Module 2Unit 4: Business Services

DEEDWorkForce CenterReception and Resource Area Certification Program

Unit Competency Statement and Learning Objectives Competency Statement:

Understand how to leverage the relationship between Business Services, WFC staff and job seekers.

Learning Objectives: Business Service overview Working with employers Connections

Business Services

Overview

History Responding to increasing business concerns with

staying globally competitive, our Commissioner requested more workforce development resources to assist small- to medium-sized businesses (2004).

Result: Redirected 1/3 of federal Wagner Peyser resources to create Business Services Specialists (BSS) team.

BSS expansion of existing Employer Services: targeted outreach to key industries, expand business use of public workforce system, connect all business to local and regional resources.

Mission

Provide workforce development solutions

to businesses and connect businesses to local

business assistance networks.

Consultation Approach

Identify businesses who are hiring (LMI, WIB) Request and meet with decision maker(s) Visit businesses:

Face to face meetings Assess current hiring needs Discuss current business issues Establish single point of contact Provide resources (workforce and options to resolve

issues)

Workforce Development Services and Solutions Hire and recruit employees:

Provide incentives to hire from the WorkForce Center Author and edit job descriptions Promote and educate on Minnesotaworks.net Connect employers with job seekers Prescreen candidates in coordination with WFC Recruit for Employer of the Day Job fairs and special events Set up internships, apprenticeships (DOL), etc Special initiatives (Camps to Careers, Mentoring Day, Veterans

Fair)

Workforce Development Services Continued Retention, education and general business needs

Accommodations (Connect to DOLI, WFC programs) Aversion to layoff (Shared Work, change in business, other) Customized training (MNSCU and ABE)

Basic human resource assistance Employment law questions

Labor market information Salary and wage information Trends Publications

Business OutcomesSave time and money…

Increased productivity Increased profitability Reduced liability Stronger workforce Single point of contact for solutions

Partnerships Workforce development Business development Economic development Global connections (Minnesota Trade Office Education (ABE, MNSCU, U o M, private institutions)

Initiative Outcomes As of 2010, BS has provided over 40,000

services to businesses since 2005 Hiring and recruitment Training Retention Other business needs Identified crucial skill shortages and

gaps

40+ regional, statewide, and national projects Satisfied customers

98% of businesses would refer/have referred

According to CNN:

Over 80% of today’s jobs

are NOT advertised

Business Service Specialist (BSS)

Approximately 40 BSS are located at offices throughout the state.

BSS provide practical business solutions for finding and hiring new employees, retaining employees, accessing training resources, and general human resource information.

Business Services OverviewKEY POINTS1. Business Services provides workforce development

services: Hire and recruit employees; retention, education and general business needs; basic human resources assistance; labor market information.

2. Business Service Specialist work to build relationships with employers by providing practical business and workforce solutions.

Working with

Employers

Discussion Point

1. Scenario: Employer walks into the WFC, what do you do?

Employer’s Perspective of the WFC Find workers Meeting rooms Phones, email and fax Mass recruiting Mentoring Information on starting a

business Speak to job seekers or job club Curious

The WorkForce Center is viewed as an economical

and valued resource.

How To Help: Staff Assistance Follow the customer service protocol:

Determine if the customer is a job seeker or an employer

Provide available resources: BSS contact information Work Opportunity Tax Credit and

Federal Bonding Program information MinnesotaWorks.net Employer of the Day Publications (How to Start a Business, etc.)

Pass employer information onto BSS Inform employers about or assist with Employer of the

Day

Employer Of The Day (EOD)What is it? An employer stationed at WFC to recruit job seekers.

What is your role in this process: First, these activities should be coordinated with the BSS and site

representative. Find out what the protocol is at your site. Offer a conference room and possibly an interviewing space. Get the message out about EOD event. Inform job seekers about the EOD event. Most importantly, welcome employers when they arrive and direct

them where they need to go.

Customer Service Protocol

Welcome Assess needs Confirm needs Take action

Inquire about services

Repeat what you heard

Direct employers to BSS,

MinnesotaWorks.net, and

ensure employers that a BSS

will contact them within 24

hours.

Working with EmployersKEY POINTS1. Employers view the WorkForce Center as an

economical and valued resource.2. How to help: Follow the customer service protocol;

provide list of resources; pass employer information onto the BSS; promote and assist with Employer of the Day event.

3. By following customer service protocol: employers should be advised that a BSS will contact them within 24 hours.

Connections

Discussion Point

1. How do you connect job seekers to employers?

Collaboration

1. a working together: the act of working together with one or more people in order to achieve something (Encarta online).

“Individual commitment to a group effort - that is what makes a team work, a company work, a society work, a civilization work.”

- Vince Lombardi

Separate Entities

Employers- Jobs

Job Seekers

- Talent

WFC- Services- MNWK

- BSS- Staff

Relationships

Connecting Job Seekers Promoting Employer of the Day Distribute hiring flyers and post job

opening Leverage MinnesotaWorks.net

Resumes Maintain account Check on recruitments Internships and volunteer

opportunities Job fairs Networking groups BSS critique resumes or speak

about topic of interest to groups

By promoting employer activities, Business Services and job seekers

workforce development efforts

are unified.

Posting Jobs on MinnesotaWorks.net If an employer calls a WFC to post a

job on MinnesotaWorks.net… Inquire about employer’s account status If an account is not established, provide

employer with Minnesotaworks.net information and explain that an BSS will be in touch within 24 hours.

Pass employer information onto BSS.

Inquire about job flyers to post on bulletin boards.

WFC staff can enter jobs, if time permits.

Posting jobs on bulletin boards and MinnesotaWorks.net

are important activities for making

connections

ConnectionsKEY POINTS1. Collaboration between employers, BSS, WFC staff

and jobseekers strengthens relationship building efforts.

2. Posting jobs and resumes are essential activities to connecting job seekers with employers.

3. Staffs can assist employers by entering jobs into MinnesotaWorks.net or by helping them with the process.

This completes training for Module 2, Unit 4.

Learning Objective 1: Business Service Overview

Learning Objective 2: Working with Employers

Learning Objective3: Connections