“Delivering an Effective Work
Experience Program”
Jody A. Toner
WORKFORCE CENTRAL FLORIDA, Special Projects Director
December 16, 2010
What is Work Experience?
• The WIA Regulations say…
– Work experiences are planned, structured
learning experiences that take place in a
workplace for a limited period of time.
– Designed to enable job seekers to gain
exposure to the working world and its
requirements.
– Provide career exploration and skill
development
– Not designed to benefit employer directly
however, based on work performed
employer benefits
Key Ingredients
• Solid project design
• Effective outreach campaign
• Extensive staff training
• Dedicated project team
• Employer Relationships
Key Ingredients
• Board involvement
• Accountability and accessibility
• Pre-Inspection worksite visits
• Comprehensive monitoring
structure
Key Ingredients
• Low staff : participant ratios
• Strict worksite supervisor :
intern ratios
• Formal intern performance
evaluation process
Keys Ingredients
• Timing of the economy
• Success stories
• Customer satisfaction survey
process for employers and
job seekers
• ROI – win win for
employers and job seekers
Program Facts
• Funded through WIA
• Paid internships
• Employers write the job
descriptions and make candidate
selections
Program Facts
• Payroll methods: Direct deposit or
Pay Partners
• WCF is the employer of record
• Variety of models based on
programmatic design
WCF’s Work Experience
Initiatives
Work Experience Initiatives
•Three WIA funded initiatives:
– Re-Employment Connection
– CAREER TRACK Connection
– Summer Job Connection
Re-Employment Connection
• WIA Adults & Dislocated Workers
ages 22 and up
• Rate: 10.00/hour
• Hours: 40 hrs/week
• Duration: 12 weeks
– Total earnings: $4,800
Re-Employment Connection
• New extended model: Private
sector only
– Combination of WIA Adult & DW
funds
– Goal: 118 enrollments
– Rate: 12.00/hour
– Hours: 40 hrs/week
– Duration: 20-26 weeks
•Earnings Range: $9,600-$12,480
CAREER TRACK Connection
• WIA Youth: Out-of-school, ages
18-21
• Rate: 8.50/hour
• Hours: 30 hrs/week
– Duration: 12 weeks
– Total earnings: $3,060
• Goal: 125 enrollments
Summer Job Connection
• WIA Youth ages 16-21
• Rate: 8.25/hour
• Hours: 35 hrs/week
• Two tracks:
– Track 1: ISY – 6 weeks
– Track 2: OSY- 11 weeks
•Incentives tied to performance
evaluations
•Earnings Range: $1,732.50- $3,176.25
Worksites
Worksites
•Worksites are comprised of: nonprofit, government agencies and
private-for-profit*
•Private sector positions must be in
STEM (Science, Technology,
Engineering and Math)
•Top 20 demand occupations in
Central Florida as defined by our
Board
Top 20
Occupations
• Administrative Services
Managers
• Booking, Accounting and
Auditing Clerks
• Cardiovascular Technologists
& Technicians
• Chefs & Head Cooks
• Computer Programmers
• Computer Support Specialists
• Dental Assistants
• Executive Secretaries and
Administrative Assistants
• Heating, A.C., and
Refrigeration Mechanics &
Installers
• Licensed Practical Nurses
• Massage Therapists
• Medical & Health
Services Manager
• Medical Assistant
• Medical & Clinical
Laboratory Technology
• Medical Records &
Health Information
Technicians
• Medical Secretary
• Network and Computer
Systems Administrators
• Physical Therapist
Assistant
• Registered Nurse
• Truck Drivers
Application Process
•Online application process
• SNAP web-based application
• Dedicated email address and hotline # for
inquiries/questions
•Accepted on a first-come, first-serve
basis
•Employers write the job descriptions
and make candidate selections
Quality Worksites
• Upfront communication of WCF’s
“high expectations and support”
• Casting the vision of WCF’s
project
• Upfront commitment and
understanding from employers
• Eliminate the stereotype – this is
not a free labor program
Quality Worksites
• Worksites are required to
complete a detailed training plan
for each requested position
• Effective worksite supervisory
manual, training and online
manual
• Thorough onsite weekly/biweekly
worksite monitoring with new
instruments each week
Pre-Inspection Monitoring
• Thorough review of the online
applications is completed
• Initial pre-inspection worksite
monitoring is conducted within
two weeks from completed
application
• Monitoring ensures that the worksite is
a safe environment and program
requirements/standards are explained
and understood
Pre-Inspection Monitoring
• Monitoring tool is reviewed, maintenance of
efforts discussed
• Training plan reviewed/finalized
• Brief overview of the work experience
program occurs with worksite staff (CEO,
Executive Director and/or Supervisor)
• Required REC paperwork is provided
– WCF Media Release form
– REC Worksite Supervisor Manual
– WCF Worksite Agreement
Recruitment Events
• REC & CTC programs:
– Monthly Recruitment events
– Worksite supervisory training occurs
– Job matching through a speed dating
approach
• SJC
– 1 day process/8 hour event per county
– CES training for youth
– Ends with Job Fair event
Recruitment Events
• Employers make candidate
selections
• Employer feedback phenomenal
– Job seekers exposed to real world
experiences
• Worksite referral form- carbon
copy
Worksite Role
•
•
•
•
Joint partnership with RWB
Provide mentoring to program participants
Treat employees as regular employees
Open lines of communication with RWB
assigned Career Specialist /Worksite
Monitors
• Timesheet completion and tracking
• Involvement in ongoing worksite monitoring
• Consider interns for any vacant positions
Job Seekers
Job Seekers
•Must meet WIA eligibility
requirements and suitability
•Webinar & Online application
process
•Initial Appointment: Registration &
On-boarding paperwork
•Level 1 background check
conducted
•Due to employer/employee relationship WCF cannot
provide the results to the employers
Employability Skills
•Employability skills training is a
mandatory requirement
•Customized training based on target
population
•Soft skills include: interviewing
techniques, 30-second commercial,
resume writing etc.
•Youth: Work Readiness skills
attainment
WCF’s Stats
Program
Online
Applications
Enrollments
Performance Goals
REC Job
Seekers
6,262
12/7/10:
862
•Placements: 262
•48% with host worksite
Multi PY goal:
1126
REC Employers
267
201
•Non Profit: 49.6%
•Government: 14.7%
•Private: 35.7%
•Over 862 intern positions have
been developed
WCF’s Stats
Program
Online
Applications
Enrollments
Performance Goals
SJC 2009Youth
6,421
1,200
•Work Readiness Goal – 95%
•32 placements at host
worksite
SJC 2009Employers
429
225
N/A
SJC 2010Youth
3,712
754
Work Readiness Goal – 89%
Positive Outcome Rate- 85%
SJC 2010
Employers
217
132
N/A
Measure Success
• Utilize a variety of media:
video, newsletters, letters, etc.
• Share with key stakeholders
• SJC Video documentary 2009
& 2010
Measure Success
• Capturing success stories and
posting on our website
• Annual “Awards of Excellence” for
worksites and interns
• Performance goals
Best Practices
• Online Application process
• Customer Service Representative
triage team
• WE Summits/Recruitment Events
• Video Documentary
• Designed and implemented an
effective journaling approach the
“Portfolio”
Resource Links
Description
Link
WCF website
www.WorkforceCentralFlorida.com
WCF’s Internship
page
http://www.workforcecentralflorida.com/employer/employerservices/internships/
Employer Online
Application
www.WorkforceCentralFlorida.com/ReEmploymentConnection
Employer
FAQ’s
http://www.workforcecentralflorida.com/employer/employerservices/internships/re-employment-connection/faq.stml
Re-Employment
Connection
http://www.workforcecentralflorida.com/employer/employerservices/internships/re-employment-connection/
CAREER TRACK
Connection
http://www.workforcecentralflorida.com/employer/employerservices/internships/career-track-connection.stml
Success Stories
http://www.workforcecentralflorida.com/about-us/successstories/
Questions