Job Development

Pre-vocational Preparation

Job Developers and CCP staff work closely with referred participants as they prepare for the world of work. Pre-vocational activities may include resume development, interview practice with role-playing, community access training, wardrobe planning for community employment, and/or career planning. As participants prepare for eventual work, they may have the opportunity to participate in pre-vocational experiential learning activities as needed, such as Work Trials, Work Adjustment Training, and/or Personal Adjustment Training. Work Trials provide participants with the opportunity to actually try out a possible job, to determine whether the position is a good match with the participant’s skills, interests and support needs, as well as to determine whether the participant’s work performance meets with the employer’s satisfaction. Sometimes Work Trial opportunities even result in job offers! Work Adjustment Training involves unpaid opportunities for the participant to work at a position for an extended period of time (typically part-time for 2 – 6 weeks) to develop and practice critical employment skills, such as communication in the workplace, punctuality, adherence to work schedules and routines, following directions, task completion, accepting instruction and feedback, and/or work ethic. Work Adjustment Training experiences are especially helpful to individuals with limited or no previous work experience, or for individuals who have had negative work experiences in the past, and serve as a reference for future employment. For participants doing Work Adjustment Training, individualized work support is provided by CCP Employment Specialists. Personal Adjustment Training opportunities allow participants to receive individualized support in many areas, including but not limited to independent living skill development, behavior awareness and management, housing, and community access and participation.Other pre-vocational opportunities for CCP participants include JOBS Club and Self-Advocacy Training. Through JOBS Club, participants meet bi-monthly with CCP staff and other individuals with disabilities to discuss and compare notes on job seeking successes and challenges, and work together on job preparedness skills. Participants who are developing their self-advocacy skills have opportunities to work 1:1 with CCP staff and student interns as they develop an understanding of their strengths and challenges, their support needs, and the available resources that will help them gain interdependence skills. The bottom line with pre-vocational preparation through CCP is to provide participants with the individualized support, encouragement and training they need to be successful at community employment.