HPOG Promising Practice: Zepf Center - Education, Training, & Support Services | Employment Strategies

Publication Date: March 5, 2021
Current as of:

Toledo, OH

Helping participants bring their “A” game.

The Northwest Ohio Pathway to Healthcare Careers (NOPHC) Health Profession Opportunity Grant (HPOG) program at Zepf Center focuses on helping low-income individuals obtain the education and training needed to pursue a job in the healthcare field. This project also builds upon the community Bridges out of Poverty initiative, which focuses on empowering people to progress out of poverty.

NOPHC found that a portion of HPOG participants were unprepared for a professional environment. Comments from employers after prior hiring events indicated that some participants lacked professional etiquette, speech, dress and hygiene. For example, some shared too much personal information and talked poorly about previous employers.

After deliberating over ways to solve this issue, NOPHC held a “Bring Your A Game” workshop, where participants received intensive coaching on professionalism and practiced their professional elevator speech. In September 2019, NOPHC hosted its first healthcare employment networking event, specifically designed to foster conversation and be less intimidating than a typical job interview. Each employer sat at a table with three to four participants. The participants then took turns presenting the prepared elevator speeches, and the employers spoke about their companies and available positions. Later, there was time for one-on-one interviews.

Employers and participants both appreciated this unique approach to job recruitment. It allowed participants to hone their professional workplace etiquette and improve their job prospects. Comments from employers were generally positive, “I thought the personal introductions were excellent.” Participants also enjoyed the event and were appreciative of the assistance from the HPOG program.

“I feel that these were good hearted people (HPOG staff and employers). I am so proud to have gone to HPOG to change my life circumstances.”

This Promising Practice was self-identified by the grantee and information contained in this document was provided by the grantee.

HPOG Promising Practice: Zepf Center - Education, Training, & Support Services | Employment Strategies  (PDF)