THE DECKER PARTNERSHIP
Documenting Job-Readiness

Based on their experience in the business world, instructors came to realize that potential employers needed some concrete documentation of the skills that clients gained during their time at Decker. To provide this, they have developed a portfolio that clients can take to job interviews, which includes the following:

• A certificate documenting the client's attendance (the Decker classes the client was registered for and percentage of days attended). One instructor reported that employers find this a useful barometer for employee absenteeism.
  
  
• A copy of the client's GED certificate.
  
  
• A certificate documenting the client's ability to type lists of numbers using the 10-key pad.
  
  
• A certificate stating the client's typing speed. The goal is a minimum of 35 words per minute, but clients are encouraged to reach 55 words per minute.
  
  
• Certificates documenting that the client has completed introductory, intermediate, or advanced training in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Access. Microsoft Publisher is also taught.
  
  
• A certificate indicating that the client has completed CPR training.
  
  
• A résumé.
  
  
• A list of people who can provide a reference and their contact information.
  
  
• A "30-second commercial," a few short paragraphs explaining the client's skills and traits that make him or her a desirable employee.
  
  
• A volunteer history (if applicable). Clients are encouraged to do some volunteering to show employers that they have real-world experience in the type of work they are seeking and that they are genuinely interested.
  
  
• Copies of standard identification forms such as a Social Security card or state I.D.
  
  

As they are working to develop these items, clients hone their interview skills by sharing the contents of their portfolio with others in the program. Employers have commented positively about the portfolios, and instructors have found them useful in classes. As one instructor said, "It's also a reminder to the clients of their own accomplishments." Both the Open Intake Process and the use of client portfolios reflect the Decker staff's shared commitment to helping families reach their goals, regardless of where staff are employed. "There is an unspoken and unwritten work ethic," says Judy Moffitt, the GED instructor. "And we all share that."