Creating Community Connections

1
Creating Community Connections
2
We will discuss

• Current Economic Employment Trends
• Diversity Employment
• Employment Strategies
• The Art of Networking
• Customer Service to Businesses
• Use of Technology

3
We will discuss

• Strategies to develop and/or improve community
  relationships with
• Businesses
• Area organizations
• Community service providers
• Schools

4
Economic Trends

• Unemployment is increasing

5
Economic Trends

• Unemployment is decreasing

6
Economic Trends
Depends upon the sector.
7
Maryland Unemployment Stats

• Unemployment for Maryland for 2007 averaged 3.8.
  Down from 4.2 in 2004.
• Full employment is considered about 5
• More jobs than people to fill them.

Workforce Shortage
8
Maryland Migration Stats
9
Prepared for Worker Shortage?
Source 1998 SHRM/AARP Older Workers Survey
10
Emerging workforce sources

• Veterans
• Immigrants
• Aging Workers
• Welfare/TANF Recipients
• People with Disabilities

11
People with Disabilities

• Unemployment rate for people with disabilities is
  at least
• 3 to 5 times
• that of those without disabilities

70 of people with disabilities are not working
12
Then and, yes, still now

• How nice for the less fortunate
• Charity Work
• You must feel good
• Social Worker

13
Progress in a new direction

• Business Commitment to Diversity
• One-Stop Career Centers
• Disability Program Navigators
• Partnerships in the community
• Universal Access
• Expanded Job Opportunities

14
Focus on

• ABILITY

15
Community Connections
16
Networking
17
The Art of Networking

• Many JOBS are never advertised
• Filled through word of mouth-a.k.a. Networking!
• Its who you know!

18
Networking

• Involves movement
• Beyond your
• Comfort zone
• Results in
• new relationships
• and friendships

19
Business, Schools, Providers
How do you meet them??
20
First..

• Use your current contacts

Mary
Chris
YOU
21
Work Contacts

• Disability Program Navigator
• Business Services Reps
• Career/Core Services

22
Work Contacts

• Maryland Department of Education
• Division of Rehabilitation Services
  Counselors
• Workforce Investment Board
• Adult Youth Services
• Partners in your One-Stop

23
Social Contacts

• Relatives
• Friends
• Acquaintances
• Previous employment contacts

24
Business Hangouts
25
Business Hangouts

• One-Stop Career Centers
• Community Colleges/Universities/Schools
• Health Clubs - YMCA/Golf/Tennis, etc.
• Religious/Churches
• Fraternal organizations
• Rotary Clubs, Lions, etc.

26
Business Hangouts

• Internet
• Google is your Friend
• Advertisements on local web pages
• Local Newspapers
• News/promotions/events
• Classifieds
• Trade publications

27
Staffing Companies

• Pre-screen applicants
• Time saver for employers
• They understand employers requirements

However, Many times will toss applications with
broken work histories
28
Source of Employment

• Labor Organizations/Apprenticeships
• Teamsters
• AFL-CIO www.aflcio.org
• American Postal Workers
• IBEW International Brotherhood of Electrical
  Worker

29
Service Providers

• Employment Programs
• Disabilities
• Cognitive, Developmental
• Deaf
• Blind
• Mental Illness

30
Service Providers

• Supported Employment Programs
• Incarcerated
• Veterans Administration
• Employers Support of the Guard and Reserve
• Church based organizations - Joseph House
  Ministries

31
Service Provider Hangouts

• One-Stop Career Centers
• Chambers of Commerce Job Fairs
• Business Leadership Network
• SHRM Society for HR Management
• Community Colleges/Universities/Schools
• Health Clubs - YMCA/Golf/Tennis, etc.
• Religious/Churches
• Fraternal organizations
• Rotary Clubs, Lions, etc.

32
Schools - High Schools

• At the Board Level
• Supervisor of Special Ed. Alternative School
  Secondary Education
• At the School Level
• Principal is the typically Boss
• Guidance
• General
• Work study, internships
• Career Technology Education
• Craft Committee meetings
• Teachers are your greatest asset!

33
Schools Community Colleges

• Dean of Workforce / Technology
• Department Heads
• Professors are your greatest assets
• Craft committee meetings
• Career Services
• Serve current students or grads

34
Schools - Universities
35
School Personnel Hangouts

• One-Stop Career Centers
• Chambers of Commerce Job Fairs
• Business Leadership Network
• SHRM Society for HR Management
• Community Colleges/Universities/Schools
• Health Clubs - YMCA/Golf/Tennis, etc.
• Religious/Churches
• Fraternal organizations
• Rotary Clubs, Lions, etc.

36
Use Your Current Contacts

• Disability Program Navigator
• Business Services Reps
• Career/Core Services
• Rehab Services Reps
• Workforce Investment Board
• Youth Services
• Partners in your One-Stop

37
Recruitment Sources

• One-Stop Job Market
• Staffing Agencies
• Online Career Builder, Monster.com
• Search Firms head hunters
• Newspaper

38
Recruitment Sources

• University Career Services
• Internships
• Schools, Career Technology Education
• Employee referrals
• HR Department Internal recruitment
• Word of Mouth

39
How we should be viewed

• Asset to Business
• Recruitment Source
• Workforce Specialist
• Community Resource
• Diversity Resource

40
Employers
What is the first thing an employer looks for in
recruiting employees?
The Ability to Show-Up to Work Attendance!
41
Understand Your Customer - HR

• The expertise of Human Resources
• can vary greatly.
• Dont
• ASSUME
• they are experts

42
Human Resource Managers

• Executive level
• HR Professional
• Office manager
• Jack of all trades, master of none -
  Comptroller, operations manager, owner,
• first line supervisor, etc

43
HR Focus Areas

• HR is a cost center vs. revenue generator

44
HR Focus Areas

• Work place diversity
• Compensation and benefits
• HR Technology
• HR Measurement
• HR Consulting
• Staffing Management
• Global HR
• HR Outsourcing

45
Recruit, Employment, Retaining
For job candidates with Disabilities

• Recruitment costs are typically lower
• Retention is typically higher
• Can favorably affect employee morale
• Attendance is the same or usually better
• Its Good Business
• Financial benefits

46
How Government is perceived

• Bureaucratic government
• Reaction time is too slow
• Glossary of common terms are different

Opportunities
47
Approaching Contacts

• Prepare an answer to
• the age old question
• Who are you and
• what do you do?

48
Change your terms for employers!

• Client
• Consumer
• Customer

JOB CANDIDATE OR APPLICANT OR REFERRAL
49
HR vs Hiring Supervisor
50
How to position ourselves?

• Improve and Expand Business Relationships
• Understand Todays Job Market
• Know Your Applicants
• Use Partners in the One-Stops
• Network, Network, Network

51
Employment Strategies
Possible Suggestions

• Part-time
• Shared jobs
• Flex-time
• Restructure job descriptions
• Job Trial
• Allow candidate to be part of the solution
• Think outside the box Brainstorm!

52
Recruit, Employment, Retaining
Help your job candidates list their own reasons
as to why they should be hired
53
Keys to Employment Success

• Communication
• Communication
• Communication

54
Community Connection Techniques

• Be professional
• Understand business needs
• Be a recruitment specialist
• Match applicant talent with business need

55
Community Connection Techniques

• Be prepared for networking events
• Turn your cell phones off during meetings!
• Do not answer your phone during a conversation!
• Use your Business Card
• Follow Up Create a Tickler File
• Keep a record of your networking efforts

56
Community Connection Techniques

• Remember
• People enjoy helping
• Information and advice are Free
• People love to talk about themselves
• Most people can fit a half an hour into their day
• Know when to stop talking

57
Community Connections

• DO YOUR
• HOMEWORK!
• Get familiar with
• the business
• before
• Contacting them

58
Connecting after Networking
Customer Service

• Pick up the phone
• Briefly identify/introduce yourself and your
  organization
• Give a referral name if possible or why you are
  giving them a cold call
• Ask for the appointment and that it will
• take 15 minutes or so
• Thank them - no matter what

59
Relationship Building

• Follow-up after the sale! Your integrity, honesty
  and reputation are key to future success!
• Regular phone contact
• Its OK to say I dont know

60
Rejection

• Reject Rejection
• Perseverance and Persistence Pays
• Integrity is It
• Patience is a Policy (ok, a Must!)

61
Green Human Resource

• Renewable Human Resource!
• Renew Perceptions
• by shifting the focus on
• Ability

62
From Two Disability Program Navigators to you

• Have Fun
• Be Creative
• Follow through
• If you dont love it, dont do it
• Maggie Leedy, Lead Disability Navigator
• MontgomeryWorks mleedy_at_montgomeryworks.com
• Jackie Gast, Director, ESBLN
• Eastern Shore Business Leadership Network
• Disability Program Navigator jackie_at_esbln.org

63
Resources

• Disability Program Navigator
• See handout for contact listing in your area
  and sign up for the newsletter for Maryland
  information navigator_at_mdworkforcepromise.org
• Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
  www.eeoc.gov
• Maryland Career and Workforce Information
  http//www.dllr.state.md.us/lmi/
• Maryland Chamber of Commerce www.mdchamber.org
• MD Dept. of Education, Division of Rehabilitation
  Services, http//www.dors.state.md.us/dors