New York State Department of Labor
Profiles of Promising Practices
PRE-EMPLOYMENT PREPARATION (PEP) PROJECT
CNY Works, Inc.
1999 - Present

Purpose

• To prepare individuals with little or no work experience for the workplace by focusing on transferable job skills

How It Works

• Each participant undergoes an assessment and develops an Individual Service Strategy (ISS) with their assigned Career Advisor.
• Participation by University Hill (Syracuse University and its surrounding employers) is an integral part of the project. They notify pre-employment preparation (PEP) project participants of a wide range of jobs available in the area.
• Participants take a 30-hour (two-week) pre-employment course that covers:
  • Awareness of occupational areas.
  • Identifying personal strengths and skills and their relation to occupational interests.
  • Recognizing and solving barriers to employment.
  • Job search skills (including résumés and interviewing).
  • Job retention skills.
• Course graduates receive a certificate of competency, job placement, job retention assistance, and other services outlined in their ISS.
• The second phase of the project will use the Work Keys program to promote PEP graduates’ job advancement within participating employers.

Results

• Sixty-seven percent of participants gained and retained employment for at least six months.
• The initiative completed and enhanced local performance measures for CNY Works and for its partners.
• Individuals with little or no prior work experience are able to transfer existing skills and learn new ones in order to make themselves more employable.

How They Did It

• The need for the program was identified through strategic planning of the University Hill Corporation’s community outreach committee, which represents University Hill institutions and businesses, the Syracuse Housing Authority, and Housing Visions Unlimited.
• Human Resource directors in University Hill were polled to determine specific occupational needs.
• Employers defined the curriculum elements for the pre-employment course.
• Instructors are provided by Syracuse City School District.
• Two or more employers visit each class to tell PEP participants about available jobs and their requirements and help them apply for those jobs.
• CNY Works and the University Hill Corporation agreed upon project performance measures. For continuous improvement purposes, the project collects participant evaluation forms at the end of each class and periodic customer satisfaction forms from participating employers.

Operating Costs

• One instructor devoted two-thirds of his time to the project representing a total of $38, 525.
• Additional staff time required for the project is not available, but was said to be "minimal."
• Materials were developed by the instructor.
• "Choices" software generates reports on each individual’s transferable skills.

Funding

• Costs for the program are paid by the WIB though funds provided by WIA Title 1 and TANF.
• CNY Works is seeking additional grants to supplement funding.

Lessons Learned

• Access to convenient, safe, and affordable transportation was essential. Fortunately, the businesses in University Hill are on a public bus line, which solved transportation issues.