Workforce Recruitment Program: Tapping the Talent of Students and Graduates with Disabilities

Workforce Recruitment Program: Tapping the Talent of Students and Graduates with Disabilities

Workforce Recruitment Program Established by Department of Defense (DoD) Managed jointly by DoD s Office of Diversity Management and Equal Opportunity (ODMEO) and the Department of Labor s Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) Free recruitment and referral program Connects federal and private sector employers with highly qualified college students and recent graduates with disabilities Over 6500 candidates have secured internships and permanent positions

How WRP Works College Disability Services Office/Career Center confirms and helps recruit and prepare candidates Students and recent graduates apply to WRP online Campus Coordinators register in the spring and college recruitment dates are assigned Recruiters register in the early summer and go through online training over the summer Trained recruiters visit campus and interview candidates in October and November Candidate information is entered into database Database is launched in December

WRP Process Students Apply Schools Recruit and Prepare Candidates Students Interviewed Employers Recruit Students for Summer, Temporary and Permanent Positions August September Oct ober November December January February March April May June July WRP Database Launched

Candidate Rating System Recruiters interview candidates and give them a score of 1-5 on: Qualifications (assessed through review of transcripts, resume, interview and discussion of experience) Maturity Communication (both written and oral) Direction Overall Rating (1-5) Candidate must score 3.0 or better on overall rating to be eligible Resume provided to private employers via online request through EARN

WRP database contains contact information, degree, major, GPA, location preference, interview notes, resume, transcripts, and potential accommodation needs Private employers complete online request form on EARN s website, www.askearn.org, to initiate the recruitment process Qualified candidates are contacted by EARN and referred to private employers For 2013 Database, over 100 federal recruiters are interviewing students on 300 college campuses with increased efforts to recruit more veterans

Benefits To Your Company Access to a pipeline of diverse new talent Opportunities for interns or new staff to take on special projects postponed for lack of time or resources Assistance to permanent staff with key projects in mission critical fields Sharing of specialized knowledge and innovative technical skills Assume responsibilities of staff on vacation or leave of absence Proof that qualified candidates with disabilities make excellent employees Investment in your company s future by developing future WRP hires

What Does WRP Offer Employers? Access to a database of professionally screened college students and recent graduates with disabilities Includes veterans with disabilities Pre-screened candidates by professional recruiters Nationwide program with representation in all 50 States 104 majors and career disciplines Year round database that is updated annually in December Reduction in recruitment costs for participating employers (EARN s recruitment assistance is free)

Strategies for Success Incorporate WRP hires into your company s overall recruitment strategy Enhance diversity and attract emerging talent Create a positive image and increase brand awareness of the organization in the community and on-campus Reinforce your organization s commitment to education and workforce development Ensure the position and workplace culture is the right fit for candidates through an internship experience Strong support from senior management and supervisors

Program Highlights for 2012 Recruited from 270 college campuses 2,700 candidates, including undergraduate, graduate, doctoral and law students 153 Veterans 199 Engineering candidates Over 450 Business candidates 130 Accounting candidates 74 Law students Over 250 Computer Science students 317 Graduate students 34 Doctoral students

Thank You For more information, visit www.askearn.org 1-855-275-3276 (ASK-EARN) Kathleen Lee, Kal238@Cornell.edu or 314-369-6292 Sara Mahoney, Mahoney.Sara@dol.gov