Employment specialists help clients find jobs, build meaningful future

When most people think about finding a job, they picture filling out applications, submitting resumes and preparing for interviews.

But for many individuals, getting a job is only one piece of a much larger puzzle.

Reliable transportation, mental health challenges, disabilities, criminal records, gaps in employment, childcare concerns and even a lack of confidence can all stand between a person and a successful career. For those facing such barriers, workforce development is about far more than simply finding employment.

At COMPASS Family and Community Services, workforce development is centered on helping people build the skills, confidence and support systems necessary to achieve long-term success.

"Workforce development is really about helping people become successful in the workforce," said Theresa Berkenyi, Workforce Development director at COMPASS. "Our goal is not just to help someone get a job, but to give them the skills, resources and support they need to be successful once they are working."

COMPASS, a Mahoning Valley nonprofit that has served the region for decades, provides a wide range of community services, including behavioral health, guardianship, housing assistance and workforce development programs. Its workforce development services focus on helping individuals identify career goals, develop employment skills, secure jobs and maintain employment over time.

The program serves a broad population, including individuals with mental health diagnoses, disabilities, youth and young adults, people involved in the justice system, and those who have struggled to enter or reenter the workforce after lengthy absences.

According to Berkenyi, workforce development has changed significantly over the years.

"There isn't one approach that works for everyone," she said. "We have to look beyond simply finding someone a job and consider what they need to maintain that job."

Technology has transformed the employment landscape, creating both opportunities and challenges. Applications, interviews and training increasingly occur online, requiring job seekers to navigate digital systems that can be intimidating for some individuals.

At the same time, employers across many industries are struggling to find and retain workers, creating opportunities for workforce agencies to connect businesses with candidates who might otherwise be overlooked.

LOOKING BEYOND THE RESUME

Employment specialists serve as the frontline professionals helping participants navigate the often-complex path to employment.

"Employment specialists do much more than help someone fill out applications," Berkenyi said. "They get to know the individual, their skills, interests, abilities and barriers, and then help connect them with employment that is a good fit."

Charlene Padilla, an employment specialist with COMPASS, spends much of her day working directly with participants to identify strengths, establish goals and create realistic plans for success.

Padilla assists participants with resumes, interview preparation, job searches and workplace skills. She also coordinates with employers, support teams and service providers while continuing to work with participants after they are hired.

Medicia White, another employment specialist at COMPASS, describes her role as helping community members improve their lives in practical ways.

Both specialists stress that one of the most important parts of their jobs is helping people recognize strengths they may no longer see in themselves.

"When I first meet a client, I'm looking to understand who they are, what their goals are, and what type of work interests them," Padilla said. "Most importantly, I want to build trust and make the client feel comfortable so we can work together."

Many participants arrive discouraged after years of setbacks, repeated job rejections or personal struggles.

"My goal is to help them recognize their own strengths and believe in themselves again," Padilla said.

BARRIERS THAT GO UNSEEN

One of the biggest misconceptions surrounding unemployment, according to Berkenyi, is the belief that people who are not working simply do not want to work.

"That is simply not always true," she said. "There can be many things happening behind the scenes that an employer or the general public doesn't see."

Transportation remains one of the most common obstacles.

"Someone can be completely capable and willing to work, but if they don't have reliable transportation, their employment options become very limited," Berkenyi said.

Other barriers include criminal histories, physical disabilities, mental health conditions, homelessness, limited education, childcare needs, gaps in employment, lack of work experience and difficulty navigating online hiring systems.

White frequently works with participants facing mental health symptoms, physical limitations and limited community resources.

Rather than focusing on barriers, employment specialists focus on solutions.

Sometimes that means arranging transportation resources. Other times it involves helping a participant obtain work clothing, understand workplace expectations, request accommodations or access training opportunities. COMPASS also provides benefits planning for individuals receiving Supplemental Security Income or Social Security Disability Insurance so they can understand how employment may affect their benefits.

For Padilla, helping clients understand their options regarding government benefits is particularly important.

"Some participants are interested in working but may be hesitant because they are afraid of losing their government benefits," she said. "We provide individualized benefits counseling so participants can make informed decisions about employment."

UNDERSTANDING BENEFITS AND WORK

One obstacle that is often invisible to employers and the public is the fear of losing government benefits.

For many individuals receiving SSI, SSDI, Medicaid or other forms of assistance, the decision to seek employment can be complicated. Some worry that accepting a job could immediately result in the loss of critical benefits they depend on for housing, healthcare or basic living expenses.

"Some participants want to work but are afraid that earning income will cause them to lose the benefits they depend on," Padilla said.

As a Certified Work Incentive Practitioner, Padilla helps participants understand how employment may affect their individual benefits. She provides personalized benefits counseling and prepares Benefits Summary Analyses that explain how wages could impact Social Security and other programs. She also works directly with the Social Security Administration when necessary to ensure participants receive accurate information.

Rather than relying on assumptions or rumors, participants receive information tailored to their specific circumstances, allowing them to make informed decisions about employment.

"This allows participants to make informed decisions about employment without feeling that they must choose between working and maintaining the supports they rely on," Padilla said.

White also identified misinformation about benefits as a factor that can make it difficult for some individuals to obtain and maintain employment. Part of the employment specialist's role is helping participants understand the resources available to them and connecting them with accurate information.

For many clients, understanding work incentives and benefit protections becomes the first step toward pursuing employment goals they may have considered out of reach.

MORE THAN GETTING HIRED

While helping someone secure employment is important, employment specialists say the real work often begins after a participant receives a job offer.

"Maintaining employment can sometimes be just as difficult as finding it," Berkenyi said.

After a participant is hired, specialists continue providing support through retention services and job coaching.

Job coaching may involve helping an employee learn job duties, understand workplace expectations, improve communication skills or navigate challenges with co-workers and supervisors. As individuals become more comfortable and independent, support gradually decreases.

"The goal is not to do the job for the client," Padilla explained. "The goal is to teach and support them until they feel confident doing it on their own."

Employment specialists also emphasize the importance of so-called "soft skills."

Employers consistently cite reliability, attendance, communication, teamwork and coachability among the qualities they value most. Technical skills can often be taught, but workplace habits frequently determine long-term success.

MEASURING SUCCESS

For the staff at COMPASS, success is not measured solely by job placements.

"Success can look different for each person," Berkenyi said. "We try to measure success based on the individual's goals and progress, not just a number."

Some participants may ultimately achieve full-time careers and complete financial independence. Others may celebrate maintaining a part-time position or reaching personal milestones that many people take for granted.

Berkenyi said some of the most meaningful moments occur when individuals purchase a vehicle, begin saving money, move into their own housing or gain enough financial stability to buy something they want instead of only what they need.

Padilla recalled working with a participant who initially lacked confidence in their ability to maintain employment. Through ongoing support, the individual gradually became successful at work and eventually obtained a driver's license, purchased a vehicle and secured independent housing.

White shared the story of a participant who had been unemployed for 11 years because of substance abuse issues and an extensive criminal history. After securing employment as a resident monitor, he eventually advanced into a supervisory position.

Stories like these reinforce a belief shared by all three professionals: employment changes lives.

"Employment affects so much more than income," Berkenyi said. "Having a job gives people a sense of purpose, structure and accomplishment."

CREATING SECOND CHANCES

The recent merger between COMPASS and Community Corrections Association has created new opportunities to support individuals involved with the criminal justice system. Both organizations were already serving populations with overlapping needs, and the merger allows workforce development and reentry services to work more closely together.

The partnership is particularly important because employment is often one of the most critical factors in successful reentry. Community leaders involved in the merger noted that workforce development and access to behavioral health services are among the key needs individuals face when returning to the community after incarceration.

Berkenyi believes employment provides the stability many individuals need as they rebuild their lives.

"When someone returns to the community, they need stability," she said. "They need income, housing, transportation and positive connections within the community, and employment can play a major role in all of those things."

Employment specialists frequently work with individuals whose criminal records create additional obstacles during the job search process. Some occupations have restrictions based on specific convictions, while employment gaps, transportation difficulties and limited work histories can further complicate the search.

"There is also the stigma associated with having a criminal record," Berkenyi said. "Someone may have completed their sentence and are trying to move forward, but their past can continue to affect their opportunities."

"I would ask them to look at the individual rather than the barrier," White said. "A person's past or a diagnosis doesn't tell you everything about what kind of employee they will be."