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VCU-RRTC Webcast. Marketing and Job Development: The Business Side of the Process By Karen Flippo. Marketing. Exchange of goods or services; a mutually profitable relationship Worker meets employer need for information, and/or production and quality. Marketing.
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Marketing and Job Development: The Business Side of the ProcessBy Karen Flippo
Marketing • Exchange of goods or services; a mutually profitable relationship • Worker meets employer need for information, and/or production and quality
Marketing • Employment decision isa business not a personal decision • A delicate balance of acquiring knowledge about the job seeker and the local business community
Marketing Plan • Driven from the outcomes of the person-centered planning process • Targets businesses/jobs in the community
Marketing Plan • Includes timelines • Promotion ideas
Marketing Plan • Marketing a priority - a line item in the budget and be included in the strategic plan
Marketing • Closing the deal
The Deal • Reviewing and understanding job requirements • Interviews, observations • Learning employer need
The Deal • Matching benefits of individual and service to need • Convincing employer that cost of recruiting and hiring (and perceived risk) is LESS than overall benefit
The Deal • Being seen as a credible resource for recruitment and retention • Every approach is different and tailored to the individual business
The Deal • Each visit requires a set of probing questions to solicit information
The Deal • What are your personnel needs? • How do you foresee your business in the next five years?
The Deal • What are the qualities that you most admire in your employees? • What are your “personnel pet peeves”?
The Deal • What is the frequency of changes in tasks/job descriptions? • How do you train your employees?
Costs toEmployers • Job Accommodation Network reports: (1992-1999 ongoing evaluation) • Cost of accommodation • No cost: 20%
Costs toEmployers • Between $1-$500: 51% • Between $1,001 and $1,500: 3% • Between $1,501 and $2,000: 3% • Between $2,001 and $5,000: 8% • Greater than $5,000: 4%
Marketing to Employers • Association for Persons in Supported Employment and North Carolina Marketing Initiative Project found...through 10,000 field queries (20% of NC businesses) and 30 focus group events that:
Marketing toEmployers • Business wanted their employees to: • Be dependable • Possess communication skills • Be honest • Willingness to learn
Marketing toEmployers • In the same study: • 47% HR execs noted that they HAD NOT BEEN ASKED to hire a person with a disability • 19% believed their work was too dangerous to hire someone with a disability
Marketing toEmployers • 11% said they did not understand what is involved • AND, NO ONE SAID they did not need the trouble or increased effort
Resource onAccommodation • Local vendors for assistive technology • Resource for ergonomic assessment • Expertise in job carving
BusinessRelationships • Want ads are short term fixes to finding jobs; marketing yields relationships
DevelopingBusiness Relationships • Understand current marketplace • Scan market for potential contacts
DevelopingBusiness Relationships • Learn what you can about business • Conduct informational interviews (all levels)
Developing BusinessRelationships • Identify need and trends in resources and production • Communicate features/benefits to meet needs
OrganizationalReputation • What do you want people to say about you, your service and organization? • Now, make it happen!
Goal andObjective • Successful job match • Long term relationship with business • Establish business credibility in the community
Today’s Situation • Many employment specialists do not have experience outside of disability/ rehabilitation
Today’s Situation • Some individuals are not comfortable working in a “business” sector • Marketing is a skill to be learned and practiced
MarketingDilemmas • Current unemployment rates of individuals with disabilities remains alarmingly high --close to 70% • ADA is threatened in court system
MarketingDilemmas • Most businesses remain uninformed about the potential of individuals with disabilities, job carving, accommodation, and employment services organizations
Available Options • Establish presence in the community as a resource for employment • Build trust and credibility through your service
Available Options • Build “accounts” with each business • Service accounts regularly - the current climate of business necessitates rapid change
Available Options • Pay attention to lists of best companies to work for - Forbes and Working Women Magazine have annual lists-make contacts
Tips • Set aside time each day for marketing-visits or calling • Build databases of information about employers and keep data updated
Tips • Identify key contacts in each place of business • First, get commitment from the top leader
MarketingTechniques • The time to establish relationships is BEFORE a job is needed • Personnel change frequently; establish contacts with more than one person
MarketingTechniques • Build a portfolio of successes • Seek letters of references • Ask satisfied employers to make referrals for you
Marketing -Additional Strategies • Match your business personality to that of the business • Take a sales class
Marketing -AdditionalStrategies • Know successes, problems, recruitment strategies, plans for growth • Establish Business Advisory Councils to provide expert advice
Marketing -Additional Strategies • Join business groups; Chamber of Commerce and Society for Human Resource Management
MarketingResearch • Read the business section of the newspaper daily • Look for new contracts awarded, business plan/office expansion/bankruptcies
MarketingResearch • New personnel appointed or promoted-helps with making first call • Pay attention to business trends • Evaluate every visit; what was learned; how can it be improved
What Can You Give? • Responsive services • Individual matched to position • No fee to employer
What CanYou Give? • Job carving to match unique need • Dependability and credibility
Objections • Anticipate them • Have your data ready • If you don’t get them, worry!
Objections • Respond proactively • Feel, felt, found
The Individualin the MarketingProcess • Balance the scale of knowledge - the job seeker and the employer • The more you know about each, the better able you will be to complete the job match
The Individualin the MarketingProcess • Carving and customization will be easier if the relationships are strong with both parties