Employer Workplace Visits
Organizing workplace visits for job seekers provides invaluable exposure to real-world work environments, enabling them to better understand job roles, company cultures, and industry expectations. These visits also allow workforce organizations to deepen connections with employer partners by aligning their training programs with the specific skills and experiences required in various workplaces.
Key Points of Alignment
Across workforce organizations, arranging workplace visits is a common practice to provide job seekers with practical insights and strengthen employer relationships. Here are shared practices among organizations:
Providing Exposure to Real Work Environments: Many organizations prioritize arranging visits that offer job seekers an authentic look into day-to-day operations. These visits are designed to help participants understand the specific skills, behaviors, and expectations required in various job roles, which can lead to better-prepared candidates.
Facilitating Networking Opportunities: During workplace visits, organizations often arrange opportunities for job seekers to meet with employees and managers. These interactions enable job seekers to ask questions, learn about career paths, and make valuable connections within the industry, all of which can inspire and motivate them.
Aligning Training Programs with Industry Standards: By observing job roles and workflows firsthand, workforce organizations gather insights that help them continuously align their training programs with current industry standards and employer expectations. This alignment ensures that job seekers are trained in relevant skills, making them more competitive candidates.
Unique Approaches
National Able Network: National Able Network organizes structured workplace visits where job seekers tour different departments within a company, giving them a comprehensive view of various roles. These tours often include hands-on demonstrations, where job seekers observe specific skills in action, helping them identify areas where they may need additional training. This approach ensures that participants leave with a thorough understanding of the company’s needs. Read more here.
E&ES (Employment & Employer Services): E&ES focuses on tailoring workplace visits to match the interests and backgrounds of job seekers, arranging targeted visits to companies in relevant industries. For example, if job seekers are interested in healthcare, E&ES organizes visits to hospitals or clinics. This targeted approach allows job seekers to visualize their potential career path, making the experience more meaningful and motivating. Read more here.
ScaleLIT/Level Up Campaign: ScaleLIT’s Level Up Campaign integrates technology into their workplace visits. They use a mobile app to guide job seekers through the visit itinerary, including interactive quizzes and discussion prompts related to observed roles and skills. This tech-driven approach not only engages participants but also helps ScaleLIT gather feedback on which skills or positions attract the most interest, allowing them to refine their training programs. Read more here.
Chicago Department of Family & Support Services (DFSS): DFSS emphasizes showcasing community impact during workplace visits, particularly with companies invested in hiring locally. They coordinate visits that allow job seekers to see how their role can contribute to the community, highlighting companies that prioritize local workforce inclusion. This approach reinforces DFSS’s mission of community impact and encourages job seekers to envision themselves in meaningful roles. Read more here.
Cook County Bureau of Economic Development: The Cook County Bureau of Economic Development organizes collaborative workplace visits that include educational partners, such as local colleges or vocational schools, along with job seekers. These visits showcase roles and required skills while also highlighting available educational pathways to these careers. This integrated approach provides a complete view of how job seekers can achieve their career goals, underscoring the Bureau’s focus on long-term workforce development. Read more here.
