The Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership
The Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership is a nonprofit organization. Learn more at www.chicookworks.org.
Introductory Conversations and Assessment
How organizations conduct initial needs assessment with employers, introduce workforce development in general as well as their own organization’s programs, and gauge whether an employer could benefit from workforce development programs.
Learning About Employers' Needs
- Employers complete an intake form. This document collects important employer information, including the FEIN number, company location, contact person, employee needs, the top three positions to be filled, and benefits details.
- BRED Specialists utilize a general checklist to track employer information to determine eligibility and for compliance purposes.
This content is based on interviews and/or email correspondence with Claudia Cattouse and Tonya Cody-Robinson in 2024. This content has NOT yet been signed off by the organization.
Introducing Workforce Development Opportunities
- BRED Specialists provide employers with an End of Year Report as an initial introduction to workforce development opportunities. To ensure that employers are not overwhelmed with information, a Specialist will provide an overview of the various opportunities that are available and will continue to educate the employer about the ecosystem over time. Specialists work with employers to assess their needs and provide more targeted information about programs and other business services.
- The Partnership hosts various events where employers are present. Following these events, employers are sent a survey that includes questions that will allow them to request business services from The Partnership.
- Employers are encouraged to visit the TPM Academy website to access virtual and in-person training facilitated by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation on the Talent Pipeline Management (TPM) approach. The TPM approach teaches leaders to create career pathways for workers with talent pipelines that are aligned with dynamic business needs.
This content is based on interviews and/or email correspondence with Claudia Cattouse and Tonya Cody-Robinson in 2024. This content has NOT yet been signed off by the organization.
Introducing Your Organization
The Partnership provides employers with a brochure containing a brief overview of the services offered. Employers can also view a menu of services available on the Business Services section of The Chicago Cook Partnership website.
This content is based on interviews and/or email correspondence with Claudia Cattouse and Tonya Cody-Robinson in 2024. This content has NOT yet been signed off by the organization.
Evaluating Employer Suitability
- When employers initially contact The Partnership, a BRED Specialist who is focused on the employer’s industry is assigned to the inquiry. That Specialist handles large, complex requests that require coordination handled by that Specialist. Simpler, more straightforward requests are referred to delegate agencies.
- When working with employers, BRED Specialists typically begin by assessing the needs of the employer’s organization and gaining an understanding of what the employer is seeking to achieve within the workforce ecosystem. This can lead to collaboration with other workforce partners and increased cohesion within the ecosystem.
This content is based on interviews and/or email correspondence with Claudia Cattouse and Tonya Cody-Robinson in 2024. This content has NOT yet been signed off by the organization.
Establishing Employer Relationships
Ways that organizations follow up or otherwise build relationships with potential employer partners. How do organizations keep employers’ interest and stay top of mind, despite how busy they may be?
Following Up via Phone and/or Email
Follow-up with employers is primarily handled by email. Depending on the urgency of the request, an employer can initiate a relationship with The Partnership and begin the hiring process within 30 days.
This content is based on interviews and/or email correspondence with Claudia Cattouse and Tonya Cody-Robinson in 2024. This content has NOT yet been signed off by the organization.
Employer Visits to Service Provider Locations
- The Partnership arranges visits between job seekers (students) and employers. Below is a list of questions that are provided to help employers prepare for the visit.
Employer Prep Questions
In order for the student to understand your job and the workplace skills you use to perform your job, it is important that you think about your job and how a person can obtain this type of position. You will have to communicate many of these concepts to your student shadow.
Here are some questions to help you organize your thoughts:
- What is your job title?
- What are your responsibilities?
- What are the goals of your workplace, and how does your job help meet those goals?
- What is a typical day like for you?
- What do you like the most about your job? Why?
- What do you like the least about your job? Why?
- Why did you select this type of work?
- How much education do you need for this job?
- Did you need more job training after you completed your education?
- How do you use reading on the job?
- How do you use writing skills on the job?
- Is math important to your job?
- Why is it important to have good listening skills?
- When do you need to use good speaking skills?
- Do you work on a team on your job?
- What kind of problems do you solve on your job?
- What skills do you need to solve those problems?
- What did you learn in school that helps you most on the job?
- What do you wish you had studied more of when you were in school?
This content is based on interviews and/or email correspondence with Claudia Cattouse and Tonya Cody-Robinson in 2024. This content has NOT yet been signed off by the organization.
Job Fairs and Hiring Events
- The Partnership hosts hiring events with employers and other organizations within the workforce development ecosystem. These hiring events, unlike traditional job fairs, which tend to be very transactional, are intentional about providing interviews and placement opportunities as a standard practice.
- Business Services Representatives and BRED Specialists at The Partnership work with employers to host hiring events and job fairs. The Partnership collaborates with employers on selecting the event location, identifying job seekers, and ensuring alignment with the employer’s overall workforce development goals.
This content is based on interviews and/or email correspondence with Claudia Cattouse and Tonya Cody-Robinson in 2024. This content has NOT yet been signed off by the organization.
Metrics and Financial Factors
How organizations collect and share information about expected outcomes and potential financial rewards and incentives.
Gathering Data to Track Employer Metrics
- As referrals are made, BRED Specialists maintain a tracking spreadsheet that holds pertinent employer information, including the number of placements with employers, types of positions, if benefits were offered, and the starting wages for the position.
- Employer information is entered into Career Connect either by external organizations referring an employer to The Partnership or by BRED Specialists following an initial interaction with an employer.
- Specialists use Career Connect to view employer interactions with other organizations within the network to ensure alignment. If an organization has a prior relationship with an employer, The Partnership will connect with that organization to coordinate further activities with the employer. This practice encourages collaboration within the workforce ecosystem.
This content is based on interviews and/or email correspondence with Claudia Cattouse and Tonya Cody-Robinson in 2024. This content has NOT yet been signed off by the organization.
Organizational Level Considerations
How organizations are set up to build partnerships with employers, and how they leverage relationships with other organizations for better outcomes.
Organizational Structure, Resourcing, and Staffing
- The Business Relations and Economic Development (BRED) unit at The Partnership consists of 5 – 7 Specialists who each focus on a different sector. The sectors are Construction, Transportation, Distribution, Logistics, Finance, Retail, Healthcare, Hospitality, Tourism, Information Technology, and Manufacturing.
- BRED Specialists are responsible for maintaining relationships with delegate agencies, nonprofit partners, and employers. Because The Partnership is both a funder and a provider, BRED Specialists are uniquely positioned to connect employers with organizations that can meet their needs in a holistic fashion. The BRED team specializes in providing technical assistance to business services teams at delegate agencies and nonprofit partners.
This content is based on interviews and/or email correspondence with Claudia Cattouse and Tonya Cody-Robinson in 2024. This content has NOT yet been signed off by the organization.
Collaborating with Other Organizations
- The Partnership receives referrals from various sources, such as local Chambers of Commerce, the Illinois Department of Employment Securities, and other employers. By using Career Connect, The Partnership is able to provide real-time feedback to referring partners and any other organizations that are involved in the placement about the status of an opportunity. This keeps providers, employers, and job seekers informed about the placement.
- The Partnership takes advantage of and encourages shared placement opportunities. The procedure for adding this information to Career Connect is available here. For example, a BRED Specialist may ask providers to send a list of pre-screened talent for a specific open position. If the candidate is selected, both The Partnership and the referring organization will receive credit for the placement. This process reduces competition among the various provider organizations in the ecosystem.
This content is based on interviews and/or email correspondence with Claudia Cattouse and Tonya Cody-Robinson in 2024. This content has NOT yet been signed off by the organization.
Challenges
Common challenges and how organizations typically respond to them.
Handling Objections from Employers
- Employers have experienced difficulty managing and maintaining all of the information that is associated with each funding opportunity. To assist employers, The Partnership provides employers with easier, streamlined methods for submitting paperwork and managing the administrative aspect of the engagement.
This content is based on interviews and/or email correspondence with Claudia Cattouse and Tonya Cody-Robinson in 2024. This content has NOT yet been signed off by the organization.
Handling Challenges
- Sometimes employers connect with The Partnership for workforce opportunities and then become non-responsive once the process has begun. To combat this, Specialists set clear expectations during the initial meetings about what the process will entail and what the requirements for communication are. Additionally, employers complete a Release of Information which allows their information to be shared in Career Connect and allows the Specialist to continue the recruitment process even if the employer is not actively engaged.
- Sometimes employers create job descriptions that are not realistic or fitting for the applicant pool. When this occurs, BRED Specialists work with employers to align the job description with the position’s needs and language, which will likely attract qualified talent.
- Employers who are new to the workforce development ecosystem may require a deeper explanation of the recruitment process and what working within the ecosystem will entail. This includes explaining that job descriptions will be shared with job seekers and other organizations.
- While Career Connect is useful for identifying an employer’s previous interactions with an organization within the workforce ecosystem, some engagements occur outside of the system and can lead to duplication of effort or misaligned activities. To address this issue, BRED Specialists provide technical assistance to delegate agencies and nonprofit workforce organizations.
- The Partnership provides employers with a Work Plan that outlines the services provided, a timeline of activities, and expected results. This helps to set clear expectations for engagement and commitment.
This content is based on interviews and/or email correspondence with Claudia Cattouse and Tonya Cody-Robinson in 2024. This content has NOT yet been signed off by the organization.
