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Making the Connection: Employers and Youth with Barriers

Doorway Learning Circle June 27, 2013. Making the Connection: Employers and Youth with Barriers. Overview. What is a “barrier to employment”? Making the Connection – The Business Case Making the Connection – The Social Case Relationship Building: Researching P rospects

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Making the Connection: Employers and Youth with Barriers

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  1. Doorway Learning Circle June 27, 2013 Making the Connection:Employers and Youth with Barriers

  2. Overview • What is a “barrier to employment”? • Making the Connection – The Business Case • Making the Connection – The Social Case • Relationship Building: • Researching Prospects • Developing and Building Relationships • Preparing and Supporting Youth • Group Discussion

  3. What are barriers? • Physical disabilities • Mental health issues • Justice-system involved • English as a Second Language • Lack of education • Age • Transgender • Skill deficits • Socioeconomic status • Undocumented A ‘barrier to employment’ is any condition, set of circumstances or deficit possessed by a job seeker and/or discriminatory social norms and misperceptions that hinder one’s competitiveness in the job market. Examples:

  4. Making the Connection with Employers: The Business Case • For-profit businesses exist to make a profit. They will respond to selling points that: • Increase efficiency • Lower costs • Increase productivity • Increase sales • Give them good PR • How can you or your client help them with these things?

  5. Making the Connection with Employers: The Business Case Recruitment: You can save them time and money by pre-screening applicants for them (increased efficiency / lower costs) Training / supervision: You can also help them lower costs by providing training on customer service or on-the-job training (job coaching). Offer to assist with issues that may arise in the probationary period (lower costs) People who have barriers often need to work twice as hard as other job seekers (increased productivity)

  6. Making the Connection with Employers: The Business Case Customers will respond positively to businesses that have a diverse workforce, invest in the community, etc. (increase sales / good PR) Reputation: Let them know about the other businesses you work with Ask for testimonials to use from employers that you have a good relationship with Understand their business needs when working with them Example: Uniqlo

  7. Making the Connection with Employers: The Social Case Businesses have community and diversity goals you can help with as well Diversity in the workforce includes employing people with disabilities , people of color, women, etc. Employment is the most important factor in the prevention of recidivism – people who have backgrounds need second chances; society needs them to get second chances

  8. Making the Connection with Employers: The Social Case Hiring people with barriers is “the right thing to do” – how can you get them to consider the bottom line for the community and not just the business? The unemployment rate? Poverty? “B” Corporations Example: Safeway and Office Depot

  9. Relationship Building:Research • Identify and target appropriate employers. • Good match for youth population. • Willingness to hire. • Get to know employers. • Mission, goals, community involvement. • How are they measured. • What are their greatest needs/challenges.

  10. Relationship Building:Establishing • Connect when/where best for them. • Always be prepared. • Know your pitch and be brief. • Know what is important to them. • Prepare for any potential objections. • Show how partnering is mutually beneficial. • Know about their business. • Educate employers about youth and how to be successful with youth.

  11. Relationship Building:Nurture the Relationship • Create trust and credibility with initial referrals. • Initial referrals set first impressions. • Be sure youth is prepared and ready. • Regular check-ins and feedback. • Pay close attention to feedback and address concerns. • Offer and provide support. • Maintain on-going communication.

  12. Relationship Building:Preparing and Supporting Youth • Prepare youth for the interview. • Know employer job requirements. • Know employer "hot points". • Youth knows his/her strengths. • Provide support to hires. • Regular check-ins. • Attend to feedback and address issues. • Example: Starbucks

  13. Discussion (small groups) • What have you found to be the most successful way to engage employers for your youth? • What is your biggest frustration with employers and what might the solution be? • Discuss/share ideas on how to best engage and build employer relationships.

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