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Employer Relationships. Effective Interventions and Development of Long-Term Employer Relationships. Basic Concepts. Know your own unique community. Listen to the needs of your businesses.
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Employer Relationships Effective Interventions and Development of Long-Term Employer Relationships
Basic Concepts • Know your own unique community. • Listen to the needs of your businesses. • Explore avenues to build partnerships and collaborative relationships within your one-stop system and with business groups. • Business buys talent and potential value for their organizations, not service programs. • Make it easy for business to access talent that is a match for their needs.
Collaborate with Core Groups • Business Services Team at the One-Stop Center. > Form a collaborative one-stop team for outreach to business community. > Focus on building relationships with business rather than selling programs. > Conduct informal needs assessment of business needs.
Business Services Team • Job Training Agency (JTA) – WIA • Maryland Job Service – Wagner Peyser • Community College Customized Training Program with JTA • Division of Rehabilitation Services (DORS) • Disability Navigator • Way Station, Inc.
Business Leadership Network • Make a connection with your local Business Leadership Network and DORS. • Development of Needs Assessment. • Program development for job seekers with disabilities, led by BLN members. • BLN has further connections with Society for Human Resource Management and other professional colleagues.
Chamber of Commerce • In collaboration with the One-Stop Business Team, meet with the President of your local Chamber. • Explore Chamber initiatives within the community and Department of Labor. • Listen for ways to collaborate in order to help with recruitment and training needs.
Ideas • Host a Chamber of Commerce Business Card Exchange. • Explore ways to co-host an event or project with the Chamber (job fairs, needs assessments). • Articles in Chamber newsletter, website resources, educational forums. • Attend Chamber events and programs.
Outreach Visits • Conduct in collaboration with Business Services One-Stop Team. • Be strategic in who you are targeting rather than randomly approaching. Know your purpose of why you are visiting. • State how you heard about the company and why you are interested in visiting. • Research the organization before you go. Find out who else from your one-stop system has worked with them.
More on Outreach Visits • Ask questions. • Listen. • Make notes. • Help to provide solutions and access to resources. • Insure follow up and action if proposed.
Lead in Questions • What is your company most proud of? • How does the work get done? • What challenges do you face in recruiting or retaining your workforce? • What are your most difficult to fill positions? • What positions have the highest retention and which have the highest turnover? • What skill sets are required for these positions? What educational level?
More Questions • What method of recruitment has been most successful for you? • Do you have any questions/concerns pertaining to the employment of persons with disabilities and/or a need for disability related resources? • How might I be of assistance to you?
Follow Up • Send a thank you note after your visit. • Follow up with any action you indicated you would take in the time frame you stated. • Communicate this interaction with your Business Services One-Stop Team.
Resources • Qualified candidates who can articulate their worth and value to an organization. • Training • Disability resources for businesses (supports, accommodations, return on investments, etc.)
Questions? • Contact Anne Scholl-Fiedler, Business Liaison for MD Workforce Promise, at 301-694-2188 or e-mail ascholl-fiedler@frederick.edu • Anne Rea, Director of Resource Management & Community Employment, Way Station, 301-662-0099, Ext. 1240. • Jack McGrath, Program Manager/MD Workforce Promise, 301-662-0099, Ext. 4520. • info@mdworkforcepromise.org