Job Placement Agencies

Parent Q&A

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  • A dear family friend is a neurodivergent 33-year-old man who is struggling to find a job.

    He is pleasant, kind, likes to talk to people, has good personal hygiene, and has an excellent natural aptitude for math.

    Apparently when he gets into job interview situations he freezes up and does not make a good impression.

    He also hasn't been able to get his driver's license, due to anxiety. This limits his job options.

    He is too high-functioning to have qualified for Regional Center services, so he is not eligible for some of their fine job placement agencies.

    I advised him to return to tutoingr math for the time being, and to consider getting a teaching credential.  He says he wants to have a job now and is not ready to go back to school.

    He did well in undergrad physics at a Northern California private college.  But it is difficult for someone with a BS in physics to compete with so many talented people who have a MS and above.

    Any suggestions would be appreciated.

    Has he registered with the Department of Rehabilitation (DOR)? they offer educational and vocational support. They actually take on a wide range of clients than many people think. Another good resource could be Evolibri in Santa Clara - they offer job and career coaching for neurodivergent individuals. If he's interested in tutoring, try reaching out to TutorCorps, (a large local tutoring company) as they work with many students with learning differences, attention problems and other neurodiversities, so I'd imagine they might be more aware/sensitive to the need to accommodate people through the interview process. 

    Substitute teachers are always highly needed, especially if they can sub for math and actually teach/help the students with their work! It's a great way to see if he even likes teaching/being around kids and what ages he might prefer to work with.

    Three thoughts. 1) Taaching math is as much about fostering relationships between the students and with the students as it is about the math -- you have to know the math, but the place I've seen new teachers struggle is the social relationships, and organization. Unless he's interested in that, probably teaching would not be a good fit. 2) He /you/ his parents might talk further with the regional center. A college grad in my family who had a LD would have been able to get services from them. If he had an IEP or a 504 in K-12, he is probably eligible. (The family member went on another path, back to grad school.) 3) A graduate degree is probably a good idea because you can enter the job market at a different place.

    Look for companies that have a neurodivergent employee resource group. It's a promising sign that a company is at least not hostile and possibly welcoming/accommodating of neurodivergent applicants.

    Specifically, he could look at DNV (https://jobs.dnv.com/) for analyst openings. I didn't see anything I though was appropriate when I looked just now (lots of senior or engineering postings), but junior analyst positions often come up that I think your friend would be a good fit for.

    Maybe look into tthe California department of rehab? They help people with disabilities get into the workforce. I’m not sure exactly what they offer but it’s definitely worth checking into. Offices are local so he would call the office in the town where he lives. It’s great that you are helping him! It sounds like he could be successful in the right situation. 

    Have you tried Jewish Vocational Services (JVS)?

  • Hello! Trying to help a friend here who has a US working visa but otherwise, does not have much other resources. They do not use a computer (don't even think they own one), but I would like to see help do a search for them for job seeking fairs/services that they can attend or sign up for, along the lines of food service, child care, cleaning, etc. I tried to navigate the Contra Costa Employment & Human Services website, but this appeared to be for getting assistance FOR childcare, food, etc., which is not what I'm looking for at the moment. I don't have much experience in this, so would appreciate any resources. Thanks!

    Probably your best first stop is the computer lab at your friends local library. This is exactly the sort of question that the librarians there help people with on a regular basis and they probably already know several appropriate resources. You might call ahead to see when the best time to come in is. 
    I’ll add that I helped a neighbor with a similar issue a few years ago and quickly discovered that MOST employers require you to apply online (on a computer, not a phone) now. I helped my neighbor apply for a cashier job at Home Depot and it included a mandatory and very confusing (for both of us) 80-question “morality questionnaire” administered by a third party. Hardly any chain stores accept paper applications now! Just something to keep in mind as you help on the search. Best of luck! 

    If interested in retail, Target is hiring and they pay $18.50 an hour. There are jobs that do niot require computer literacy. I do recommend Adult Ed classes to develop computer literacy, though. It is the world we live in right now.

    Try the OneStop Career Center. There are several locations in Contra Costa Co. They help people with resumes, job searches, computer access, etc. Your local library can most likely also point you to other resources depending on what specifically the person needs help with.

    Hi:
    I would recommend you and your friend avail yourselves of the many resources at the library.  The Contra Costa library systems offers many free services that might be of help and of course, free use of library computers.

    https://ccclib.org/job-resources/

    A colleague and friend volunteers at Upwardly Global by doing mock interviews, I believe.  Here's as link to their site:

    https://www.upwardlyglobal.org/

    Best of luck!

  • When I was in college, during breaks I used to sign up with TEMP EMPLOYMENT AGENCIES that would vet my skills and then farm me out to different companies who needed short-term workers.  It was a fun and easy way to try out different jobs, the temp agency was technically my "employer," and with the temp agency as the middleman, it meant no "interviewing for jobs."  I also got my first REAL job after college through an employment agency -- I did have to interview, but the agency helped to match me with the right job.

    Is there anything like that for today's college students (or grownups, for that matter)?  I am the parent of an intelligent, responsible college student who would LIKE to work, but has no work history to put on a resume, and this seems like it could be a good workaround for that.  But these days is it all just find-your-own-job-on-a-jobs-board?  If anyone has pointers for how kids who don't have a college degree or much of a resume find employment these days, I'd be grateful!  My kid is considering taking a leave of absence this coming year, but only if it is somehow possible to find a job.

    Does your student's college use Handshake? It's like LinkedIn or Indeed but specifically for college student employment. My college student found a summer job, an internship, and a permanent job after graduation on Handshake. If not Handshake, maybe a different service through career services?

    Hello,

    Nelson Connect is a temp agency that serves most of the bay area from my understanding. They also work with a lot of government agencies which can be a very good way to get into public service if that's something you're kid is interested in. 

    Good luck! 

    hi,

    my small food business, cult crackers, is hiring an account manager. we're in west berkeley at the berkeley kitchens. (you can see the job post on craigslist under account manager.) we will train. 

    dianna @ cult crackers

  • Hello BPN,

    Our daughter is a recent college graduate, and would like to find a Recruiter who can help her land a job.  Neither of us has experience in doing this, and we are seeking advice from parents who may have ideas and suggestions for where to find and hire such a person.  Have you worked with someone good, that you can recommend?  Recommendations, ideas, and suggestions welcome!  Thanks. 

    This is not a thing. She should (re)connect with her college's career center for advice and support. I also recommend the website askamanager.com.

    She should have a Linkedin profile, and look for interested companies there. Job postings are also plenty on Linkedin. For the most part, recruiters are hired by the company's HR and they usually poach experienced (mid-high level, seasoned) professionals. Recruiter fees are usually quite high, so entry level positions don't make financial sense for everyone. 

    For college graduates, her school's career center would be the best starting point, since she probably doesn't have a lot to write on her resume yet. They can coach her to provide relevant skillset/traits that companies would be interested in. Most big companies have relationship with colleges' career center and entry level jobs (that are actually attractive) are usually posted there. For example, many companies have rotation programs for high achieving graduates, these are mostly posted on career center job boards and company's website. Although, hiring season for that is usually Spring semester, for candidates to start right after graduation. It might be something to consider in the future.  

    Another suggestion: given the question asked, I suspect she doesn't have much internship experience. She should also put some focus on looking for those types of positions. Companies design internships specifically to attract and try out talents, the departments who hire internships usually put together meaningful projects that'll make interns' resume look quite nice. If interns perform well, they usually will get an offer (or at least will be kept in contact) at the end of the program. 

    Hi,
    I'm not sure whether that's a thing. What I'd recommend is for her to set up an account on LinkedIn, if she hasn't already. There's a setting she can switch on that lets recruiters know that she's looking for a job. That way, recruiters with job openings may reach out to her, and once she's in contact with them, they might be able to give her advice or connect her with other job opportunities in their portfolio. She can also directly apply to jobs through LinkedIn, and build a professional network that can be helpful when applying. College networking and recruiting events (should those still be a thing given the pandemic) are also a good way of getting your foot in the door. Good luck!

    Which field is your daughter in? Most fields usually have associations that she can join and they usually have a number of career-related resources and a job board/site. Assuming she already has a resume? If so, she should make sure her resume is posted and visible on employment sites like Indeed, LinkedIn, etc., so that she can apply to roles that fit what she's looking for but also allow recruiters to contact her directly if they think she might be a good fit. 

    LinkedIn is also a great place to reach out to people in the industry to seek advice and network. 

    As someone who worked for one of the world's largest employment agencies, I am here to tell you that recruiters actually are a thing. You don't mention what kind of work she is interested in doing, but she could try a local staffing agency in the city she is interested in working it. Many agencies do not just do 'temp' work, but have recruiters on-staff who will place people in real, permanent jobs. You don't need to pay them anything, they will charge the client their fee when the placement is made. Good luck to her!

    Recruiters work with you to find you a job, and get a cut/commission from the employer. But to be blunt, if your daughter doesn't have a highly sought after skill/background, no recruiter will want to work with her.

    A better bet at her stage is to use a temp agency. I did this 8 years ago. I had a masters but quit my toxic $80k+/yr job, and nobody would hire me even after 5 months. I was so discouraged. My husband suggested that I sign up with a couple of temp agencies, and then see what happens. He had used a technical temp agency when he finished his BS in computer science about 5 years before that, and it worked out for him, so I figured why not. 

    I signed up with Apple 1 in Pleasanton and Robert Half in Oakland.

    Apple 1 was useless - after putting me through tests to see my skill level, they never called me for any jobs.

    Robert Half also put me through tests, and then they were able to place me fairly quickly. My first temp job was with a company that hired a temp once a year to deal with their peak, and that job was MISERABLE. It was not related to my background at all, in trailer, airhorns blew when it was time for the 10 minute morning break (and then there's a line for the bathroom) and then another horn for the 30-minute lunch break (and now there's a line for the microwave). But I showed up everyday with a smile on my face, did my work, never goofed, didn't look at my phone at all, was professional, and left a great impression when my 3-months was up. Soon after I got a 2-week job at a library, and then a 1-day job at a non-profit. After that, I went for two interviews at two office jobs that were full-time temp-to-hire, and didn't get either. But I did on my 3rd try. It was a 40hr/week job related to my first degree but they said that they wouldn't have hired me had I not worked that miserable trailer job!!!  They converted me to permanent employee around the 6th month mark. I wouldn't have gotten that job if not for the temp agency, because the company is/was cheap and risk averse, they preferred to hire temps to try them out. From first temp job to perm position, it took me about a year. 

    Temp agencies pay you X and charge the employers approximately 2X. I was getting paid about $17/hr, but because I was helping with accounting at the temp-to-hire job, I could see that they were paying the agency about $35/hr for me. 

    If your daughter goes the temp route, tell her to not turn down a job even if it sounds like it sucks. You never know who you will meet, and how the job can be a stepping stone to the next and better job.  

    Hi! Not sure where your daughter’s interests lie, but there are tons of options for recent grads. The Peace Corp, Teach for America, and FEMA all have opportunities. The tech industry is also booming; I would suggest looking into either a sales or a coding boot camp (due your due diligence by reading reviews!). They are an intensive program where you gain skills, build a portfolio by working on projects, and participate in an internship. The most reputable boot camps also help with practice interviews and job placement. Best of luck!

    Agree with other commenter - recruiters for undergrads without experience isn’t how this works.  Their school would be the best place to find resources - or even a local library.  Navigating a first job is tricky - but also part of becoming an adult.  I’d urge you to let your kid work on it on their own as it’s really their responsibility.  Tons of people are hiring.  

    I would have her create a very professional LinkedIn account. When I was job hunting I found their paid premium service to be helpful, they give you a 30 day free trial to see what its all about. With the paid version it can analyze your resume against active job postings and there are mentors on there that can help guide you in a career direction. There are tons of recruiters on LinkedIn. The paid version also lets you see salary information before applying to jobs. I ultimately only needed it for a month before I got a new job and cancelled before my trial was up. She should also clean up any personal social media accounts she has and make them as private as possible because employers these days to comb through the internet looking for things before hiring. Good luck!

    Recruiters usually specialize in certain industries or job categories. She should google as if she were the hiring manager to see the types of firms that service that industry or job type. Then reach out to them. Recruiters absolutely will add someone to their portfolio but keep in mind - they work for the hiring company.

Archived Q&A and Reviews


April 2000

My husband is interested in changing careers from sales (retail) to marketing, which has been his major in college. So far he has tried posting his resume on line, and has been searching the paper for listings, but it doesn't seem to be a very fruitful way to find a job. Does anyone have any recommendations for a placement agency that specializes in this area of business? Or any other ideas for breaking into this field? Thanks.


Try dice.com, click on Advanced search, choose Full-time, State, area code(s)- 415, 510 or 925 and fill Keyword = marketing. You'll see tons of job listings (you might want to refine your search key). This is, I think, one of the better job search sites available. Most are recruiters. If you find one you're interested in, send a note to the email address given and attach your resume/cover letter. Very easy and fast.
Gerrit