Key Skills Needed in Job Development
Job development is a distinct and specialized role in the realm of career development. Career professionals who perform the important work of job development have a specific set of qualifications, skills, and qualities. In our current labour market, Job Developers are in demand and their unique skillset is held in high regard. Read on to learn about what Job Developers do and the key skills they need to be successful in the role.
What is Job Development?
Job development is about connecting with employers to create work opportunities and place all kinds of people (clients) in new jobs — all kinds of jobs. It’s also about coaching and supporting clients in maintaining positions they already hold. Job development often supports the employment goals of members of our communities who are new to Canada or who have physical and/or developmental challenges.
What Does a Job Developer Do?
There are two key parts to the important work carried out by Job Developers:
- They work closely with clients to assess skills and abilities necessary to secure and hold meaningful employment.
- They establish solid and mutually beneficial relationships with employers to develop suitable work placements and fill job openings.
Job development professionals not only assist individual job seekers and employers, but they also benefit our communities and local economies by developing the workforce potential of a broad spectrum of the population.
What Key Skills Should a Job Developer Have?
Successful Job Developers require a wide range of knowledge, skills, and competencies that span:
- Career Development & Employment
- Human Resources & Recruitment
- Sales & Marketing
To be effective in this role, Job Developers must have the competencies that are foundational to all Career Development Professionals (CDPs). They also need many additional hard and soft skills that enable them to work with employers and other community stakeholders to create employment opportunities for clients.
The Competency Framework for Career Development Professionals offers an extensive list of requisite competencies under the heading “Outreach and Leadership.” Here’s a snapshot of some of the most important attributes Job Developers bring to the role:
- A solid understanding of local labour market needs and trends.
- Excellent interpersonal skills to connect with employers and clients and maintain strong relationships.
- Well-developed collaboration skills to engage with employers and develop win-win job opportunities and placements.
- Knowledge of grant applications and other resources available to employers who create job opportunities for clients.
- Exceptional communication skills; both verbal and written. It’s also beneficial to be a very good listener.
- A natural ability to network and leverage relationships to support clients.
- The ability to develop and implement career marketing strategies with clients.
- Skill in creating job search documents, such as résumés and cover letters.
- Coaching skills to ensure clients’ success in the workplace.
- Strong organizational skills to professionally manage clients’ files and case notes.
- Current knowledge of the legal and ethical implications of job development.
A Closer Look at Key Skills and Qualities Needed in Job Development
A good Job Developer should possess a diverse set of skills to effectively assist individuals in finding suitable employment opportunities and supporting organizations in their talent acquisition efforts. Here are some essential skills for a job development professional:
- Communication Skills: Strong verbal and written communication skills are crucial for effectively conveying information, conducting interviews, and networking with employers and job seekers.
- Active Listening: The ability to listen actively and empathetically to job seekers’ needs, concerns, and career goals is essential for providing tailored guidance.
- Networking: Building and maintaining relationships with employers, industry professionals, and other job placement organizations can lead to better job opportunities for clients.
- Knowledge of Labour Market Trends: Staying informed about current labour market conditions, industry trends, and job market fluctuations helps in guiding clients toward in-demand career paths.
- Career Assessment: Proficiency in conducting career assessments and using various tools to evaluate clients’ skills, interests, values, and aptitudes to determine suitable career paths is a valuable asset.
- Résumé and Cover Letter Writing: The ability to help job seekers create strategic résumés and cover letters that showcase their qualifications and experiences is vital.
- Interview Coaching: Offering interview preparation, including conducting mock interviews and providing constructive feedback, is essential for helping clients perform well during job interviews.
- Job Search Strategies: Providing guidance on job search techniques, such as online job boards, networking events, and cold calling, to maximize job seekers’ chances of finding employment is a must-have competency.
- Computer and Digital Literacy: Familiarity with online job search tools, job posting platforms, and social media for job sourcing is increasingly important.
- Cultural Competency: Being culturally sensitive and understanding the unique needs and challenges of diverse populations, including individuals with disabilities, immigrants, and veterans is one of the most important skills a Job Developer must possess.
- Empathy and Patience: It’s essential for those in job development to demonstrate empathy and patience when working with clients who may be facing personal or professional challenges.
- Problem-Solving: The ability to identify and solve barriers to employment, such as gaps in skills or qualifications, transportation issues, or childcare needs.
- Data and Analytics: Analyzing labour market data and client outcomes to refine job development strategies and track the success of job placement efforts.
- Legal and Ethical Knowledge: Understanding relevant labour laws, regulations, and ethical guidelines to ensure fair and lawful job placement practices.
- Adaptability: The job market is constantly evolving, so adaptability and the ability to learn new job search techniques and technologies is essential.
- Sales and Negotiation Skills: Negotiating employment offers and advocating for clients’ interests with employers, when necessary.
- Time Management: Efficiently managing caseloads and deadlines to provide timely support to clients and employers.
- Client Empowerment: Encouraging clients to take ownership of their career development and teaching them self-help skills for long-term success.
- Conflict Resolution: Managing conflicts that may arise between clients and employers, or among clients themselves.
- Resourcefulness: Identifying and connecting clients with additional resources and support services, such as education and training programs, when needed.
A successful job development professional should be a well-rounded individual who can adapt to the diverse needs of their clients and the ever-changing job market, while consistently maintaining a strong ethical foundation. These skills, combined with a genuine desire to help others succeed, can lead to a highly rewarding career.
How Does One Become a Job Developer?
Training in job development can be hard to come by. Many who already work in the field will tell you that they learned “the hard way” — on-the-job — which is not ideal for anyone: employers, clients, or Job Developers.
Career Professionals of Canada can help! If you’re interested in pursuing a rewarding, infinitely interesting role in job development, check out CPC’s new self-directed learning (SDL) course offering, Job Development for Career Professionals (SDL-102). This comprehensive one-week certificate course will help you fulfill the needs of employers and create successful client outcomes.
Courses in the self-directed learning program are exclusively available to members of CPC. Once you purchase the course, you have unlimited access to the material for as long as you maintain your membership.
New CPC courses fill up fast, so register soon to reserve your spot!
Cathy Milton, after a long career in the telecommunications industry, embarked on the path to become a résumé writer. She has been a member of CPC for 10 years now, and has earned the MCRS, MCIS, MCCS, MCES, and MCWS designations. Cathy is a board member of CPC and the association’s Communications Manager. She is an avid sailor, a fairly decent cook, and active “pack member” in her pet menagerie.
Portions of this article include content modified from text generated by AI.
It takes many skills and wear many hats. As a job developer that exceeds expectations it includes understanding basic psychology, strong business acumen & Human Resources, for example; strong understanding how to perform a job analysis, skills using the NOCC website, wide variety of understanding and knowledge in areas of many industries. It is an amazing and rewarding job, and it allows you to perform a variety of tasks for businesses and clients.