Preparation for Employment & Job Placement
For Low-Income Individuals With Barriers to Employment.

OUTCOMES

• Job placement assistance.
• Graduates of the A+ training program, placed in entry-level ICT job earning an average wage of $18 – 20/ hour.
• Graduates of the IC3 training program, placed in basic administrative jobs, earning at least $10.25/hour.
• Professional and life skills training. Professional skills to prepare participants for success in the business environment.
• Career search self-sufficiency: Teach participants to search, manage and advance their own careers.
• Job-ready students. Students must attain “job ready standard,” including technical certifications, job search/skills presentation tools, clothing, presentation skills, etc.

PROGRAM STRUCTURE

• 3 hours/week for 11 - 22 weeks.
• Integrated with technical training.
• Professional skills, professional norms, dress and behavior.
• Career skills, career search techniques and tools.
• Lifeskills, time management, presentation skills, conflict management, networking.
• Job matching, generating job leads and matching them with graduates
• Partner with business/industry to identify job openings and align program graduates with opportunities.

PROGRAM ALTERNATIVES

• Contract with experienced training providers to conduct training program.
• Provide job support services separate from technical trainin.g
• Open enrollment for specific job support services.
• May require lower literacy levels and/or technical skills for clients.
• Provide extended support/ lifetime job support for program alumni.
• Job and paid internship opportunities with the parent organization.
• Supervised internships with the parent organization and/or industry partners.
• Spanish-speaking (or other language) instructor explains English curriculum and concepts in the second language, or teaches entirely in the second language.

CLIENT PREREQUISITES

• Completion of required technical training or currently enrolled in training program.
• Complete “job-ready” standards.
• Basic computer literacy (IC3 training or A+ training may be required.)
• Education/literacy: 6th - 10th grade reading level.
• Basic technical competency and dexterity (ability to handle tools, small parts; ability to use mouse and keyboard).
• Commitment to job placement after training.

CHALLENGES

For clients

• Classroom based learning environment.
• Compliance with professional behavior and dress standards.
• Lack of confidence and/or work experience in the ICT environment.
• Completion of technical training.
• Training time unpaid.

For the organization

• Training location that mirrors a professional environment.
• Instructors who maintain classroom discipline while being sensitive to students’ life issues.
• Support necessary to complete enrollment and placement.
• Job placement support.
• Job market that can accommodate entry or mid-level level technical positions.

RESOURCES LINKS

What Communities Need to do to Train and Move Low-Income, Low-Skilled People into Good Jobs and Careers – Annie E. Casey Foundation Report, 2004

• http://www.eric.ed.gov:80/ERICDocs/data/ericdocs2sql/content_storage_01/0000019b/80/1b/ae/63.pdf
• http://www.eric.ed.gov:80/ERICWebPortal/custom/portlets/recordDetails/detailmini.jsp?_nfpb=true&_&ERICExtSearch_SearchValue_0=ED485906&ERICExtSearch_SearchType_0=no&accno=ED485906

ELEMENTS OF SUCCESS

• Minimum Class: 3 hours/week for 11 weeks.
• Infrastructure (for class of 20): 1 classroom reflecting a professional environment.
• Staff: 1 Career Advisor (0.5 FTE), Instructor (0.5 FTE.)
• Marketing: outreach at Career Centers, CBOs, One-Stop Career Centers and other social service agencies; emails, flyers, advertising and word of mouth.