RESPECT of Florida is the central non-profit agency for the State of Florida that helps employ about 1,200 Floridians with disabilities through the production of commodities and contractual services that are sold to government entities. If you would like to learn more about us or browse our catalog, visit us at:
respectofflorida.org.
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A Message from RESPECT of Florida
October is RESPECT's favorite month because we celebrate Disability Employment Awareness Month. Throughout the month, RESPECT and its partners host and attend several events honoring and recognizing individuals with disabilities who find greater independence and happiness through working. We also recognize the employers who diligently seek to create an inclusive workplace.
Over the years since the Americans with Disabilities Act was passed, many people have become more open-minded about the strengths and skills people with disabilities possess. Businesses have made more strides and effort in creating a diverse staff who bring special skills to the table.
RESPECT works with its partners and customers every day to ensure employment for as many Floridians with disabilities as possible.
We encourage the businesses in our community to not only champion employment for people with disabilities in October, but every month. Together we can ensure these individuals have many employment options and can find the job that best suits their talents, skills, and unique abilities.
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Facebook is one more way RESPECT wants to connect with you. Click above to like our page.
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Spotlight on Success: Larry Hall
Respect is excited to announce Larry Hall as our 2017 Most Improved Employee of the Year!
Larry works on Drug Testing commodities at Pine Castle and has been an employee there for 33 years.
Why does Larry stand out?
Larry has shown tremendous personal and professional growth which makes everyone at Pine Castle so proud! Larry has gone from having a difficult time getting along with his peers and not being motivated to work to excelling at his work duties which includes having excellent product knowledge, counting drug test devices, and stocking drug test kits.
On top of that Larry always goes out of his way to help his coworkers when they need assistance. Larry has developed the coping skills needed to ensure his continued success and does not allow anger to get the best of him.
Kindness, determination and appreciation are just some of the words that staff use to describe him. Larry's staff and peers are amazed at his progress and always look forward to Larry's positive attitude on the job site.
We at Respect wanted to get a bit more personal info on this superstar so we asked Larry some fun questions about himself:
Favorite food?
Larry's favorite food is Sausage and Pepper pizza. Yummy!
Favorite song?
Larry loves the song God of Thunder by KISS.
Hobbies?
Larry enjoys watching DVD's.
What do you like to do on the weekends?
Larry loves to catch up on much needed sleep on the weekends.
What makes you happy? Nothing makes Larry more happy than his family.
Congratulations to you Larry Hall! You Amaze us!
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Commodity Line of the Month
Stake out your next project with RESPECT survey stakes. These wooden stakes are available in a variety of sizes and can be painted if needed. Additional information can be found on the RESPECT Procurement List.
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APD Honors Exceptional Florida Employers
In celebration of Disability Employment Awareness Month, the Agency for Persons with Disabilities (APD) held its annual Exceptional Employers event on October 4, to honor Florida employers who proactively hire individuals with disabilities. Ten businesses were honored including Planet Fitness in Panama City and Piggly Wiggly in Quincy. A full review of the winners can be found on APD's website. The event was full of very moving speeches both from people with disabilities and the employers.
RESPECT had the opportunity to showcase one of the two Micro-Enterprise Grant winners, Tiffany Roper, at the event. Her business, The Plant Princess, was highlighted and she was presented a large "Open for Business!" sign to officially kick-off her business.
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New Parking Lot? No Problem.
Arc of South Florida in Miami produces environmentally friendly parking stops. This commodity is helpful in parking lots, garages, and driveways to position and guide drivers as they park. Using a parking stop can help resolve confusion to drivers and potentially reduce damage to vehicles or parking structures.
RESPECT parking stops are made of solid, molded recycled plastic. These stops create many jobs, from cutting the holes, to sizing, painting, and shipping. They are usually painted blue and yellow, but can be painted a custom color if needed.
They are predrilled for easy placement and are ready to go to anyone in Dade County and parts of Broward County. Customers looking for parking stops can order through the RESPECT website or call RESPECT customer service with any additional questions.
The Arc of South Florida is a local chapter of The Arc, one of the largest volunteer organizations in the US Founded in 1953 by a group of concerned parents. The Arc of South Florida serves over 60,000 Miami-Dade County citizens with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Though still governed by volunteers, through the Board of Directors, the Arc of South Florida has grown into a major community agency, providing a variety of programs and services that affect hundreds of participants, their families and the community each and every day.
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2018 Calendars: Now Available
The much anticipated 2018 desk and laminated calendars are now available for purchase on the RESPECT website and through MyFlorida MarketPlace. RESPECT Customer Service received many inquires regarding the availability of calendars and we have attempted to contact everyone who made an inquiry. Limited quantities are available in the laminated calendars, so please submit your order as soon as possible.
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Fish for the Right Candidate by Using the Right Bait
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HR & Compliance Manager, Dayna Lenk |
People often say they love to go fishing, not me, I love to go "catching". To go catching you must do some prep work before you head to the water. You will need to decide what fish you want to catch, what bait will attract the fish, the right spot for your pole, and finally practice a little patience. The same thing goes for attracting the right job candidate. To attract and hire the right person you must do prep work.
What is the job?
Start with a
job analysis. A job analysis establishes exactly what you need for the job you are posting. You will have to decide what duties the job involves. Doing so will ensure you can write an effective ad that attracts the kind of applicants you are looking for.
Who is the ideal candidate?
After you do a job analysis and figure out exactly what a job entails, then you should decide who your ideal choice for this position would be. Every job will have a different ideal candidate. For example, if you are hiring a security guard, you will want someone with good observational skills and a willingness to follow protocol.
What is the pay rate?
It is always a good idea to add a pay rate to a job ad. All candidates want to know what the job pays, and you only want to attract candidates who are comfortable in with the pay. Sometimes you might not want to put a pay rate on a job posting, but you will still need to know what you are going to pay the applicant you choose prior to posting the ad.
What is the job description?
Using the job analysis, describe exactly what the job entails, what skills are required, the job duties, and experience required. A job description is not a job ad. A job ad is an advertisement, meant to lure in the right candidate. Job descriptions that are done incorrectly are too lengthy and boring to ever be attractive bait to anyone worth catching.
What is the required experience and qualifications?
Experience and qualifications can be a tricky area. Too many times items that are not required are added to the job ad. This drives away possible candidates. For example, if you put that a driver's licenses is a requirement, but you do not require the applicant to drive a vehicle, you have just cut out a large pool of potential hires that may be a perfect fit for your job.
Where do you post the ad?
After putting the ad together, it is time to post. Where you specifically post the ad might depend on who your ideal candidate is. The following sites are just a few of many good sources to keep in mind when posting the ad:
- Craigslist is a more general site used to attract less skilled and specialized jobs.
- Sites like Monster, Indeed, and Career Builder are more general but also have specialized postings.
- Professional Sites/Periodicals are sites that attract more highly skilled jobs, like medical, HR, or accounting professionals.
- LinkedIn is a good site to advertise a professional position. This way, you can see people's qualifications right off the bat.
- CareerSource is a great site to find positions for less skilled to specialized jobs. CareerSource can identify applicants who disabilities and are looking for jobs in your area.
Will the job ad attract any fish?
A well written job ad is critical. The ad is your first
direct form of communication with a candidate. A potential candidate quickly forms a lasting impression of your company culture and how that potential candidate envisions daily life at your workplace.
Listed below are suggestions in writing the successful ad:
- Be succinct. Concise job descriptions receive more candidates. Place only the most important facts in the ad so that the candidate will be willing to read the entire ad.
- Lure the candidate. A job ad is an advertisement. The job ad and a job description should never be the same document. The entire purpose of the ad is to attract a candidate who has the skills and demeanor for the job.
- Do not be shy. List any extra perks that will set your organization apart from the competitors. A fantastic location or unusual perks of the job, commission, work-life balance policies, or flexible work hours can be just as effective selling points as a payrate.
- Explain who you are. The first section of a job ad is the company description. This is your first introduction to the candidate. Do not make your company look like a party wall flower that will not get noticed. Write about your company with pride but avoid bragging.
- Be honest. Every job has aspects that are more enticing than others. Fight the temptation to upsell the enticing points and downplay the tough parts. If you hire a candidate by promising one thing and delivering another, you will have a candidate that will soon leave your employment.
- Use a call to action.Make sure the method of application is clear. You can use email, fax, phone or online application methods, but avoid using them all. Keep it simple - pick one or two ways the applicant can apply. If you want a resume and a cover letter, ask for it. Candidates who do not apply in the manner you request are not really interested in your job.
- Keep it current. A job ad that has been up for six months is not attractive. Job ads that are up for extended periods of time give the impression of a job that is either hard to fill, has high turnover, or is generally undesirable. Avoid using dates that age your ad, and take your ad down from time to time and freshen it up with new language or details.
Some fish are harder to catch than others, but if you put in the upfront planning work, put together the right bait, and have a little patience, you will be catching fish in no time.
The information contained in this article is intended to provide useful information on the topic covered, but should not be construed as legal advice or a legal opinion.
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