Job Readiness Program
Big Brothers Big Sisters of
Mississippi Valley
JOBS Mentor Relationship
measurable
Process Oriented
RESUMES
engaging
Job Readiness Program exists to engage the Little in
preparing for his/her first job through high quality
interactive workshops, coaching sessions, and
practical experience with the support of their
mentor.
interviews
COVER LETTERS
Community
Partnerships
FINANCIAL
VIABILITY
“Kudos to BBBS for taking our Big/Little mentor
relationship to the next level and preparing our Little
for the next stage in their life. I am confident that
these critical skills will assist my Little in obtaining a
summer job and ultimately a successful career.”
- Big Sister Katie
“Each step of the way we saw an increase in self
esteem in the Littles. Also, we have spoken with them
various times about their future education, goals, job
interests, etc. but we have never gotten them thinking
the way this program did.”
- Big Sister Beth
“The transition from ‘doing a resume assignment’ as
just another thing the day brings...To a forward looking
attitude. The resume is for ‘for my future’ and now that
I’ve been thinking about that I care about it and am
paying attention to it.”
- Big Brother Harry
Resume
Review
Preparation
Success
Skills
Workshop
Job
Readiness
Refresh
Teen Job
Fair
Mock
Interviews
Post Job
Seminar
Match Support Showed
• Our Littles were not involved in the Job Preparation
classes in the school systems.
• Volunteers were trying to help Littles with jobs but
lacked the resources and time to prepare them.
• The need for economic viability.
• Littles expressed interest in summer jobs.
Resume
Review
Preparation
Success
Skills
Workshop
Job
Readiness
Refresh
Teen Job
Fair
Mock
Interviews
Post Job
Seminar
Thought Process
• Did not want to duplicate services already provided.
• Program needed to be incremental and measurable.
• Use of Key Partnerships
• Junior Achievement – curriculum & facilitator
• City of Davenport – Youth Corp
• Business Network – network of job options
• Mentors were the key -- providing support and real
life experiences.
Resume
Review
Preparation
Success
Skills
Workshop
Job
Readiness
Refresh
Teen Job
Fair
Mock
Interviews
Post Job
Seminar
Setting the bar
• Workshop facilitator:
• Professional trainer
• Understood the mission of BBBS – current Big
Sister and Board member
• Excellent soft skills to build relationships with
participants
• Professional workshop environment.
• Emphasized participation & required attendance.
• Provided portfolios, flash drives, & business cards.
• Emphasis on celebrating incremental successes.
Resume
Review
Preparation
Success
Skills
Workshop
Job
Readiness
Refresh
Teen Job
Fair
Mock
Interviews
Post Job
Seminar
Program Components
1. Success Skills Workshop
2. Resume Review
3. Mock Interviews
4. Teen Job Fair
5. Post Job Seminar
6. Job Readiness “Refresher”
Resume
Review
Preparation
Success
Skills
Workshop
Job
Readiness
Refresh
Teen Job
Fair
Mock
Interviews
Post Job
Seminar
Success Skills Workshop
• Junior Achievement of the Heartland curriculum
• Facilitated by JA Trainer who is also a Board
member of BBBS MV & Big Sister
• Lots of interaction and engagement of both Littles
and Mentors
• Completed over 2 Saturdays, 3 ½ hours each
• The ability of the facilitator to make information engaging and
practical.
• The ability of facilitator and leader to build meaningful
relationships with matches.
• Create professional environment.
Resume
Review
Preparation
Success
Skills
Workshop
Job
Readiness
Refresh
Teen Job
Fair
Mock
Interviews
Post Job
Seminar
Resume Review
• Expectation is to have each Little bring a completed
resume/cover letter (hard copy and flash drive)
• Groups of 10 matches at a time to allow for
coaching and feedback
• Resumes/cover letters can be edited, completed
and printed that night
• Making the session worthwhile to those Littles who may not have
worked much on their resume/cover letter.
• Peer, mentor, and facilitator feedback is the goal. Littles helping
Littles on resumes and cover letters is wonderful to see.
“Our Littles were so proud of the resumes they wrote.
We helped them make some changes, but didn’t
want to interfere with the fact that they wrote them
and were proud of them. When we saw the
professionalism of some of the other resumes, we
were worried that our Littles would feel bad. The
critique was handled so well, that they came away
knowing some changes to make, but still being proud
of their efforts.”
- Big Sister, Elizabeth
Resume
Review
Preparation
Success
Skills
Workshop
Job
Readiness
Refresh
Teen Job
Fair
Mock
Interviews
Post Job
Seminar
Mock Interviews
• 15 professional interviewers from local businesses –
John Deere, Mid American, Dairy Queen, Modern
Woodman, etc.
• Each Little completed 2 twenty minute interviews
• Littles received comment cards from interviewers
• Mentors sat in on interviews as silent observers
• After interviews, interviewers, mentors, & Little’s
shared in a debrief session.
• It is helpful to have 2-3 fictional job ads that the interviewers use
as a focus of the interview.
• Great way to get professionals connected to agency.
• Positive & constructive feedback is a priority.
“They were so nervous; but were drawn into
participate. They enjoyed it and felt very
positive about their efforts.”
-Big Brother Charles
Resume
Review
Preparation
Success
Skills
Workshop
Job
Readiness
Refresh
Teen Job
Fair
Mock
Interviews
Post Job
Seminar
Teen Job Fair
• Sponsored by Mayor
• Littles brought resumes, cover letters, business
cards.
• Great experience to put into practice what they
have learned.
• Following events, matches met for dinner to share
experiences.
• Look for local job fairs through the city and schools.
• Suggestion: Track number of applications submitted and
interviews.
“I was pleasantly surprised to see my Little apply
the skills at the Teen Job Fair that she had learned
in the program. She had a firm handshake, a great
smile, was dressed professionally – resume in
hand, and more confident than I had ever seen her.
Definitely impressed with her courage and
enthusiasm.”
-Big Sister Katie
Resume
Review
Preparation
Success
Skills
Workshop
Job
Readiness
Refresh
Teen Job
Fair
Mock
Interviews
Post Job
Seminar
Post Job Seminar/JR Refresher
• “Now that I have a Job, how do I keep it?” - twohour seminar on being a quality employee (June
2014)
• Provide opportunities for Baby Sitting certification,
understanding Lawn Care, using the transportation
system, etc.
• Job Readiness Refresher – a three hour refresher
course conducted yearly for those who have been
through the Job Readiness program.
Resume
Review
Preparation
Success
Skills
Workshop
Job
Readiness
Refresh
Teen Job
Fair
Mock
Interviews
Post Job
Seminar
Challenges
• When jobs require paperwork - Birth Certificate, state ID, Social
Security card – have advocate/resource in place to help families.
• Creating the expectation that attendance is required and
planning for absences.
• Providing education for use of transportation system.
• Working with 14-15 year olds who want jobs but are not old
enough to work in most places. Park districts do hire that age to
work concessions.
• Building an increasing network of employers who are willing to
work with BBBS and employ those who complete program.
• Cost to run program and staff time allocated.
Resume
Review
Preparation
Success
Skills
Workshop
Job
Readiness
Refresh
Teen Job
Fair
Mock
Interviews
Post Job
Seminar
Successes
• Littles had a sense of accomplishment and increased confidence.
• Mentors had renewed enthusiasm for mentoring relationship.
• Matches initiated communication and contact with agency.
• Growing base of support through use of professional
interviewers – new way to volunteer for agency.
• Sense of camaraderie among the pilot group.
• Growth was visible because it was incremental. Mentors and
Littles could see they were learning at each milestone which
increased depth of participation.
• Program is attractive to funders.
Resume
Review
Preparation
Success
Skills
Workshop
Job
Readiness
Refresh
Teen Job
Fair
Mock
Interviews
Post Job
Seminar
Outcomes
• Post Program Survey evaluating program
components, emotional/social, and content.
• Pre-program assessment (future) – getting some
baseline data on skills, application, interview, and
employment history.
• Post Program Tracking – applications submitted,
interviews and employment.
Resume
Review
Preparation
Success
Skills
Workshop
Job
Readiness
Refresh
Teen Job
Fair
Mock
Interviews
Post Job
Seminar
Where do we go from here?
• Track pilot group for applications, interviews and
employments.
• Pursue funding for initiative.
• Continue to strengthen Middle/High School
Mentoring program by addressing gaps in critical
skills necessary to be a productive citizen upon
graduation.
If you have any questions or would like to
talk further, please feel free to contact
Kim Aboyure.
Big Brothers Big Sisters Mississippi Valley
Senior Director of Mentoring Services
130 5th Street Davenport, IA 52801
563-323-8006
kaboyure@bbbs-mv.org