Career Plan Development – Assessments W h o a m I ? What skills do I have? What skills do I need?

Definition Assessment – Is the act of appraising – Is the process of getting information

Definition Each job seeker is unique and brings His/her own set of skills His/her own work history His/her own needs His/her own barriers to success Each job seeker deserves his/her own opportunities

Key Principles of Assessments The assessment process is an ongoing process The job seeker is the focus of the assessment – The job seeker should be offered the opportunity to take assessments based on his/her needs and may include different instruments or tests based on those needs – The assessment process provides information on the customers ability to get a job based on the customers needs, barriers to employment, skills, work history and realistic career goals The results apply directly to the programs and services available to the customer

Methods of Assessments Informal assessments – Process of collecting and analyzing data – Tools include observations and interviewing

Methods of Assessments Informal assessment occurs in a more casual manner and includes – Observations – Reports from past supervisors, when available – The customers work history – Personal interviews with the customer

Methods of Assessments – Current employment goals – Employment history – Recent job search efforts – Education – Job skills – Interests – Strengths – Personal issues that impact employment – Family and financial needs – Motivation – Available resources – Supportive services needed As a part of the informal assessment process, information should be gathered about your customers

Methods of Assessments Formal assessments – Use the information gathered during informal assessment processes, such as an initial interview, to determine the appropriate formal tests that should be taken – Are broken down into two categories Basic skills assessments Career assessments

Methods of Assessments Some assessments are completed by an external entity or certified professional in a specific area of expertise – Learning disabilities – Mental health assessments – Vocational Rehabilitation assessments Once assessments are complete, the customer must be provided the opportunity to review the information and discuss next steps

Basic Skills Assessments Basic skills are those skills that a person has in reading, writing and math

Basic Skills Assessments Lack of literacy, writing and math skills impacts the customers ability to plan or accomplish short and long-term career goals Information about the customers literacy, writing and math skills will help you and the job seeker plan his/her next steps

Career Assessments Career Interest Inventories – Provide the customer with information about the type of job or career that would be most appropriate given the interests of the customer Career Aptitude Tests – Provide the customer with in-depth information about the type of employment best suited for the customer based on actual ability

Career Assessments The choice of the appropriate assessment is based on specific factors – Purpose of the assessment (what questions need to be answered) – The amount of time the customer has to take and have the test interpreted – Local operating procedures

Methods of Assessment The most widely assessed areas in the workforce system are basic skills, career interests and career aptitude – Remember, information secured during informal assessment processes can be just as important as the information secured during the formal assessment process – Ensure that you use the information secured during the assessment process when building the customers individualized plan of action or career plan

Did You Know? Not all workforce programs require the job seeker customer to complete an assessment as a part of the enrollment and engagement process – Should the assessment be completed?

Did You Know? Wagner-Peyser services are the basic job seekers services offered through the One-Stop Career Center – Not all job seekers must be assessed – Certain Wagner-Peyser programs require assessments to be completed Priority Re-Employment and Planning (PREP) program Re-employment and Eligibility Assessment (REA) program Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC)/Re-Employment Services (RES) program – Veterans who are being case managed are also required to be assessed

Did You Know? The Workforce Investment Act (WIA) program serves adults, dislocated workers and youth – Assessments are used to determine if the job seeker customer needs services offered under the WIA program – Formal assessments are required for youth engaged in the WIA program – Adults or dislocated workers should be assessed to help connect the customer to the appropriate services and training programs

Did You Know? The Welfare Transition (WT) program serves lower income families applying for or receiving Temporary Cash Assistance (TCA). Former recipients of cash assistance who secure a job may also receive services through the WT program – Program participants who are receiving TCA must have an initial assessment completed within 30 days of becoming eligible for the cash assistance – The assessment must include a review of the customers skills, work history and employability – This information must be used as the foundation to the customers career plan

Did You Know? The Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Programs Employment and Training component or SNAPs E&T requires customers who are receiving food stamps and participating in employment and training activities be assessed – The assessment can be completed by staff and recorded in the data entry system OR – The assessment can be self-initiated and completed by the customer in the One-Stop Service Tracking (OSST) system

Did You Know? The Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) program serves customers who have lost their jobs as a result of foreign competition – The TAA program encourages an initial assessment be completed before the workforce professional creates a program application in the EFM system (TAA Module) Ensure that the participant is covered under the petition in order to record an application for the TAA program, as well as reviewing their work history and education Looks to see when the customer will be eligible to receive services and participate in activities if they are covered under the TAA petition based on their individual needs

Scenario Lets meet Anny – Anny has been out of work for over a year – Anny has not been able to find a lot of jobs in the field that she used to work in – Anny has interviewed, but she has not been able to secure the job after the interview

Plan of action to reach a career goal Informal Assessments

Scenario

You explain to her that since she is unsure about her next career, you want her to complete the assessment focused on helping her identify careers she may enjoy She clicks Next under Tell us what you like to do.

Plan of Action Career Exploration Informal Assessments Formal Assessments