Yet Another Workshop?

In addition to the intake, enormous amount of case management, and cultural orientation, a resettlement agency should also provide another tool to newly arriving Americans: a job readiness workshop.

A workshop environment, when set up the right way, can be a wonderful learning tool. It can provide a safe and open environment for soon-to-be-working individuals to express their concerns in a safe setting and where they can learn real solutions. It is a chance for participants to learn from one another and to connect and bond as a community.

One topic that always comes up in our Pittsburgh job readiness workshop is transportation. We know why this is a concern: picture yourself lost on the bus without the language or topographical knowledge of the land. Now imagine knowing, even though you do not speak the language, that the bus goes in a circle and will come back to this stop again — or having pictures in your hand of the buildings you need to look for of your stop. This provides empowerment – and security.

All of us strive to empower clients to help them reach self-sufficiency. Job readiness workshops provide a sense of group learning, which furthers them toward that goal. Does your site already provide a job readiness workshop or something like it? If so, please give us an example of something that works well so that we can learn from one another.

Getting Repeat Hires from New Employer Contacts

It’s now been a few months since my initial article in the print newsletter kicked off efforts to share what we’re learning and learn from all of you as Caritas of Austin initiates a full time Job Developer position. I’ve been saving up this rant to vent my frustrations and seek some advice from others. This issue is really where I could use some help and I think it could provide the context to generate some diverse perspective and strategies.

I felt really good about several new employers I targeted and convinced to hire a client. My lofty plan was to send a great first candidate, wow them with our support services and seal the relationship for future placements. That reads well, but the reality has been different. It seems like we only get one shot. If the first client we place doesn’t work out for some reason, we don’t get another chance. Here are examples:

*** I worked for months to develop placements at a large, locally owned, city contractor that sorts recycled plastics and turns them into pellets that they then sell as a raw material. We placed an English speaking African client. The overnight crew was all Spanish speaking and at least a foot shorter than the 6.6 ft. Congolese. Everyone was visible in the open warehouse and they said he needed to work faster, watch how others behaved and mimic them. They fired him despite our efforts to provide an interpreter and coaching. Now they won’t even return my calls.

*** A casual Japanese café was poised to franchise and we thought it would be a great partnership. They hired two part-time people and were happy with them, but they quickly got jobs with more stable hours. Now, the owner won’t respond to my calls, but I always see ads for hiring as they expand.

*** A small private motel hired a client, but she accepted a better offer at the same time. They’ve never even been willing to interview another client since then.

*** We got four people hired in the kitchen at a start-up high end cinema that advertised on Craigslist. We provided all kinds of support, but all four clients quit and stated various reasons. The employer perceived that they just didn’t like the hard work. We haven’t been able to place anyone else there.

I strongly believe that our clients are the best marketing for refugee employment. But, these false starts have left me feeling really discouraged. I’d really appreciate suggestions and comments from the experiences of others out there.