Adult Program

SWP runs its core job-readiness programs twice a year  for adults.  Each adult cycle typically serves 40-55 participants.   Business professionals volunteer to mentor participants at weekly three-hour sessions conducted in donated corporate spaces.  The mentoring relationship, which grows beyond the program sessions, is critical to participants accountability and the expansion of their professional networks.  The Adult Program, with 45 hours of training sessions over 14 Saturdays is currently held at PricewaterhouseCoopers.  The participants and volunteer mentors commit to the entire 14-week cycle of weekend meetings, showing an extraordinary commitment of their free time.

The core training sessions, developed with help from volunteer HR professionals,  include computer skills instruction (MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and  periodic skills assessments, as well as goal setting, resume and cover letter writing, interview preparation, developing an elevator pitch,  informational interviews, workplace etiquette, and public speaking.  Over the past year, we have strengthened our program with computer skills  assessment software; the opportunity for participants to purchase a refurbished  computer at a highly subsidized rate (through Per Scholas); video mock interviews with staff and mentor feedback; and a dynamic peer mentorship program.

At the end of each cycle, SWP requires all participants to complete an anonymous survey which tracks 57 data points across our cycles.   In our first evaluation of 2006: 

    
• 100% of participants stated that they would recommend SWP to others.
    
• 100% of participants felt that SWP helped them learn the skills they need to get a job.
    
• 100% said that the program increased each of the following:         
  overall confidence; job readiness; interpersonal skills; job-search network.