Pre-Employment Program (PEP)

Bread for the City’s Pre-Employment program (PEP) works closely with unemployed and underemployed clients by providing a continuum of life management and job readiness training services that are individualized, holistic and goal specific. 

PEP helps BFC clients develop the skills necessary to secure and retain employment.  PEP accomplishes this through a three-fold approach: job readiness workshops, case management, and life skills coaching.

Job Readiness Workshops

Job Readiness Workshops operate for five week sessions, with classes held twice weekly.  Workshop topics include: resume and cover letter writing, job search strategies, interviewing skills, work ethics, time management, interpersonal and communication skills, and job retention.

Case Management

PEP Case Managers conduct initial assessments for clients new to the program.  They lead clients in individualized goal setting and in the development of clients’ individual life skills/work readiness plans.  Case Managers provide direct weekly support to clients.  In addition, they provide information and referrals to appropriate programs to help clients achieve goals. Case Managers also meet with prospective employers and job training/placement programs in support of participants’ progress toward successful employment.

Life Skills Coaching

Volunteer mentors, called Life Skills Coaches, work individually with each PEP client via telephone, email, and meetings at BFC’s Southeast Center.  They help clients develop the skills they are learning in class and reinforce the support and direction that clients receive from their case managers.  Life Skills Coaches edit resumes and cover letters, teach clients how to conduct Internet job searches, conduct mock interviews and more.

PEP clients benefit from additional programs at Bread for the City that are critical to helping students meet their basic human needs while they gain the necessary skills to find employment.  In addition to our clothing closet that provides students with appropriate interview apparel, our medical clinic provides free job physicals to enable students to complete job applications.

In fiscal year 2007 PEP graduated 44 clients, and the majority of them went on to secure employment or pursue further education. 

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