There is no cost to join the group and graduates can find out more information here. Virtual one-on-one meetings with employment specialists are also available by emailing employmenthelp@jvshumanservices.org.