Practitioner’s Corner

Job Developers

By Rachel Banks

Hello Everyone;

This article is the first of what I hope will be many more to come in the Practitioner’s Corner being submitted by individuals who work in the placement department of their organization.

Job Development is a unique area of employment that in many circumstances does not receive the recognition that is so deserved for individuals working in the field. A Job Developer wears many hats and must be able to co-ordinate a number of different activities in any given day.

The position requires an individual that works well under pressure, demonstrates a professional image within the community and is sensitive to the needs of clients, but at the same time has a solid understanding of marketing, usiness practices and awareness that training is an expensive commitment for any small to medium business.

In today’s business market, employers are cautious when adding additional staff and want to make sure they hire the right individual. With the costs associated with training new hires, it is important for Job Developers to really understand the needs of the Employer, and to present the benefits to hiring through the services available from your organization. In some cases, the services you provide may not be appropriate and you may need to refer the Employer to other resources.

In conversation with fellow workers new to the field, there seems to be a lack of understanding and support for individuals that are employed as Job Developers. There appears to be no formal training within the field and some individuals feel they are left on their own and struggle on a daily basis to provide quality service.

Job Development is a major component of any organization, particularly when promoting on-the-job training subsidy programs, as it is important for the organization to have long-term relationships established with local Employers. I have been involved with placement for a number of years and I have found it to be a rewarding experience that has provided the opportunity to be aware of what is happening in my community.

To all the new Job Developers out there, I would like to say keep up the good work and know that your efforts are much appreciated by the unemployed individuals you help. An individual you help today might not express their immediate gratitude, but may surprise you when you least expect it.

The Contact Point website www.contactpoint.ca has developed a chat room for Job Developers and meets on-line the 3rd Thursday of each month at 3:30 PM Eastern Time. I would invite anyone that is involved with Placement to join the chat room to share ideas, develop strategies and connect with fellow Job Developers.

Rachel Banks
Senior Placement Consultant/Web Administrator
rachel@jobspeterborough.ca
Employment Planning & Counselling-Peterborough
www.jobspeterborough.ca