Job Readiness Job Search Services

Job search services are available to all CalWORKs clients who either are mandated to participate or volunteer. The goal and purpose of job search services is to teach the client lifelong skills to prepare and seek employment. CalWORKs Employment Services (CWES) staff is responsible to ensure, upon exit and completion of these services, that the client is competent in seeking employment and/or has secured employment.

A client is assigned to job search services (Supervised Job Search or Part-time Job Search) when it is determined:

• As a result of an Appraisal, the client meets the Supervised Job Search referral criteria, or
• Needs Part-Time Job Search to find employment while concurrently enrolled in another Welfare-to-Work (WTW) activity, or
• Has completed an assigned WTW activity and it has been determined that the next activity will be a form of job search services.

Locations of Job Search Services - Employment Connection Centers (ECCs)

Job search services are provided at facilities referred to as Employment Connection Centers. The centers are located in Central San Jose, Mountain View (North County), and Gilroy (South County).

These facilities are fully staffed and equipped with the tools and technology necessary to assist clients with preparing and seeking employment. ECC staff serve the role of on-site trainers and coaches for clients who are considered to be job ready.

Specialized sessions in CalSAWS for Supervised Job Search (SJS), and Part-Time Job Search (PTJS) have been created utilizing the location for clients participating in specialized sessions. These sessions have the ECC address location listed under the Address field.

Family Services

Clients referred by the Family Services (FS) AEC/EC Specialist to SJS or PTJS have specialized activity sessions in CalSAWS. These sessions have “CHSP” included in their name under the activity Number field.  Examples of these sessions include, but are not limited to, “43 SJS-CHSP 8 WEEKS” or “43 SJS-CHSP 4 WEEK EXTENSION”. This is one of several specialized sessions available under the activity Number field.

CalWORKs 2.0

At the point of contact at the ECC, the My Road Map, Potholes & Detours tool (SCD 2503) is to be reviewed.

Refer to Orientation and Appraisal - CalWORKs 2.0 for additional information.

Bilingual Job Search Services

Although the local labor market requires that job seekers be able to read, write, and communicate in English, some labor markets hire limited English-speaking clients. To assist limited English-speaking clients in their job search efforts, limited bilingual services are available at the ECC in Vietnamese and in Spanish.

All other clients who speak a language other than English or are limited English speaking and whose primary language is other than Vietnamese or Spanish will be referred to the appropriate Vocational English as a Second Language (VESL) or English as a Second Language (ESL) service provider, concurrent with another WTW activity.

Employer Linkages

The ECC staff establishes job leads for clients who are seeking employment. Job leads are often made by contacting local industries and employers who are recruiting in areas that match the skills and interests of the clients. Job fairs and on-site recruitment efforts or presentations are held at the centers along with subject matter experts from various industries, both public and private.

Scheduled Hours of Participation

A client is scheduled to attend Supervised Job Search or Part-Time Supervised Job Search 20, 30 or 35 hours per week, depending on their required number of weekly hours. The initial Job Search activities are scheduled for (8) consecutive weeks with (4) week incremental extenders if needed.

All clients attend an orientation that provides basic information on job search requirements.

Supervised Job Search clients must attend an orientation on Monday. Part-Time Job Search Orientation is by arrangement. If the client misses or does not show for job search orientation, the client will be referred to their assigned AEC/EC for a new referral to SJS or PTJS, or the next activity.

As needed, a client may attend specialized workshops that focus on job readiness components. The workshops are embedded within the job search service.

Employment Connection Application (ECA)

Job Readiness and Placement (JRP) AEC/EC updates activity “hours of participation” by close of business each Friday in CalSAWS.

Job Search Client Flow

Refer to the steps below for the job search client flow.

A. The Orientation Job Readiness and Placement (JRP) AEC/EC:

• Provides orientation for new and returning clients as follows:
  • Weekly sessions are available on Monday for Supervised Job Search; or Monday through Friday by arrangement for Part-time Job Search.
  • The most recent workshop schedule will be available on the Employment Services shared drive.
• Reviews:
  • Client rights and responsibilities
  • Expectations
  • Job Search packet, including Client Emergency Information (SCD 2529), Participant Guidelines Agreement (SCD 2533) and Client Computer and Internet Usage Agreement (SCD 2532)
  • Pre-Job Search Survey
  • Subsidized and unsubsidized job placement opportunities, and
  • https://ecstaffing.santaclaracounty.gov/home website.
• Gives the client a tour of the Employment Connection Center.
• Facilitates workshops and provides job search assistance.

B. The assigned Job Readiness and Placement (JRP) AEC/EC (first day):

• Reviews the following documentation in Imaging prior to meeting with the client.
  • CalWORKs Online Appraisal Tool (OCAT) appraisal (Questionnaire and Appraisal Summary and Recommendations (ASR).
  • Getting to Know You (SCD 1772).
  • Welfare-to-Work Plan Activity Assignment (WTW 2).
  • CalSAWS Journal Entries.
• Meets with client following orientation to review OCAT summary.
• Develops an individualized My Action Plan (SCD 2508) with the client.
  • Evaluates and assesses subsidized employment opportunities.
  • Reviews labor market trends for desired jobs.
  • Reviews work history, education and skills.
  • Designs a job search plan according to the client's skill level.
  • Assists with providing job leads.
  • Coaches soft skills.
  • Coaches and assists with online job search techniques.
  • Updates activity “hours of participation” by close of business each Friday in CalSAWS.
  • Navigates to the Customer Activity Status Detail page in CalSAWS and adds “Active” in the Status field and “Attending” in the Status Reason field when the client shows on the first day.
  • Enters a Journal Entry CalSAWS with "ECC" in the Short Description field.

C. The Job Readiness and Placement (JRP) AEC/EC (ongoing):

• Meets with the client weekly to review previous weeks’ My Action Plan (MAP) and develops the current week’s plan.
  • Uploads updated MAP to ECA weekly.
• Reviews workshops with the client to determine interest in other topics and registers client for applicable workshops in ECA.
• Matches the client to job postings in ECA and/or other current openings.
• Contacts employers and sets up interviews.
• Follows up with the client after unsubsidized employment interviews, and with the client and employer after subsidized employment interviews.

Refer to Employment Connection Tier I - Subsidized Employment Overview and Employment Connection Tier II - Paid Work Experience (PWEX) for Tier I and Tier II placements.

• Client hired in unsubsidized employment:
  • Obtains the Request for Employment Information (SCD 549A) from the employer.
  • Completes the WTW 2 signed by the client and CalSAWS and ECA entries.
  • All dates MUST match the SCD 549A start date.
  • Pays ancillary, if needed.
  • Enters “Active" and "Attending” in CalSAWS when the client shows on the first day.
  • Sends a copy of WTW 2 and SCD 549A to the Case Management (CM) AEC/EC, processes Task and places Task# on top of the page.
  • Notifies the assigned CM EC to set up support services, if needed.
  • Sends a Task to the Eligibility Worker (EW) and SCD 549A with WTW 2 to Imaging.
• When a participant needs additional time beyond the 8th week of job search, the Employment Connection Center (ECC) AEC/EC meets with the client as follows:
  • Tuesday of week 8 develops new WTW 2 for (4) four additional weeks of job search,
  • Emails case manager EC to review/extend supportive services,
  • Ends the appropriate job search activity in CalSAWS with “Completed,”
  • In CalSAWS, adds a new WTW Plan by referring and scheduling new activity for four (4) additional weeks.
  • If the participant is not making progress and feels that pursuing education or vocational training will be most beneficial, discuss High Paying In-Demand Careers (SCD 2621) with the client and develop a new WTW 2 for In-house Assessment and a concurrent activity such as LinkedIn Learning, community service, etc. 
  • Case conferencing with CM and/or Employer Relations Specialist (ERS) AEC/EC at the midpoint of the client activity is recommended to evaluate progress and course of action.
• All client deactivations MUST be discussed with and approved by a supervisor.

Reminder: Updates activity “hours of participation” by close of business each Friday in CalSAWS.

Job Search Services 

Job Readiness essentials workshops are embedded within job search services and may include interviewing skills development, mock interviews and conducting a job search in a wide range of occupations in the local labor market. Other workshops may include, but are not limited to:

• self-esteem,
• work ethics,
• skills assessment,
• resume writing, and
• completing a master job application.

The workshops include setting up an email account and conducting group exercises. In addition to completing the workshops, the client continues to report to the center on a daily basis and begins to work individually with a counselor who assists the client in developing an individualized Job Search Plan. The individualized Job Search Plan consists of tailoring resumes and cover letters for a specific job, providing job leads, helping with interviewing techniques, assisting with online applications and assisting with other tools.

My Action Plan

The My Action Plan (SCD 2508) is completed during job search to assist with employment preparation.

Job Search Referral Criteria

The following serves as a guide when a client has completed an Orientation and Appraisal to determine if the first activity may result in a referral to Supervised Job Search.

The above criteria apply to a client who is in her 1st trimester of pregnancy.

• If the client is in her 2nd trimester of pregnancy, she is given the option to participate in Supervised Job Search or referred to another activity.
• Unless the client is exempt, if the client is in her 3rd trimester of pregnancy, do not refer to Supervised Job Search.
• CWES staff need to ensure the client participates in an appropriate activity in order to meet required hours of participation.
• If an appropriate activity is not available, good cause may be granted on a case-by-case basis after case conference with the unit supervisor.

Note: An example of an appropriate activity includes WEX. Granting good cause is the last option if there are 30 days or less prior to due date, there is no medical exemption and the client cannot be placed into an appropriate activity. The worker must document in case comments the reason for granting good cause. And if good cause was granted, refer the case to the Unit Supervisor for [Registration] tab update in CalWIN.

Scheduling Job Search Activity

Once an overview is completed of the activity and it has been determined that the client’s next activity will be Supervised Job Search or Part-Time Job Search, the EC arranges entry into the activity.

Arranging entry into the activity includes, but is not limited to:

• Selecting and assigning the appropriate session on the CalWIN system
• Arranging and authorizing support services needed
• Reviewing and signing of the WTW Plan (WTW 2)
• Updating the CalSAWS system and documenting in the Maintain Case Comments window in CalSAWS actions taken and forwarding any required documents to IDM for scanning

Note: Referrals to job search must be entered in CalSAWS by 4:00 pm Friday.

Job Services Flyer

The “Job Services Flyer” (SCD 2342) is issued to clients at the point of referral to job search. The flyer provides information regarding the job search services.

Monitoring Progress and Attendance

The ECC staff supervises and monitors the daily progress and attendance of the client via “Job Search Activity Log” (SCD 2534). A daily and weekly job search log is maintained per client.

The client is required to submit the “Attendance Verification” (SCD 1755A) with an ECC staff signature (as service provider) and "Child Care Billing” (SCD 1755B) directly to the assigned EC. The EC will process and authorize payments of supportive services to allow the client to continue in the assigned activity.

Participation Problems/Case Conference

When the client fails to cooperate with the terms and conditions of any of the job search services, the ECC AEC/EC is to attempt to re-engage the client. If after 5 days, the client does not cooperate, the ECC EC is to notify the assigned EC. The assigned EC will proceed with initiating the noncompliance process.

Support Services

A client is eligible for any necessary supportive services including, but not limited to:

• Child Care, refer to Child Care Services Overview.
• Transportation, refer to Transportation-Related Expenses.
• Ancillary Services, refer to Ancillary Expenses.

Completion/Termination

A completion is defined when the client either completes the length of the assigned activity and does not find employment and will be referred to the next WTW activity, or obtains full-time or part-time employment, whichever comes first. If the client obtains part-time employment, he/she must be informed by the Employment Connection counselor of the need to continue participating in a concurrent activity in order to meet the 20, 30 or 35 weekly average participation requirements.

A termination is defined as a client not completing the length of the activity and is terminated for any other reason other than finding employment.