Workforce Development
Overview:
After the vocational training have been completed workers posses more of the tools that they need to successfully enter the workplace. However, in this competitive job market, merely having the skills needed to perform a job does not actually mean one is guaranteed a job. The final step in the workforce development process is job preparation and coaching which seeks to change the mindset of the workers from “laborers” who sit and wait for job to “job seekers” who are more proactive in their attempts to find a career and a more stable source of income.
The final aspect of workforce development is broken into two aspects,
Employability Fairs:
Workforce Development Sessions:
The Workforce Development sessions are a series of one-on-one sessions with CASA’s Workforce Development Specialists. These sessions focus on various aspects of the job application process, 1) Creating an email address, 2, Searching for and Applying for Jobs Online 3) Formulating a Resume and Cover Letter, 4) Practicing Interviews, 5) Advanced Job Techniques.
1) Creating an Email Address: Having a working email address is crucial for finding jobs in today’s economy. The chances of finding stable employment are GREATLY reduced if a worker is unable to search for jobs on the internet. However, many workers do not own computers, and do not know anything about how to use a computer. Therefore the first class often becomes a lesson in how to use a computer. Email addresses are set up for all graduates of Vocational Training Courses. This is often the easy step. The more difficult aspect of this session is practicing how to use the computer. In this session, workers practice, repeatedly, the basic steps of using a computer, accessing a webpage, logging into an email account, and sending a message. It is only the workers have somewhat begun to master these basic keystrokes can they continue to look for jobs online.
2) Searching for Jobs Online: Nowadays the vast majority of jobs that are available to the public at large are announced over the internet. Therefore, the second session uses online resources such as Craigslist, Washingtonpost.com, Gazette.net, and other local websites. The goal of this session is pure volume, to try and get the workers in the habit of applying to as many jobs as possible, even if their qualifications aren’t 100% exact. This session also introduces the workers to translation tools so they can respond to and read ads in English even if they only speak Spanish.
3) Resumes: Building of Resume’s is important for several reasons. Furthermore a resume is an easy tool than can be emailed or handed to any potential employer. Resumes are also neat and professional and easy to replicate. Most importantly, however, creating resumes gives workers the opportunity to reflect on what they have done in the past and what employers can vouch for their work.
4) Interviews: A very important yet oft forgotten process, interviews are a crucial step in getting hired to a full time position. What we have seen in interviews is many of the workers aren’t engaged enough and where they may be nervous, or under-pressure, or scared of their English comprehension. The interview goes over mock questions and works on opening up how the workers speak, using hand gestures when they don’t know the words, giving more than one word answers, maintaining eye contact. These changes allow the employer to feel more comfortable about whom they are hiring.
5) Advanced Job Seeking Techniques: Regardless of someone’s job situation, they can always improve their employment desirability. These tactics include making business cards, possibly considering licensing and insuring one’s trade, dealing with coworker issues, filling out complicated applications. The advanced job seeking techniques is for two types of workers, a) those who have completed the first four stages and are still having difficulty with employment, and b) those who prefer to work on an individual client basis and need additional support for that venture.
