The job search is unfair.
And it doesn’t have to be.
Before coming to Skills a year ago, I spent a decade in other workforce organizations, helping homeless veterans, low-income seniors, single mothers, and career changers as they looked for work. I knew that the last, most challenging obstacle for many job seekers was a connection to employers. I came to Skills because I knew this organization had figured it out.
Our strong relationships with employers enable us to get a commitment to hire, a warm handoff, and detailed information about the hiring process. Our recruiters work with candidates to make sure they put their best foot forward. Skills acts as a professional network for job seekers who don’t have the privilege of having friends and family who can act as a connection. I knew relationships with employers would be the foundation on which we could build.
We’re using our connections with hiring partners to support our communities across the South and West Sides. We continue to deepen our roots and build trust in the communities we serve in the best possible way: by getting results.
At the beginning of this year, we launched a technology platform that will revolutionize how we work with job seekers, employers, and community partners. When our technology transition is complete, we will be able to qualify candidates for multiple jobs, unlike traditional applicant tracking systems that match (and disqualify) candidates job by job. We will also have powerful data to help employers break down barriers. To better serve our job seekers, working with our partner, Career Highways, we will provide tools that allow them to build a custom career path based on their goals and experience. Technology transitions are never easy, but it’s an important investment for the future.
Finally, we’re continuing to embed our model into new markets. Skills’ National Expansion initiative will kick off training for its first cohort of sites in August of this year. We’re excited to bring in a group of new partners in cities across the country to help level the playing field. This is not just a Chicago problem.
We’re grateful for the partners, employers, and donors who have come along with us on this journey.
Bridget Altenburg
Chief Executive Officer, Skills for Chicagoland’s Future
