Performing and creative artists from all art forms develop particular skills and abilities that make them a valuable resource in the world of work. The art forms of dancing, singing, acting, drawing, sculpting, or writing impact and shape individuals with positive personal qualities, abilities, traits and skills that are marketable in other areas…

This chapter provides an overview of the role and responsibilities of a recruiter or headhunter, and specifically how those responsibilities differ from those of career counselors, coaches, resume writers, or unemployment office workers. The mentalities of both the recruiter and employee are also explored. The benefits of using a headhunter for…

Too often career counselors hear of, or work with, unemployed or underemployed foreign trained immigrant professionals. With the globalization of economy and shortages in skilled labor in Canada, the number of immigrant professionals is on the rise. It is becoming clear that services and programs are necessary to assist such individuals to ensure…

The goal of the WorkNet Model Career Development & Job Placement for people with barriers is to help even the most challenged job seekers begin and advance in careers they enjoy. This paper presents one key component of the WorkNet Model, a practical process for creatively overcoming any barrier a candidate faces. The chapter includes: the…

The Family Support Act (FSA) of 1988 provides opportunities for educators to form linkages with other agencies to strengthen families and help them move toward self-sufficiency. The FSA affords professionals chances to forge critical interagency connections and expand the range and capacity of programs for learners at risk. A strategy for forming…

This paper is intended to help those in a position to provide workers who are displaced by layoffs or plant shutdowns with assistance in adjusting to unemployment and finding new employment. The first section presents a summary of the transformation of the American labor market, showing the effects of economic and technological changes on the…

The Workforce Investment Act (WIA) of 1998 authorized a comprehensive workforce improvement program that will significantly impact rural areas. Local schools can help shape implementation of WIA because of its principles of local participation, increased skills for workers, and improved youth programs. This digest focuses on WIA's major elements,…

Collaboration has become a pervasive strategy for systemic change in human services, education, government, and community agencies. Collaborative partnerships require a change in thinking and in operating. Such changes can be intimidating or threatening. In addition, other barriers must be overcome to make partnerships work. Examples of successful…

Since the introduction of one-stop employment systems, many states have attempted to merge traditional employment and training services to provide consolidated programs and easier customer access to services. The Workforce Investment Act (WIA), passed in 1998, requires the formation of locally based one-stop service delivery systems to deliver…

The issue of underemployment (a condition characterized by inadequate hours, inadequate income, and/or inadequate use of skills) is explored in this monograph. The methodology and vocabulary of underemployment are first examined, including a definition synthesis of hours worked, skill utilization, and compensation. The second section provides…

The four chapters in this compilation highlight the issues and strategies used to prepare limited English proficient (LEP) adults for employment. In the first chapter, Joan Friedenberg discusses the development of English as a Second Language (ESL) teaching, including general ESL, English for special purposes, and prevocational and vocational ESL…

This information analysis concerns human resource development (HRD), defined as consisting of programs and activities that positively affect the development of the individual and the productivity and profit of the organization. Several key human resource development components are identified and discussed: (1) training and development; (2)…

Worker displacement is more closely related to structural features associated with firms than to the characteristics of the individuals who lost their jobs. Despite economic growth, large numbers of displaced workers continue to experience difficulty in making labor market adjustments. Programs to retrain and reemploy displaced workers exist at…