Employment Counselor

Job Description Working Title: Employment Counselor  Job Title: Workforce Services Specialist I The Agency The mission of Workforce Services is we strengthen Utah’s communities by connecting the workforce to new opportunities and providing services to individuals and families in need. Today, more than 2,200 Workforce Services employees assist individuals in preparing for and finding jobs, meeting workforce needs of Utah businesses, administering temporary assistance, and providing economic data and analysis. Through a collaborative approach, the department has served millions of Utahns and has become a leader on several statewide initiatives. These include intergenerational poverty, homelessness, affordable housing, supporting refugees, helping rural communities, serving veterans and individuals with disabilities, and getting Utahns trained and back to work. To learn more about Workforce Services, click here.  Why You Should Join Our Team Besides working for a fantastic agency that is dedicated to helping the citizens of Utah, you will receive great health and retirement benefits. Click here to view a summary of benefits we offer. We also provide generous paid time off, so you can spend more time with your family and have a positive work-life balance. Job Description If you are interested in working with diverse populations, and have a desire to help individuals discover their potential and abilities, while advocating for their self-sufficiency, this is the job for you. The Workforce Development Division (WDD) at the Department of Workforce Services (DWS) is looking for skilled and motivated individuals to fill an Employment Counselor Iposition. Employment Counselors will utilize a wide variety of programs and services to assist individuals, families and youth. We work with people one on one or in groups to set career and educational goals and identify and resolve barriers that stand in the way of meeting those goals. Formal training will be provided to assist you in conducting formal assessments and work-ready evaluations according to department standards, and to provide support services and resources from the Department. Additional instruction will be provided in learning of community partner resources and referrals to those resources, in order to help people address barriers that prevent them from succeeding. Training will include how to access and interpret labor market information and employer needs. Monitoring of customer progress and documentation will be done in the Department online case management software program. This position will work from the DWS Employment Center in Salt Lake or Taylorsville.*This position may be filled as an Employment Counselor II for an internal applicant, depending on qualifications.* Principal Duties This position delivers a broad range of services to assist case managed customers, unemployed and underemployed job seekers, the general public and their families. In meeting with customers, you would help to resolve barriers and increase customers skills, in order for them to obtain and maintain employment and education that leads to self-sufficiency. Barriers may include such things as; homelessness, mental and physical disabilities, domestic violence and substance abuse. Services are focused on individual and family needs and may be provided one-on-one or in group settings. Some positions involve outreach to community partners and/or customer home visits. Employment Counselors will be trained to: Provide career, occupational and educational counseling to empower customers to increase their income and break the cycle of poverty. Assess customers and their families to identify barriers to self-sufficiency, employment, training and income goals; and to provide the necessary resources and support to resolve the barriers. Utilize motivational interviewing techniques to complete assessments and evaluations to gain pertinent information related to goal planning and barrier resolution and to create a supportive environment. Develop employment plans and goals with activities leading to achieving goals and/or work readiness, as well as monitoring and evaluating employment plan activities and progress. Utilize labor market information, local resources, referral to community partners and employers to assist customers in meeting their goals. Assess needs and educate customers about DWS programs, policies, and services and help them access temporary assistance programs (Food Stamps, Financial, Medicaid, Child Care and Unemployment Insurance). Conduct home visits when needed to establish relationships, increase rapport, problem solve, engage or re-engage the customer. Assist customers with the ultimate goal of employment by assisting with resume creation, networking, mock interviewing and job searching with technology. Ensure program compliance and appropriate use of public resources. Understand and implement program specific policies, procedures, case management techniques, career counseling, available Division resources, as well as community partner resources. Provide employment retention support and resources. Minimum Qualifications The model candidate for this position is someone who has: Transferable Soft Skills: Empathy and compassion for others, and possesses a desire to assist customers who are in difficult situations. The ability to present information clearly and effectively, both verbally and in writing. Exceptional customer service skills and ability to assist people in a manner which shows sensitivity, tact and professionalism, without prejudice or bias. Possesses interpersonal skills including active listening, ability to build trusting relationships, show mutual respect and mindfulness of others Capable of working in an environment between balancing program policies and compassion Hard Skills (after receiving formal training): Provide family focused career counseling and proactively engage and motivate customers. Conduct interviews and assessments utilizing motivational interviewing techniques, in order to collect information and establish a supportive relationship. Possess skills needed in order to problem solve and identify creative solutions that lead to successful outcomes. Implement best practices for mentoring and coaching customers. Understanding in how to interpret and apply programmatic policy and procedures appropriately Maintain and manage sensitive and confidential information in a professional and discrete manner. Defuse and resolve complaints/conflicts with angry customers in crisis Preferences Preference may be given to those fluent in languages other than English.