Overcoming Barriers to Employment

What are the barriers? Audience Survey Age Job search skills Criminal record Lacks basic and employability skills Disabilities Limited English proficiency Disadvantaged background Long-term welfare recipient Domestic violence Mental illness Drug and/or alcohol abuse Needs training Education Needs child care assistance Employer biases No high school diploma Has a child with special needs No transportation Housing issues or homelessness Gaps in employment

Education and Wages Supports continued need for High School Diploma plus training even in changing labor market

How do we Prepare Individuals to be Successful? Understand what employers are seeking especially for entry level job seekers Use Assessment tools when indicated Strategies to address individual barriers to employment such as criminal backgrounds Utilize training options and community resources to assist individuals in building their career path

What do Employers Want?

Top 3 List Soft Skills Needed Source: Harris Poll on behalf of CareerBuilder 73% Work Ethic 73% Dependability 72% Positive Attitude

How to Demonstrate Soft Skills Use descriptions of prior work duties that incorporate soft skills Examples: Led a team or worked with a team…… Received recognition for…… Consistently completed all tasks…. Demonstrated commitment to…….

I have no idea what kind of job – I just need a job Assessments help identify the person’s strongest skills and focus the job search Use assessments and career coaching to set realistic expectations and develop a career plan

When to Use Assessments NCWorks System (ncworks.gov) – Numerous assessments CFNC-Adult learner portion of the site can assist any job seeker wanting to explore specific industries; utilize for degree related career exploration O’Net - Looking for a career change or totally different field of work Employability Skills Inventory – Requires average reading level to identify skills & skills gaps Work Readiness Inventory- Use with job seekers with little or no experience and limited academic skills

I don’t hear back – No one responds to my resume or application Help job seekers stand out Traditional Workforce 2020 Security Flexibility Promotion ladder Career Navigation Job Description Work Portfolio Employment History Applicant Tracking Systems Annual Review Personal Branding

Personal Branding Personal Branding is an on-going process of establishing a certain image in the mind of others LinkedIn Profile Social Media Personal Accounts Networking Elevator Pitch

No one will hire me because of my criminal background Source: Michael Thomas, Project Re-entry Program Coordinator No one is “owed a second opportunity” philosophy Advice for job searching for the former offender The Power of Networking for the former offender

Community College Resources The Human Resources Development (HRD) program is designed to educate and train individuals who are unemployed and underemployed. It provides training, counseling, and assistance with placement in either employment or additional education. Fee Waived: Unemployed Received notification of a pending layoff Working and eligible for Federal Earned Income Tax (FEIT) credit Working and earning wages at or below 200% of federal poverty guidelines

Community College Resources Community College Short Term Training Small Business Center

Community Partners Goodwill Workforce Development Services Goodwill Online Training - GCFlearnfree.org The Division of Vocational Rehabilitation NCWorks Career Centers Community Colleges Former Offender Resources Adult Literacy Senior Community Services Career Technical Education

Veterans Credits for prior learning Benefits Veteran Reps Need for housing Mental health counseling Other Resources

I Don’t Have the Skills Needed Work Experience On-the-Job Training (OJT) Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) Apprenticeship Career Pathways

Contacts Sherry Carpenter Vice-President, Workforce Development Goodwill Industries of Northwest NC, Inc. scarpenter@goodwillnwnc.org Caroline Brigmon NCWorks Regional Operations Director Piedmont/Triad Zone NC Department of Commerce caroline.brigmon@nccommerce.com