JobShop, Inc.
Resources for Workforce Development

This module addresses Youth Programs funded by the Workforce Investment Act, who is eligible for WIA youth services and how to prove and document the eligibility for services.

Find out what effective managers and supervisors have in common. Learn how to plan and organize goals, communicate, lead and delegate, solve problems and make decisions, self manage and hold people accountable. By incorporating the six basic techniques provided in this module, you will become a more effective Manager or Supervisor.

Assessments are essential to determining which services will be value-added for each client. They serve a purpose for both the client and the case manager. In this module, the participant learns about different types of assessments and the proper way to use each.

In this module, participants learn basic marketing strategies and how the four basic marketing concepts apply to Workforce Development. Participants will have the opportunity to work on sample marketing strategies to gain a better understanding of how traditional marketing concepts can apply to Workforce Development.

It is estimated that over the next twenty years there will be 76 million Baby Boomers old enough to retire, but only 48 million new workers available in the talent pipeline to fill their positions. Although Boomers remaining in the workforce will not address the 28 million gap, they can be an integral part of the solution. This module outlines the characteristics of Baby Boomers, what a talent pipeline is and who is in it. It addresses the training needs necessary for Boomers to be competitive in the 21st century workplace and provides suggestions on how employers can keep them there longer.

Individuals are motivated by different factors. This can be especially difficult when attempting to motivate teens in the workplace, since the motivation for a teenager to work will most likely be quite different from the motivation of adults. This module will help each participant understand motivation, identify six different motivational styles and how to deal more effectively with each type, as well as ideas on how to coach teen employees.

Although Baby Boomers are reaching traditional retirement age, they are remaining a dominant part of the workforce for various reasons, including: personal fulfillment, financial need and maintaining the desired work/life balance. This module explores those concepts and addresses some current statistics regarding Baby Boomers in the workforce.

Job fairs are an excellent resource for connecting job seekers and employers. For the employer, it's a day long shopping spree. On the other hand, the job seeker may feel a bit overwhelmed by the many possibilities. How do the job seekers establish themselves as distinguishable in a large, competitive environment? This module offers necessary, practical information to provide the job seeker with powerful tools to ensure a more rewarding job fair experience and the keys to impressing the employers.

Behavior based interviewing is becoming more popular with employers because it has been proven to be a more accurate measure of how a potential employee will perform on the job. Job seekers need to be prepared for the types of questions that will be asked in behavior based interviews. This module reviews the definition of behavior based interviews, how it is beneficial for a workforce professional to be familiar with behavior based interviewing and how to navigate this type of interview.

On-the-job training (OJT) is one type of training funded by WIA. This training immediately places the participant into meaningful work that is intended to continue even when training has been completed. This presentation gives an in depth definition of WIA On the Job Training, specifies how it should be used and reviews the guidelines and process for using OJT's.

Career decision making is a collaborate process through which individuals are helped to better understand themselves and their options. The case manager must assist individuals in finding the options that best fit individual natures, situations and expectations. This module addresses the case manager's role in the process of facilitating career decision making.

The main purpose of "Outreach and Recruitment" is to grow the One-Stop customer base for both job seekers and employers. Learn the tools that will help create and successfully manage outreach and recruitment, tips for marketing the workforce system, and techniques for educating the community about how to refer customers to the One-Stops.

Case management should be customized for each individual client. The WIA case manager is responsible for facilitating a comprehensive set of services to help each client plan and succeed in career planning. This seminar includes a definition of case management, the elements of case management and reviews strategies for effective case management.

Person centered planning is a great approach to be more effective in helping our customers become self sufficient and successful. Person centered planning focuses on each individual's strengths and needs and how goals can be accomplished in a team. This module will define person centered planning, how it can be used to help those with significant barriers to employment and outlines the steps involved in the process.

Good customer service is the foundation for helping job seekers overcome barriers. This module addresses the need for a commitment to customer service, good communication and building a helping relationship with the customer. It also addresses some actual customer service problems and gives suggestions for improving customer service.

All organizations encounter diverse problem areas. It is important that the problem is faced with a fact-based method that uncovers the root of the problem and takes the necessary steps to fix that problem. This module will review five methods that are appropriate to use in determining root causes, prioritizing reasons for those causes, identifying solutions and creating an action plan. This workshop also emphasizes the need for working out a solution as well as evaluating the results.

A good work experience site has three key elements: the job coach, the work site supervisor and the participant. This module points out the most critical factors that determine a successful connection between them. It points out the value of the participant's various learning skills, who trains them, who pays them and who is responsible for facilitating these. It defines the Fair Labor Standards Act and what this means legally for employers, trainees and students. It also gives invaluable information on matching participants to work sites to ensure the work environment matches the interests and needs of both.

Although this is not the first time our country has seen economic hard times, individuals who are unemployed today are much different from those who have been unemployed in the past. Workforce professionals need not assume each job seeker is the same. This module addresses the basic needs of the newly unemployed and the challenges faced in helping them overcome their barriers.

Negative attitudes can be a barrier to both working with others and serving customers. Learning how to diffuse negative attitudes in coworkers as well as in customers will help lead to more positive outcomes for all involved. This module identifies six types of negative attitudes, different strategies to diffuse each one when working with and serving others, as well as how to overcome negative attitudes in yourself.

Workforce professionals have a lot of responsibility and are often stressed, whether the person realizes it or not. Stress can have a negative effect on mental and physical health as well as on those around the person. This module identifies symptoms of stress, four areas where stress can effect one's life, several coping mechanisms for stress, tips for managing stress and for working with others who are stressed.

It is becoming increasingly difficult to match skilled workers to job openings. Find out how to "broker" job seekers to potential employers. This module presents strategies for getting job seekers hired, closing the deal and strategies for maintaining success.

Workforce development professionals have two targeted customers: job seekers and employers. It is the WIA professional's goal to be able to connect them successfully and to ensure that the relationship between the two remains constructive. There are several avenues to connect the two. This module offers strategies for employers to consider when seeking employees. It also holds the keys to ensure a successful match between employer and employee so there is a comfortable fit, not just at first, but also as they both change and grow.

Employers ask many questions during interviews with potential employees. It is necessary for the job seeker to know which questions are allowable by law, which ones are not and why. This module explains why an employer may ask certain questions and teaches the job seeker the most professional way to handle them.

Find out why employers choose not to advertise most jobs, where they don't advertise them and strategies for accessing the hidden job market. Understanding the hidden job market will enhance opportunities for job-seeking customers.

An Individual Service Strategy is a tool that guides the client and case manager. It outline goals, develops an action plan, identifies possible barriers and solutions in advance. The ISS answers the questions "Where Am I?", "Where am I going?" and "How will I get there?". This module addresses the purpose of the ISS and what should be included on the form. Each participant in this course will learn what is included on the ISS and how to develop one for each client.

According to Dr. Howard Gardner, psychologist and neuroscientist from Harvard University, humans possess eight different intelligences. This module explores these intelligences by identifying them and explaining how their relation to an employment situation can be invaluable. It offers an invaluable resource section on how to ensure a good connection between certain types of intelligence and the job that suits that intelligence.

Informational interviews are often an under-utilized technique to gather information on a particular career field, better prepare for a position in that field and establish networking opportunities. Job seekers should take advantage of informational interviews when considering entering a specific field. This module reviews the purpose and benefits of an informational interview and how to go about arranging one.

Employment proposals are about creating work opportunities rather than filling a current opening. Learn how to create a "win-win" situation by utilizing employment proposals. This module provides step-by-step instructions on how to design an effective employment proposal.

This module includes a summary of the One Stop system. Students will learn the purpose, benefits and partnerships involved in each One Stop. An overview of the variety of services provided and the agencies included in the One Stop will help each student understand the all-inclusive benefits to job seekers.

Customer satisfaction sometimes depends more on how the case manager conveys important information rather than what the information is. Difficult situations arise when the case managers might not have all the information necessary to help a client's specific problem. When you don't have all the answers, you must have the skill and knowledge to navigate the process to enlist customer satisfaction through job seeker empowerment, choice and participation. This module addresses creating positive experiences with customers, even when you don't have all the answers.

Job Development is more than finding a job for job seeking customers of the One-Stop. It is important to have the right skills and knowledge when representing an agency in the role of Job Developer. This module will explore what it takes to be an effective Job Developer and seven characteristics of effective Job Developers.

This module offers a rudimentary explanation on the fundamentals of the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) including the principles, goals, governance structure, and service delivery. It clarifies the specific details of the program design with an explanation of the system's partners and desired accomplishments within the program. This fundamental module gives a straightforward illustration of the WIA tiered service structure as delivered through the One Stop Service System. In addition, it outlines the ten required elements of the Youth program including the development and responsibilities of the youth council.

In its broadest and most general sense, job development is about working with employers to identify job opportunities. This module further defines job development, examines job developer roles and identifies strategies for building positive relationships with employers and job seekers. It reveals where job development occurs, translates services into benefits and explains the different types of job matches and strategies for success.

A two-part module that includes the importance of Workforce partnering with outside agencies, including the power of collaborations, identifying potential partners and examples of successful partnerships and best practices. The module reviews the purpose of WIA mandated partners as well as other likely and beneficial partners.

This module stresses the need to be creative in the means by which job seekers can get and keep a job with the focus on entrepreneurship. The U.S. Department of Labor encourages entrepreneurial activities in local program designs, and the module addresses how these activities can be incorporated within the Core and Intensive Services. This module provides the reasons why one would choose to become self-employed and further defines the required skills, necessary traits and qualifications to become an entrepreneur. Specific Service Design structure and other ideas for implementing entrepreneurial services are included with resources for support in this enterprise.

The youth program offered through the Workforce Investment Act is designed to prepare youth for success. This module presents the basic program structure designed to ensure that success. It also outlines the ten required program elements intended to improve educational achievement, prepares youth for success in employment, provides support for youth and helps develop the potential of youth as citizens and leaders.

Each person possesses an infinite number of skills. How does a front-line worker, supervisor, manager, or staff member know how to identify those skills and use them to benefit the customer and the employer? This module offers the elements to determine what types of skills a job seeker or staff member possesses. It clears up the difference between hard and soft skills hidden within the lines of a résumé. It also offers a functional tool for explaining the most practical capacities for the various identified skills.

Technology comes in different sizes, shapes and forms. This seminar will provide learners with information on the basic uses of computer technology in the workforce system. Included will be technology tools, software applications and helpful examples.

Becoming more aware of ourselves and others is key to accelerating learning, improving communication and minimizing mistakes. This module helps participants identify their learning style, how each style differs from others and why it matters. In the world of Workforce Development, this information is especially helpful when communicating with job seekers whose learning style may be different from your own.

This seminar will provide information on how to access the labor market data on every state. Staff will learn how to use this data to help employers make informed decisions and assist staff to create effective strategies for job placement.

The roles and responsibilities of the chief local elected official, the partnership with the local workforce investment board and the governor are described in this module. It addresses the responsibilities of the chief local elected officials with regard to the appointment of the Local Workforce Investment Board (LWIB) and their role in the structured implementation of the Workforce Investment Act program.

What keeps you from getting things done? What is on your to-do list today? Workforce professionals must learn to manage time effectively to properly address an increased workload, reduced staffing load, increased worker demands and other barriers to time management. In this module, learn to identify your time management style and an approach to help you better manage time. This module provides exercises to evaluate time management skills and provides examples of ways to determine how your time is spent.

This module discusses the establishment of the Local Workforce Investment Board (LWIB) and its role in supporting the workforce system. It provides information on board certification, how members are appointed, the key functions of the board and its limitations. In addition, it provides an overview of the LWIB's role in the responsibilities and membership of Youth Councils, which is a required subgroup of the LWIB.