One Man's Inspiring Journey to His Dream Career

From the very outset of Nachman Kramer’s career, he faced challenges head on and embraced them too. Starting as a self-taught chef and later finding his footing as a line cook, he was immensely proud of his accomplishments. However, fast-forward to 2021, after working a decade in the same role without significant change, Kramer found himself lost in a professional rut. This pivotal moment urged him to set aside his chef's knife and embark on a new career journey.

“I didn't know what I wanted to do next exactly. I just knew that I’d hit the ceiling at my job and I was in need of a change”, Kramer says. In pursuit of a managerial position, even if it meant taking a break from the kitchen, Nachman turned to Jewish Family & Children’s Service (JFCS) Career Services.

“Their role is invaluable to the community's success.”

Kathy Rood, program manager of Jewish Community Services, was Kramer's first point of contact, and also the first of many at JFCS to make him feel assured he was in safe hands.

"They make it easy, approachable, and non-judgmental," he explains. “If you think about Jewish Family & Children’s Service, yes, it does have 'Jewish' in front, but it really is family services. That means helping you when you're down, ensuring your career success, providing bus fare for your new job, connecting you with childcare if needed. Their role is invaluable to the community's success.”

After meeting with Rood, Kramer was moved onto the next stage of collaborating with Martha Rockwell, a certified professional resume writer and career coach of 19-years.

“The most important thing is to get to know the client, to find out what's going on in their life, not only from a professional but from an emotional standpoint,” says Rockwell.

Kramer says he was able to feel that genuine care coming from Rockwell and said she too was someone he knew he could count on. Together, they crafted a personalized plan to establish not just a job, but a career he could build upon. As part of the intake process, Kramer completed a questionnaire designed by Rockwell to assess his likes, dislikes, skills, and aspirations. They also discussed achievable short-term and long-term goals.

With a polished resume and three role-playing interview sessions later, Kramer began the job application process, knowing that Rood and Rockwell were there to support him every step of the way.

"Kathy and Martha regularly checked in on my upcoming appointments and monitored my progress," he reflects. "I kept Martha in the loop at every step, informing her about my promotions and got her advice on salary negotiations."

Today, Kramer holds the position of executive chef at Ingo’s Tasty Food. In the course of his journey, he has come to believe that cooking is something that chose him, instead of him choosing it. But getting to that point wasn't a linear path — he had to prove himself as an operations supply manager and even spent time as a maître d' manager before landing this role. With his steady career progression, Kramer feels confident in his abilities and feels optimistic for what will approach him down the road.

“My position as executive chef now is not the ceiling either,” he says. “To be in a room with so many giants is humbling and I look forward to continuing to grow.”

It just goes to show that Kramer always had the right passion and work ethic, but what made all the difference was having the right support, which allowed him to realize his potential forever.

To learn more about Career Services, visit our web page or contact Kathy Rood at kathy.rood@jfcsaz.org.