On Monday the Washington Post reported that the Mayor’s “One City One Hire” would take a more aggressive approach to matching 10,000 unemployed DC residents with jobs. The article was not specific with the type of jobs, employers or the demographic of job seekers.
I am currently looking for a job, and yes I am aware that by writing this post potential employers will read it. I am sure they will see one of my keen abilities which is to assess an organizations overall effectiveness, suggest improvement that are viable and understand how those changes will effect actual people’s lives.
I finished my Masters degree of Public Health from The George Washington University in January of 2010. While I am positive I will find a career in the nearer future, I thought it would be wise to utilize EVERY service that is available to me as a DC resident and as a job seeker. Since my loans are thick it seems like federal and local government will be my best choice for loan repayment. Anyone who has applied for government jobs you know the acid churning experience– pass the Tums! Here are the top 3 things I could use help with:
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“Who you know” (with hiring power) Everyone in DC knows that if you even want a chance in local or federal government in DC you have to know “someone (special).” I actually ask people everyday “How did you get in [your current government job]?” and most answers are “My cousin, uncle, sister, brother-in-law, frat brother hooked me up.” So, if I would like a job with DC Gov. don’t you think going to DOES would be a good place to start? I thought so…
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Ranking Factors/ KSA’s (kind of). DC Gov, why do you still have ranking factors? The Feds have basically rid themselves of the black hole of KSA’s (for all you non-government jargon people KSA= Knowledge, Skills and Abilities) This is one of the single greatest measures that President Obama has accomplished. So why does DC still have ranking factors? (stares at brick wall) Anyway, I need help understanding what the “right” answers for these questions are, and the most efficient way to answer them.
- Interviewing skills. I could benefit from one-on-one or organized group interviewing skills. Who couldn’t? One interview I had a while ago I almost asked for a Twix.
About a month and a half ago I decided I would check out the One-stop DOES center located at the Reeves Center on 14th & U Street, NW open daily from 8:30-4:00. Five o’clock would be better and at least one night that is open late for folks that are underemployed, there is nothing in the neighborhood that is a governmental office that is open past 5:00 where you can be quiet and get work done. Here is what I discovered when I checked out the One-stop:
- College degree? Masters degree? Don’t come here! If you have any kind of higher education (above a college degree) DOES staff does not have staff or programming to serve you. There is one workshop called “Cracking the Code: How to apply for Federal Jobs,” but honestly, there are many former OPM folk offering this workshop around the District, I have been to a few over the years. With a background in public health & safety my entire professional goal has simply been to serve the people. So I am supportive of programming for various need levels. Many of the job connections through DOES and programming are geared for job readiness, basic skills, vocational job searches, and entry level jobs. Everyone needs to start somewhere (again, I don’t have a job and do what it takes to pay the bills) but what is the message that DOES is sending? To me it is almost as if the attitude is let’s just pass folks through, get then something and keep it moving. Chronic unemployment is due to many factors one of which is lack of upward mobility. Is this DOES’s mission? I am not sure. I think it should be.
- You can only “register” for services if you attend an orientation. Before Dec. 1st, DOES orientation was only held 2 days a week, it is now 3 days a week. However, once the 25 or so capacity room is full you have to come back two days later and hope you get a spot. Orientation is typical it explains the services and programming offered: GED classes, basic computer classes, how to create a DC Networks account (in my opinion the most wonky awful system known to job searches), etc. I have asked many times if the orientation serves as a federal mandate where participants data is collected and that’s how DC gets money for the programming but no one will give me a straight answer. If not, it is not necessary for everyone to attend.
Professional Atmosphere– not up in here. You would hope that the large signage that states “CELL PHONES ARE PROHIBITED” and “NO EATING AND DRINKING,” are clear- but maybe not? Come to think of it, I don’t think they have it in Spanish. Anyway, I can’t imagine why the front desk staff doesn’t enforce these rules regularly. If it were my employment center everyone would have to dress professionally when they entered the door. For everyone saying “Not everyone can dress in business attire,” yes they can! There are programs to outfit folks who can’t afford business wear like Dress for Success. My basic thought is that if you don’t know how to act in a professional setting at the Department of Employment Services why would you know how to act on the job? Cussing, making racist comments, spinning Rick Ross, looking at inappropriate content online is not acceptable in the workplace and shouldn’t be at DOES.- Don’t plan on “Cracking the Code” at DOES. Can you imagine that the software for internet explorer is so out of date that you can’t use some search engines like USAjobs.gov! Why have the workshop? I have made several attempts to fix the issue first by telling someone at the One-stop; they told me it could not be fixed. I then called 311 and spoke with the Office of the Chief Technology Officer they told me I couldn’t make a request for a software upgrade as a citizen, and that only the agency can make the request. Hmm, ok. So then I moved up to the next level of management who told me that it might be fixed in the next 4-5 months. So, I guess we are stuck with an out-of-date browser and no code-cracking.
Screen Shot -USAjobs.gov on DOES IE- no blue search buttons
Screen shot- USAjobs.gov from updated computer- blue search buttons
- Social Media and jobs. No. They don’t do that here. But don’t worry every chance I get I discuss with the 70% or more of folks sitting around me that are surfing Facebook while job searching of the importance of online profile to employers. I ask them if they are aware of their privacy settings on their Facebook? Most folks have no idea. Why doesn’t DOES partner with the Department of Labor’s partnership with Facebook- “Social Jobs Partnership?”
- Positive, inspiring, job search motivator? check out Mr. Dwight Marable. He recently served as an employment specialist and now facilitates the workshops. I have heard some refer to him as “The Rev” so that might give you an idea of his personality. There have been a few employment specialists at DOES who have made themselves available to me and assisted me (their caseload are enormous, so I am not even mad at anyone), and the head of the One-stop continues to attempt to improve the sites but you can always tell who is really cares about your success and Mr. Marable does this with each person that walks through the door. The Rev continues to lift my spirits every day I make that one-stop.
Just to clarify I would never expect an employment center to give me a job offer, but I would hope that it would be positive, clean, and it would encourage a positive self-image, inspiration and a sense of hope. It only takes one job and sometimes one person, on one day to give you the strength to look at yourself in the mirror and tell yourself ”tomorrow will be the day.”
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(PS – Please forgive any misspelling and grammatical errors in advance. It’s hard to type on these little devices when you so so much to say about your blog). That being said:
Excellent post! I have had both a wonderful relationship and a horrible relationship with DoES. The reason is that you have (or had) some really wonderful people working at the agency, but most are scared to death. They see people being hired (who some don’t know what to do), while others, who really do the heavy lifting get the boot.
There are tons of jobs in DC! Your blog is right on the money. Employers with the jobs WILL NOT give them over to an agency like DoES when they doubt seriously the agency has the tools, resources, and the know-how to get them (employers0 the talent they need. They just don’t trust the Dept of Employment Services (in my opinion). But, if DC were to turn in another direction and start paying a bounty (cash reward) for every job created, then you would start to see aggressive job creation. They would also have to actually pay for the jobs and not force contractors to sue to collect payment as is the case now. A lot of jobs could be created. Job creation in DC is difficult because it is founded on relationships, which don’t come easy nor cheap and they’re very difficult to maintain. Some people just don’t care.
But for those who really care, the situation hurts. When you discover the problems, there as to be someone who is outspoken enough to tell the truth. How can we FIX THE PROBLEMS when no one is encouraged to bring the problems to the light of day!!? The best, and brightest teams of small but highly efficient people could be assembled, and then as problems arise, assign them to it!
I have worked with some very talented people at DoES, and I can tell you that over the years, I have seen there is ‘NO PROBLEM’ that could face this city (as far as employment related matters) that would be beyond the ability of these small group of ‘job commandos’ as I’ll call them.
There is a very short list of people, and organization who actually create jobs in DC, and it’s not hard to find out whose name should be on that list. My advice is to start building your own list of ‘Who’s Who In The DC Job Market’. Might even be a great story idea for your next blog post.
More Specifically, to your wonderful points:
1) Degrees, certifications: Yep! You’re right, DoES is NOT the place for those with advanced skill sets who are looking for a job. This has got to be the funniest oddity of all. Considering private employers actually PAY between 5% to 30% of the applicant’s first years salary as a ‘finders fee’ you’d think that the huge profit potential would be motivation enough to help DC’s future higher earners! Thank God they vote, and pay close attention to DC politics. That’s the ‘check yourself before you wreck yourself moment’ that I look forward to each election day.
2) They are trying to SHOW they are actually serving the public. The federal data sadly shows otherwise. Go to Dept of Labor website and search for the databases. You’ll be amazed!
3) Professional Atmosphere: I have personally visited every One Stop in DC. My opinion is that the whole system could be outsourced to a private (for profit) entity and DC would get much better results. Better yet, each center could be managed by different contractors which would force competition with the one with the best results of 24 months getting the whole city wide contract. There is NO competition so there is NO MOTIVATION to do better. That craps doesn’t cut it in the private sector. You learn to become efficient and profitable or YOU DIE! No jobs, no new pair of shows for the baby, nothing! That’s free enterprise for you! At least one of the One Stops needs to be setup or converted to an ‘Executive Career Center’. Those that already have skills (like executives, those with higher ed degrees, etc.) could adapt and get better. Those that need help entering the marketplace, could ‘skill up’ and gain entry to the jobs.
4) Outdated Software: This is TRUE! A few of the youth in the DC Summer Jobs program that we trained for IT careers now possess the skills to fix this problem. I could ask them to do a remote force update and fix the problem in about 2 hours (if you promise not to get mad at us and put our names on the front page of the Washington Post for doing what should have been done, that anybody with the IT skills could have done, but nobody did).
5) Social Media and Jobs: Great Point! We do social media! I can assure you that employers ARE using social media IN FULL FORCE! One employer (who shall remain anonymous) has asked us to data mine potential job candidates and do a SM Screen (Social Media Screen) for anything that could later be used to embarrass the employer should they hire the candidate. You’d be surprised how much information is being mined right now by employers and how many people are ‘blowing it’ without knowing it. Could I get you to call in to our next internet radio show and share your thoughts about this? You sound like you’ve got some great ideas that need to take flight.
6) Positive Motivating Job Search: To be fair, there are a lot of people in the DC jobs sector who are committed and they work very hard to help as many people as they can. Take for instance the non-profits. They do much of the work that employers and employment agencies can’t or won’t do. Regrettably, they too, are in danger of losing the funding they need to do their jobs. Let me give you a true example: There was a young lady in DC, we had recommended for a job opening that we were contracted to fill (with 10% commission). She was given the job, and then 2 weeks later, suddenly called in to the employer without warning and said she couldn’t come back due to personal matters.
Stunned that we had made the wrong hiring recommendation, I couldn’t let this go, and I dug, and dug until I found out what happened. I eventually found out that the young lady was too embarrassed to return to work (because she didn’t have any money) and it was that time of the month. Additionally, she felt embarrassed wearing the same clothes everyday to work. Her problem is a classic example of how the non-profit organizations, and other community based organizations at churches, support groups etc. could have saved this situation. Amazingly, her employer had reported that she had been one of the best ‘new hires’ they had seen in a long time and she had worked hard and really showed promise.
There are ‘GAPS’ in DC’s employment channels which must be filled for the benefit of all. But, it is totally foolish to ignore the potholes in the road, and worse, not tell others where these potholes are! The outcome of this down the road is not good.
We can fix the problems, but here has to be dialogue about the problems, and the best ideas must be given an encouraging environment to ‘take root’ and grow into the prosperity that the citizenry of the District of Columbia deserve. And, being the example that we all know DC has the capacity to be, the rest of the country can follow DC’s leadership and lead in solving these huge problems there all communities are being challenged with in this economy.
It is a time for us to to re-invent ourselves, from the ground-up, and not the top-down. It is how we react to the challenges that we now face, that will determine our future. I know that I always look forward to working with anyone who has the backbone, and conviction to do what is right for everybody, and help! Just help.
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Keep writing!
Mr. Hoffman…. Wow!! Thank you, thank you, thank you! I am on foot (as usual lol) but I can’t wait to reply to your thoughtful (to say the least) comment!
I have always said that one reason why I love DC so much is because it has made me stronger. You will in fact either live or die and it is really that simple.
You are right there are many people who really do care. I just met a guy who used to work for DC gov. He is genuine through and through.
Also in recent news since my blog post DOES has updated the software at the Reeves center. You can now at least apply for a federal job at the location.
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Thanks Jana for talking about The Social Jobs Partnership!
US DOL, thank you for the comment! We MUST use every tool available to market ourselves online and to find opportunities. Every day I attempt to utilize my blog, Facebook and Twitter account to connect individuals with resources, people, websites, and like the President mentioned last night streamline the job application process. Everyone who has been searching for jobs are the best people to ask to improve the process. I would ask the Dept. of Labor to do just that- ask the people. I will keep looking to DOL on USAjobs- I am positive I would be a great assest to assisting Americans finding employment that matches their skill set.