Skilled US is dedicated to assisting 500 unemployed or underemployed adults in Boston and Cambridge in securing family-sustaining careers over the next two years. We aim to provide the tools, training, and resources necessary to secure high-demand jobs, enabling participants and their families to achieve economic stability. Our job search training includes the following components, which enhance the job readiness of our students byteaching them effective job-seeking techniques, increasing job motivation and boosting self-confidence:
● Skills Inventory:
We help students identify and catalog their existing skills, strengths and areas for improvement.
● Career Interest Assessment:
We work with students to identify key career interests to help students understand their career interests and aptitudes. We will provide opportunities for students to learn about different career pathways by partnering with our training providers for knowledge workshops.
● Resume Writing Assistance:
We host Resume Workshop Sessions on creating effective resumes tailored to specific job industries. This includes one-on-one consultations to review and improve resumes, ensuring they highlightrelevant skills and experiences.
● Interview Skills Training:
Participants have the opportunity to participate in mock interviews to practice interviewing skills and receive feedback on performance to improve responses, body language, and confidence. There are also Interview Workshops that support training on common interview questions, best practices in articulating strengths, and effective storytelling techniques to demonstrate experience.
● Job Search Techniques:
We provide Job Search Strategies for instruction on how to use various job search engines, networking strategies, and online job boards effectively. Additionally, we provide guidance on different application processes to guide on how to apply for jobs, including filling out applications and writing cover letters.
● Occupational Exploration:
Another support we provide is through our Career Pathways exploration of potential career paths and the steps needed to advance in those fields.
● Motivation and Confidence Building:
Our Confidence Workshops will include activities and sessions aimed at boosting self-esteem and job search motivation. We also teach goal setting skills to assist participants in setting realistic and achievable job search goals.
● Additional Support Activities:
We work to provide connections to a variety of networking opportunities facilitated to help participants build professional networks. This includes connections to job fairs and hiring events where students can meet potential employers and learn about job opportunities.
Our case management plan is designed to accompany the comprehensive job search training support plan, ensuring that each student receives personalized guidance and support throughout their job search journey. The plan begins with a detailed initial assessment to create a student profile, capturing current skills, career interests, strengths, and areas for improvement. We identify potential barriers to job readiness, such as transportation, childcare, or personal challenges, and develop strategies to address these barriers. Working closely with students, we set short-term and long-term job search goals, establishing milestones and creating a timeline for tracking progress. Regular check-ins are scheduled bi-weekly or monthly through in-person meetings, phone calls, or video conferences to monitor progress, address concerns, and provide motivation. Each meeting is documented, including topics discussed, progress made, and any action items or follow-up tasks. Personalized support is provided through one-on-one resume writing assistance, ensuring resumes highlight relevant skills and experiences, and individualized interview skills training through mock interviews and feedback sessions to improve responses, body language, and confidence. Job search strategies are tailored to each student’s needs, providing guidance on using job search engines, networking strategies, and online job boards effectively.
Continuous learning opportunities are facilitated through workshops, online resources, and training programs to enhance existing skills and build new ones. Career exploration is supported by partnering with training providers to offer knowledge workshops on different career pathways. Motivation and confidence-building activities and workshops are conducted to boost self-esteem and job search motivation, along with teaching goal-setting skills to help students set realistic and achievable job search goals. Networking and job placement assistance is provided by facilitating connections to networking opportunities, job fairs, and hiring events, helping students build professional networks and meet potential employers. Guidance is also given on filling out job applications, writing cover letters, and navigating different application processes.
We track each student’s progress towards their job search goals using a detailed case management system, regularly evaluating the effectiveness of the job search training and support activities and making adjustments as needed to ensure students achieve their goals. Post employment support is provided, including ongoing career counseling, check-ins, and access to additional resources to ensure job retention and career advancement. This comprehensive case management plan ensures that each student receives the personalized support and resources they need to succeed in their job search and achieve long-term career success.