JIT Participants take part in mock interviews with HR professionals as part of the Pathways to Professional Power Service

In California, young adults aged 20-24 are grappling with a job market turned upside down by emerging technology that has automated many entree level jobs.  The unemployment rate for this group is 13.9 percent, way above the 5.1 percent general unemployment rate reported in the most recent Jobs Report. 

For former foster youth who have historically faced higher rates of unemployment than their peers from healthy families, there are even fewer footholds and resources to fall back on when their resumes languish.  

For example, when Just in Time participant Naliyah graduated from the University of San Diego with a degree in Marketing last year, she struggled to find a Marketing job despite having several internships under her belt.  

“It’s been ridiculously hard. My friends who weren’t in foster care have been able to go back home and that’s where they’re doing their job search from.” said Naliyah, “whereas it’s very stressful for me because I have to find a job. I have to find an apartment. I have to figure these things out in a very short amount of time.” 

After joining Pathways to Professional Power, Naliyah was paired with several volunteer coaches in her field. She also joined JIT’s Shark Tank competition focused on entrepreneurship where she learned to make a business plan and had the opportunity to pitch a winning business idea to a group of investors. She won first place and $3,000 for her Kick Start Swim business, and went on to win an additional $20,000 in seed money from Angel Investors parntering with the Pathways to Professional Power service. 

A year later, she continues to receive guidance from her Just in Time coaches as she builds her business. She has even begun a freelance Marketing career. Several of her clients are volunteers or investors that she’s been able to connect with through the JIT community.  

 For young adults navigating a job market where entree level jobs in customer service, marketing, data entree,  record keeping and reporting have been hollowed out by A.I. Entrepreneurship has become an increasingly worthwhile alternative.  

JIT Participants receive professional headshots as part of their Pathways to Professional Power enrollment

As Just in Time for Foster Youth gears up to host its annual Pathways to Professional Power conference on September 19th, a new cohort of young professionals will have the opportunity to learn from local entrepreneurs in the Business Behind Business panel and will watch three of their peers compete, once again, in the Shark Tank competition judged by a panel of San Diego CEOs, Founders, and Business Owners.  

This month, we want to show gratitude to IONIS, a Life Science Cares Corporate Partner.  

Seventeen members of the IONIS legal team rolled up their sleeves, worked side-by-side, and assembled five pieces of furniture that will be available to participants in Just in Time’s My First Home service.

If you or your business is interested in making an impact through a group volunteer opportunity, please reach out to Volunteer Services Manager, Sophia Albino: sophia@jitfosteryouth.org