Career Management

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to understand from the described experiences of disadvantaged individuals enrolled in a technology-based job-training program what their views were of the various components of the training program. The main issues studied were whether the program offered a supportive learning environment, what the nature of the program assessment was, if there was soft-skills training involved, and if the trainees experienced employment and training barriers. The information derived from this study may help organizations further develop training that is sensitive to the needs of disadvantaged individuals. Disadvantaged individuals who receive effective training may be able to find jobs faster, keep them longer, and be more successful in the workplace.    

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Methodology

Using a qualitative design, the researcher conducted ten in-depth interviews of ten disadvantaged individuals enrolled in a technology-based job-training program in Southern California. The interview guide, which the researcher used, was reviewed by a panel of experts and then piloted with two students not included in the main study. The interviews in the study were semi-structured and the questioning was open-ended. The data from the interviews were transcribed verbatim and analyzed for emergent themes. In order to establish reliability of the interview analysis, the researcher selected a member of the panel of experts to serve as a second person in the analysis process, which established inter-rater reliability. From these two independent analyses, several themes emerged. The researcher also administered a barrier-to-training-and-employment questionnaire to determine barriers the trainees believed they had.

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Results

The results indicated that the trainees were generally satisfied with the training received. Most of them believed that the training would lead to a self-supporting job in the technology industry. The trainees felt that real world experiences, hands-on coursework, and the addition of several software programs would have enhanced their training experience. Most of the trainees identified barriers they needed to overcome in order to be successful on the job.

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Recommendations

From the findings in this study, the researcher recommends that training providers use an assessment system that is closely linked to their training design, that they deliver training sensitive to the needs of trainees, and that they develop soft-skills training based on industry needs.

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