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Work Opportunities Unlimited is a team organization and each
Career Resource Specialist’s duties can vary depending on the
dynamics in their particular region. Their duties may include:
1)
Direct professional services to adults with disabilities. Responsible for helping adult customers be
successful in the job match of their dreams! This includes going
into a potential partner company in order to analyze the jobs
that the company has to offer. Work Opportunities uses a
standard 5-page report that breaks down every facet of every
position. The CRS then presents the job analysis to their WOU
team in order to best match the individual to the position. Once
an individual starts a position, the CRS is responsible for the
continued development of the goals and aspirations of the
individual. This training will also utilize the most effective
learning style based on the individual client as well as setting
up short-term goals in order to reach the long term ones. The
CRS may provide transportation for a customer until that person
is independent with their travel. The CRS is also responsible
for identifying and setting up the natural supports, which will
allow the individual to reach the goals set forth in their
career plan.
2)
Direct professional services to youth. Responsible for the day-to-day contact with the youth client. He
or she will be responsible for the delivery and achievement of
the youth program or school outcomes. He or she must be
extremely flexible, a good communicator, and very proficient in
time management, multi-tasking, and job development.
3)
Business development.
Responsible for finding compatible employers to hire our adult
and youth clients. In addition to general business development,
the CRS will contact companies and community resources outlined
in a client’s career plan. They are also responsible for making
sure that the companies they find are philosophically compatible
to ours. The goal is to build relationships while meeting the
needs of the employers. Once a potential position is found, the
CRS will then present the information to the team in order to
determine if it is a match to the vocational goals of a specific
client.
4)
The
qualifications of a CRS. A CRS who will be working with adults or
doing business development may include a degree in a field of
Health and Human Services or business and/or have experience in
the Human Service or sales field. A CRS who will be working with
youth is required to either have a Bachelor’s degree in a field
related to Health and Human Services or be in the final year of
earning this degree. Work experience with youth, business
development experience and bi-lingual skills are a big plus.
Once hired, candidates will be extensively trained in a number
of areas including:
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History of Developmental Disability system
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History of our company
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What is person-centered planning?
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Constructing Youth Development Plans
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Conducting An Employment Preparation Assessment
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Interviewing
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Resume Development
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Application Writing
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The Americans with Disabilities Act
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Job analysis
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Task analysis
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Job restructuring and accommodations
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Natural support development-Part 1
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Natural support development-Part 2
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Data collection and goal writing
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Client Benefits Basics
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Overview-types of disabilities
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Student transition services
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Situational Assessments
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How does system flow? (VR to SEP)
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Welfare-to-work |
Jessica
LaPaglia joined Work Opportunities Unlimited in January 2005 and is
responsible for company-wide recruitment and managing the recruiting
team. Jessica has experience in
recruiting and human resources management, and has also worked directly
with school-age individuals with disabilities. Jessica has a B.A. degree
in Elementary/Special Education from Notre Dame College. You can contact
Jessica for career opportunities at
