Job Seekers

Career planning can take you in many new directions. The chart below, from the King County WA Workforce Development Council, outlines various paths you can take on your way to a career in healthcare.

Download as a PDF Here.

To best determine an individual’s current status in his/her career planning continuum, YWCA staff utilize a number of formal and informal career planning tools and assessments.  The following are some examples of these tools:

• Self Inventory for Job Skills: self management, functional, work content skills; administered one on one with Job Developer;

• WISCareers:  interest inventory and transferrable skills; http://www.wiscareers.wisc.edu/Default.asp

• Test of Adult Basic Education (TABE): reading and math skill level; administered in group setting with Assessment Specialist;

• Proveit! Analytical Skills-Analytical Reasoning:  evaluates cognitive skills traditionally considered as analytical; administered in group setting with Assessment Specialist;

• Proveit! Basic Reading Comprehension-Reading for Information:  basic reading comprehension that examines ability to draw important information from written material; administered in group setting with Assessment Specialist;

• Proveit! Job title assessments:  with more than 700 job titles available, this tool rates the individual’s competency level on a given job compared to a national average of employees doing the job currently.

Development Bridge Training Program

The Talent Development Bridge Training Program is a customizable curriculum delivered in two parts: Career Readiness Training and Pre-Vocational Training.

Career Readiness Training provides job seekers with the following competencies identified as important to employers:

• Complete work accurately, on time, and to a high standard;
• Work in teams to achieve mutual goals and objectives;
• Follow work-related rules and regulations;
• Demonstrate willingness to work and show initiative;
• Display responsible behaviors at work, including avoiding absenteeism and demostrating promptness.

Pre-Vocational Training Exposes participants to industry sectors through one–on–one structured vocation specific curriculum demonstrating an increased benefit for job seekers to rapidly increase literacy skills and prepare for advanced training programs or direct job placement.  Currently, the YWCA offers pre-vocational training in CNA, carpentry, childcare, clerical, customer service, cooking & baking, construction & carpentry, electronics, light industrial, mechanics, metal trades and welding. Pre-vocational training programs can be customized based on specific employer and industry needs.

Career Development Services

The YWCA's Career Development Specialists assist job seekers with obtaining employment, job retention, increased wages and career development.

Services include:

• Comprehensive and specialized assesments
• Basic skills instruction
• GED credential
• Mentoring
• Tutoring
• Individual counseling and career planning
• Access to support services
• Short, occupation-specific training
• On-the-job training
• Upgrading or retraining skills