Employment Specialist

Mercy Housing & Shelter Corp•Hartford, CT

12d•Onsite

About The Position

The Employment Specialist supports clients within the Residential Program in obtaining meaningful employment. This role involves planning and facilitating group training related to employability, developing and maintaining relationships with local employers, and supporting clients through the job search and interview processes. The Employment Specialist also helps clients develop employment plans and tracks their progress.

Requirements

High ability to problem solves, work autonomously and in group setting.
Ability to plan, organize and prioritize workflow.
Excellent written and oral communication skills.
Provide client job readiness assessments, maintain external relationships with employers, good listening skills, computer literacy, people skills, ability to work collaboratively with other personnel and or service providers or professionals.
Valid driver’s license, and a car.
Completion of SOARS training.
Bachelor’s degree in social service field (administration, psychology, human resources, or labor/industry relations) from an accredited university.
May consider work experience in lieu of educational requirements.
Must have valid Connecticut driver’s license and clean driving record with proof of automobile insurance.

Responsibilities

Organize and facilitate client groups on topics relating to employment.
Travel and network in the community to strengthen relationships with potential employers as well as other organizations offering employment or educational training.
Assess and develop client employment plans with measurable outcomes.
Teach clients to find and use online employment resources such as job search websites.
Help clients develop resumes, cover letters, interview skills, and address any hygiene or social issues that may be posing a challenge to successful employment.
Maintain positive relationships with potential employers.
Create relationships with community resources, for internal or external training, interview clothing, vocational and certificate programs.
Continual communication with case managers and supervisor regarding shared caseload.
Obtain ID’s, birth certificates, licenses, marriage/divorce documents, certificates, social security documents.
Maintain records tracking client employment data, such as interviews attended, jobs obtained, jobs lost, etc.
Follow up regularly with clients regarding their employment status.
Transport clients to job interviews as needed.
Coordinating on site job fairs with other agency staff.
Perform any other task that will assist the agency in carrying out its mission.
SOAR – training and implementation of services.
Work in close collaboration with case management.
Treat all clients with dignity and respect, prioritize client needs, and advocate for the people we serve.
Maintain confidentiality of client information.
Promote the human dignity, rights, safety, and wellbeing of clients served.
Professionally and ethically handle agency and client money/property.
Fulfill all responsibilities as a mandatory reporter.
Display a positive attitude towards clients, programs, and the agency.
Demonstrate good communication with clients, supervisors, peers, outside resources and family/guardians.
Demonstrate good attendance.
Punctually attend all assigned meetings, in-services, and trainings.
Demonstrate involvement as a team member.
Adhere to all applicable regulations, laws and policies/procedures and know and understand your job description.
Submit paperwork and meet job responsibility deadlines as assigned.
Responsible for informing and updating all residents and staff of new employment opportunities, educational and vocational, via posting and other modes of communication.