Hiring College Students with Disabilities— Innovative Strategies for Success Presenters: Ann Macheledt (Minnesota Business Leadership Network) Tom Lynch (MN AHEAD) Dawn Kirchner (Mayo Clinic) Anastasia Damyan (Mentee) Kathleen McDowell (Reverse Job Fair Candidate)
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Hiring College Students with Disabilities—Innovative ...€¦ · Strategies & Resources for Recruiting College Students • Be proactive about your presence on campus to discuss
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Hiring College Students with Disabilities—Innovative Strategies for Success
Presenters: Ann Macheledt (Minnesota Business Leadership Network)
Tom Lynch (MN AHEAD)Dawn Kirchner (Mayo Clinic)Anastasia Damyan (Mentee)
Kathleen McDowell (Reverse Job Fair Candidate)
Welcome & Introductions• Introduce yourself and where you are from
• Take 5 minutes to discuss with someone at your table the following question:
What are some of the key challenges in recruiting college students with disabilities?
Why are we here? Qualified individuals with disabilities are often an untapped market. In 2016, the US Department of Labor statistics reported:
▪ Labor Force Participation rate for people with disabilities was 20.4% (68.4% for those w/o disabilities)
▪ Unemployment rate for individuals with disabilities was 10.2% (4.7% for people w/o disabilities)
▪ 37% of MN college graduates with disabilities were not participating in the labor force
This issue connected strongly with MNBLN’s mission and the D&I goals of our members.
Minnesota Business Leadership Network (MNBLN) & Its Partners
Intro to MNBLN
• Began in 2000, certified as a 501c3 in 2003
• Mission: An employer led endeavor that promotes best practices that enhance employment and career opportunities for skilled candidates with disabilities.
Intro to MNBLN
• An affiliate of the US Business Leadership Network (USBLN)
• Our mentoring program was modeled after USBLN's Rising Leaders Mentoring Program.
• MN AHEAD was a collaborating partner in developing and implementing our Career Connections Mentoring Program.
Key elements of the program• Structure - Beginning & End• Education• Built in support• Clear expectations/Goal of the program• Celebrate successes
Mentor Perspective
Mentor Perspective
Lessons learned• Your career pathway
has value• Listen more and ask
questions• You may need to move
slow to go fast• Opening doors can lead
to inspiration
Mentee Perspective-Anastasia
Commitment + Engagement = Career Success
Mentee Perspective-Anastasia
Lessons learned • Seeking an employer that aligns with my values• Improving soft skills by practicing in a safe space• Self-advocacy in a work setting• Goal setting • Identifying strengths by self-reflection
Mentoring Program Results
• 16 individuals total completed the program--8 mentees
• Post program, mentees reported the following results:
4 full time
1 part time
3 in school or looking for work
Mentoring Program Results
•Anastasia - Leadership Justice Program in Connecticut, full
time
•Jillian - Goodwill Easter Seals, full time
•Greg - State of MN, full time
•Katherine - PCA part-time, expected to finish school in
December or May
•Katy - K-12 schools, substitute teaching, full time
Mentoring Program Results
•Madison - sophomore, pre-med
•Christine – no specific employer at the time, but was involved
in politics/advocacy work
•Christina - planned to finish school in May, was looking for
internship opportunities, extended her meetings with her
mentor over the summer
What was most valuable?
Mentee
“The MNBLN's Mentorship Program gave me the opportunity to see
what the work environment was like in the real world, especially
when presented with accommodations. What I have learned during
this mentorship will continue to be referenced when I apply to
graduate school and various careers in the future - this is definitely
one of the best decisions I have made in my college career!”
What was most valuable?
Mentor
“It gave me the opportunity to connect not only with a candidate
with a disability but also connect with a young, new college grad
that is just beginning the start of their adult life. It was an honor to
be part of that and help get her started on her life's journey.”
Note: Additional information and mentoring video can be found at
3 Words to Describe Yourself• Write down 3 words to describe yourself or 3
words that others might use to describe you
• Take 5 minutes to discuss with someone at your table.
How did that feel? Was it hard or easy?
Audience Polling
• How many of you have participated in or attended a Reverse Job Fair before?
• What was it like or what do you think this type of job fair involves?
Reverse Job Fair
• The Reverse Job Fair (RJF), in essence, flips the table and allows the job seeker (student) to create a display and presentation to showcase their talents, interests and skills.
• Personalized way to showcase skills and abilities
• Strengths presented in visual ways
• Employer insight and feedback for creative career connections
Candidate
RJF Benefits For Employers• Access to diverse
qualified candidates
• Increased quality face time
• Creative ways to learn about an individual & connect based on values
• Opportunity to match individuals to careers based on strengths
Employer
Reverse Job Fair Prep
• One 2 hour hands-on training
• Homework: Create a poster board and 30 second elevator speech for MNBLN Disability Inclusion Summit & Career Fair
Poster Board Questions
Poster board should answer the questions:• Who you are• What you know• What you have done• What you hope to do
Poster Board Ideas
Who you are:• Your name• Your picture• Reference to where you are from• Words that describe you
Poster Board Ideas
What you know could be demonstrated by:• Skills you feel you have• Certifications or degrees you have received• Training you have completed• Hobbies and interests you have• Questions you like to answer • Ideas you have
Poster Board Ideas
What you have done:• Volunteer work you have participated in• Leadership opportunities you have engaged in• Skills you have developed along the way• Recognition you have received• Personal goals you have achieved• Physical things you have produced or work you have
done
Poster Board Ideas
What you hope to do:• Jobs or work you are interested in• Part or full time work• An internship you might be seeking• Other career exploration opportunities such as a job
shadow, workplace tour, informational interview• Gather feedback on where to apply your skills
Candidate Poster Board
Candidate Perspective-Kathleen
Candidate Perspective-Kathleen
Key elements of the experience ▪ Showed employers I am a multi-dimensional
person▪ Helped reduce anxiety to be able to speak to
what is important to meLessons learned
▪ Requires an individualized look at the person ▪ Learn a lot more about an individual on their
terms
Employer Perspective
• Drives a more visual type of resume• Provides individuals an opportunity to express
ideas and needs in innovative ways• Creates “comfort zone” for interactive dialogue
surrounding accommodations • Allows individuals with less work history to
highlight their strengths
What was most valuable?
RJF Candidate
“I am more conscious of presenting myself as
competent and a can-do potential employee.”
Innovative Strategies & Resources
Strategies & Resources for Recruiting College Students
• Build your recruiting network--MN AHEAD, MNBLN, Campus Disability Services, Vocational Rehabilitation Services, community organizations, etc.
• Take advantage of business education partnership opportunities
• Explore options for a digital meeting place
Strategies & Resources for Recruiting College Students
• Be proactive about your presence on campus to discuss your business, needs, culture, etc. and get to know students
• Be open to new and innovative ways for meeting and sourcing candidates—mentoring programs, Reverse Job Fairs, visual resumes, virtual career fairs
Innovative Strategies Work
“Caring, knowledgeable people opened the door,
took my hand, guided me through, and walked close
beside me along the way to discovering options and
placement in my career interest.”--Mentee
Innovative Strategies Work
“I think we could all make a huge impact on our
upcoming workforce if we committed to mentoring a
young person. The "inside" information to business
best practice can expedite the shift from an
educational setting to the employment world for
students. Finding a career you can grow into after
college gets lost in translation for some of the
individuals we support.”--Mentor
One Action Item
Write one action item following today that you will take to engage with college students