weekly insight

 

In chapter 11, it discusses how important employability skills and placement services are when it comes to the point of actually searching for a job. One statement I had to agree with was the idea that employment validates the worth of an individual to a certain degree. To me, I believe that employment makes us feel worthy but also the amount of money you earn in your career gives you prestige. Unfortunately there are many jobs that are crucial in society but yield a low pay grade. What I found interesting was the amount of money spent in outplacement service firms. I was not very familiar with this service before the reading. After discovering that it is usually offered to exempt employees, which I have never been one, it was easy to realize why I had not been familiar with this service. It amazes me that companies lay off these people in salaried positions to save money but such a large amount of money is put into these services to help the unemployed find a job. Technology has played a large part in job placement as well, being that job seekers and companies looking to hire people can look for and post resumes online to help in their job search. I can personally attest to the convenience of using online job placements. After graduating college I was able to post my resume online allowing multiple employers to view my information. This way I didn’t have to pay for someone to assist me in the process and employers quickly contacted me to setup interviews.

Chapter 16 stresses how to evaluate programs using evidence based strategies.  Because most companies and businesses are under a strict budget they are not as willing to implement interventions that are going to cost them money without evidence that the intervention is going to work. Through different experimental designs one can use those statistics to determine whether or not a specific program will be beneficial to their company. By doing research and getting the facts, it is easy to present to a panel how effective the program will be and they will be more willing to invest in it. But without any type of proof to back up the suggested program there is a high probability that those who decide if the program will be implemented or not will deny the proposal. As professionals working in the human services field I believe that in all aspects it is helpful to use some type of evidence based approach. This way you can prove that your ideas and suggestions have worked before and are valid gaining trust and establishing a better rapport with the clients that you may be working with.

 

Brown, D. (2007).  Career information, career counseling, and career development  (9h ed.).  New York: Pearson Education, Inc.