Pathways: The Road to Leadership

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Pathways The Road to Leadership

• How to Seek Maintain Employment
• Workbook
• Designed for Youth with Developmental
  Disabilities

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The Pathways Center
 

• The Pathways Center
• Is an Information, Training Referral Center for
  African American Youth 14-17yrs. and Emerging
  Leaders 18-30 yrs. with Developmental
  Disabilities
• Is a Project of National Significance U.S. Dept.
  of Health Human Services  Administration on
  Developmental Disabilities under provisions of
  P.L. 206-402 9/30/2004 - 9/30/2007
• The purpose of PATHWAYS is to increase the
  likelihood that youth 13-17yrs with
  developmental disabilities who live within the
  Minneapolis Empowerment Zone will graduate with a
  standard diploma and that African American young
  adults 18-30 yrs  with developmental
  disabilities ages 18-30 yrs, will seek and
  maintain employment.
• The Pathways Center website is www.ipsiiinc.com
• For more information, contact Julie Kenney
  612.861.3215 or Julie_Kenney_at_ksg02.harvard.edu

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Getting Started
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Finding the perfect match

• What kinds of jobs would you like?
  __________________________________________________
  _______________
• Accommodations
• How long can you work? ___ 4-6 hours
  ___ 6-8 hours
• Do you have problems walking? ______
• Do you have problems with lifting? _____
• Do you have any special physical needs? ________
  If yes what are they? ____________________________
  __________________________________
• Would you like to work on your own or with
  others? ______________________
• How much money will you need to live on (food,
  rent, fun)?
• Food ____________ Rent
  _____________ Fun ______________
• Do you have health insurance? _________
• Do you have transportation to and from the job
  site? __________

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Looking for a job

• 70 of all jobs are unadvertised because
  employers rely on current staff, friends and
  fellow workers to generate qualified employees.
• First talk to
• Friends
• Family
• Support staff to see if they know of any job
  opportunities
• Look in your local classified ads.
• Develop a Person Centered Plan to brainstorm on
  you getting a job.

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Resume Development
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Resume Development

• Name
• Address
• Home Telephone Number (With Area Code)
• Employment Objective (Optional)
• Work History, Education
• Military Experience
• Activities and Interests
• References

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Never Use Use Instead

• Not Enough Money or Benefits
• Didnt Like Job
• Didnt Like Company
• Didnt Like Boss
• Quit
• May appear that you have a bad attitude or dont
  get along with others

• Will Explain in Interview, or
• Job Advancement
• Moved or Relocated
• Care For My Family
• School or Training
• Seasonal or Temporary Employment

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Never Use Use Instead

• Laid Off
• May appear that you alone were fired or asked to
  leave job.

• Not Enough Work
• Large Company Lay Off
• Job Phased Out

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Never Use Use Instead

• Fired
• Injury
• Health Problems
• May alarm employer that you have a pattern of
  poor health or recurring injuries

• Will Explain in Interview

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References

• Three Kinds of References
• Business
• Co-workers or Supervisor
• Training
• Instructors, Guidance Counselors, Administrators
• Character
• Person Who Has Known You for Quite A Long Time

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References

• Let The Person Know You Are Using Their Name
• Person Should Be CredibleNo Relatives or
  Roommates
• Good To Have Business People With Titles
• Tell Them Information You Want Them To Give

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Application Process
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Information needed to complete a job application

• Your social security number
• Drivers license number
• Identification Card
• Past work experience
• Education
• Two references
• Emergency contact (name and telephone number)

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Most Common Errors on Application Forms

• Leaving Blank Spaces
• Not Signing It
• Wrong Birth Date put current year
• Not Following Directions

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From the Employers Perspective
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Five Things I Want to Know About An Employer

• Job Duties _________________________
• Job Location _______________________
• Working Conditions ___________________
• Salary/Benefits ______________________
• An Employer should bring this up first or you
  should wait until the job is offered
• Company Rules/Customs ______________
• Dress Codes, Overtime

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Employers Questions

• Will You Fit In?
• How Dependable/Honest Are You?
• Can You Do the Job?
• How Long Will You StayHow Motivated

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Five Things I Want an Employer to Know About Me

• My Skills Abilities ___________________________
  __
• Training _________________________________
• Experience ________________________________
• Personality ________________________________
• Achievements _____________________________

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Frequent Causes For Firing

• Tardiness
• Not Showing Up For Work
• Not Listening To or Respecting Employer/Superior
• Not Getting Along With Peers
• Not Being Able to Do The Work

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The Interview
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Interview Check List

• Check Before the interview
• Off
• ___ Date and time of the interview
  is______________________________
• __ The name of the company is
  _________________________________
• ___ The address of the company is
  ________________________________
• ___ Directions to get to the interview
  are__________________________
• ___ The companys products or services are
  ______________________
• ___ The person(s) I will be interviewing with
  is/are __________________
• ___ Transportation to the interview_____________
  _________________

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Typical Interview Questions

• Tell me about yourself?
• What are your strengthen?
• What are your weakness?
• Why do you want to work for us?
• Why should we hire you?

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First Impressions Count!

• Are you well groomed
• That means that youve bathed, washed and combed
  your hair, brushed your teeth.
• What to wear?
• Choose something that is comfortable and
  appropriate for the job you are applying for.
• Remember, it is better to be overdressed than to
  wear something to casual.
• Present yourself confidently
• If you are a sighted person, look the interviewer
  in the eyes---this shows you are confident and
  comfortable.
• Introduce yourself and speak as clearly and
  distinctly as you can.

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First Impressions Count ! (continued)

• Are you patient with the person who is
  interviewing you
• If you have a disability that makes communication
  difficult, be patient if the interviewer has
  difficulty understanding you.
• Watch you body language
• Dont fidget.
• Sit as straight as possible.
• Dont cross your legs.
• Dont hunch when youre walking or sitting
• And most of all
• Wear a smile on your face or in your heart
• There is no better way to tell someone you are
  interested and excited!

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Ending the interview

• The interviewer usually signals the end of the
  interview. Some things an interviewer might say
• Thank you for coming in today.
• It was nice meeting you.
• Before you leave make sure you know these things
• Who will be making the decision
• When the decision will be made
• What next steps are planned ( A second set of
  interview, some sort of skills test, a medical
  examination).
• Then, thank the interviewer for his or her time,
  shake hands and leave.

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After the interview

• Did I send a thank you to the following people
• My references
• The interviewer
• The following things went well at my interview
• ___________
• ___________
• ___________
• I will do these things different next time
• ____________
• ____________

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The End
Excerpts from the Minnesota Governors Council
on Developmental Disabilities E-Learning course
Employment at www.partnersinpolicymaking.com/emp
loyment/ Its My Choice by William T.
Allen, Ph.D.(2003) Minnesota Governors Council
On Developmental Disabilities
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• Abstract
• PATHWAYS The Road to Leadership A Information,
  Resource, Training Center for African American
  Youth Emerging Leaders with Developmental
  Disabilities
• Our organization IPSII Inc. is a diverse 501(c)
  (3) non-profit organization. Our mission is to
  increase Independence, Productivity, Self
  Determination, Integration Inclusion IPSII
  for people with disabilities and their families
  through our projects, advocacy and analysis of
  public policy. The majority of our Board of
  Directors members are parents of  children with
  complex developmental disabilities who are
  Medicaid eligible and graduates from the
  Minnesota Partners in  Policymaking program.
• Project Summary IPSII Inc. proposes a Center for
  African American Youth 13-17 yrs and African
  American Emerging Leaders 18-30 yrs with
  developmental disabilities and their families
  Administration on Developmental Disabilities
  CFDA 93.631. This Center will improve
  educational and employment outcomes for African
  American Youth Emerging Leaders and has the
  potential for replication in the State and in
  other states as well.
• The Center will have expanded outreach for our
  proposed Pre-Partner leadership course for 10
  Emerging Leaders will feature a virtual or
  computerized learning center. The goal of this
  project is to increase the odds of African
  American Youth with developmental disabilities
  graduating with a standard diploma and African
  American Emerging Leaders seeking and maintaining
  employment. The target population for this Center
  is located primarily in the Jordan community in
  Minneapolis, Minnesota. This projects quality
  and productivity management approach is based on
  the Baldrige Framework and implemented through
  our Continuous Improvement Process.
• Principal Objectives are to
• Develop an Organizational design for the Center
  including eligibility, information and referral
  services.
• Develop youth friendly accessible web-based
  materials in English Spanish, on career
  choices, money management, healthy life style
  choices and mentoring opportunities for Emerging
  Leaders.
• Create an Advisory Committee made up of 51
  African American Youth Emerging Leaders
• Develop a Continuous Improvement Process aligned
  to the Baldrige Framework
• Report project results in accordance with ADD
  requirements and aligned to Baldrige Framework
• Principal End Products will be
• Train annually at least 10 African American
  Emerging Leaders in a Pre-Partners leadership
  course.
• Disseminate materials annually to at least 30
  families within the Minneapolis Empowerment Zone.