Vocational & Employment Services

CHOOSING THE RIGHT JOB

Choosing the right job is critical for job satisfaction and stability. Satisfaction and stability are important to career advancement and lifelong learning, leading to better paying jobs and even greater satisfaction. We help people starting out to find entry-level employment that will provide the opportunity to develop skills and a positive work history, and then we help them plan for their future and move on.

Career Assessment and Planning
We believe that an informed consumer is more involved and successful in career assessment and planning. Our assessment and vocational exploration services enable a person to find the right job match for entry-level or advanced employment and to develop a realistic plan for career advancement. Maximizing economic self-sufficiency and job satisfaction is our goal.

Vocational Assessment
This program helps people assess their vocational aptitudes, interests and academic skills to give them the information they need to choose a career plan. Assessment is accomplished by a variety of methods including interviews, interest inventories, situational assessment (trying out a real job) and vocational exploration. A comprehensive written report outlines specific recommendations to be used as a vocational planning tool. Recommendations for reasonable accommodation, adaptive equipment and/or support services may be included.

Situational Assessment
A situational assessment is a method of vocational evaluation that occurs at a job site in the community, which may lead to on-going employment in that position. During a situational assessment, a Goodwill staff member works side by side with an individual to help him or her learn the job and to determine if it is a good job match. When the assessment results in a competitive placement, Goodwill provides follow-up and support services to the individual.

Vocational Exploration
Vocational exploration is an approach to investigating various occupations. The process may include interest inventories, site visits, participation at the CTWorks One-Stop Center, and the use of a variety of school catalogs, Department of Labor publications and other resources.

FINDING THE RIGHT JOB

Job seeking and retention skills are covered thoroughly in a group or individually designed program. This program focuses on employers' requirements and gives people a comprehensive introduction to finding and keeping employment. The curriculum includes resume writing, completing job applications, networking, using classified advertisements, researching companies and potential employers, and a "mock" job interview as well as other techniques and tips. For many people, learning how to take supervision and socialize with co-workers is as important to keeping a job as performing the actual tasks.

KEEPING THE JOB

Job development and placement services provide actual assistance in finding employment. The job hunter works with an employment specialist to create a job placement plan, which helps the individual determine his or her immediate and long-term career goals. The employment specialist provides assistance with job applications, resume preparation and follow-up techniques and introduces the job seeker to the One Stop system. Follow-up services are provided to ensure that both the employee and the employer are satisfied and that the job is a good fit.

Job Coaching and on-the-job support services are provided once an individual is placed in a job. The extent of these services depends on individual needs and may include travel training, task analysis, and assistance with socialization and integration into the workplace. Our job coaches are skilled at identifying a worker's difficulty and coming up with creative, usually low or no cost, solutions.

To learn more about Goodwill's Vocational & Employment Services, please email our Human Services Department at HServices@goodwillwct.org or telephone (203) 368-6511.