CESP Employment Services & Job Development 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which principle of customized employment emphasizes starting the job development process by understanding the job seeker's conditions for success rather than available job openings?
- Job matching
- Demand-side employment
- Discovery (Correct answer)
- Labor market alignment
Correct answer: Discovery
Discovery is a person-centered process that identifies a job seeker's strengths, interests, and ideal conditions of employment before exploring specific job opportunities.
Question 2: An employment specialist notices a supported employee is consistently late to work. The FIRST step should be to:
- Immediately notify the vocational rehabilitation counselor
- Contact the employer on behalf of the employee without the employee's input
- Meet with the employee to identify the cause and collaboratively problem-solve transportation or scheduling solutions (Correct answer)
- Recommend a job change to better fit the employee's schedule
Correct answer: Meet with the employee to identify the cause and collaboratively problem-solve transportation or scheduling solutions
Person-centered problem-solving involves understanding the root cause with the individual before taking action, respecting their self-determination.
Question 3: The On-the-Job Training (OJT) wage reimbursement program available through American Job Centers allows employers to:
- Pay workers with disabilities sub-minimum wages during training
- Receive partial wage reimbursement while training a new hire who needs skills development (Correct answer)
- Hire job seekers exclusively through government contracts
- Avoid paying payroll taxes for employees with disabilities
Correct answer: Receive partial wage reimbursement while training a new hire who needs skills development
OJT programs reimburse employers (typically 50–75% of wages) during a defined training period, incentivizing them to hire and train job seekers who lack direct experience.
Question 4: A 'natural support' in the workplace context refers to:
- Job coaching provided by an external employment specialist
- Assistance from coworkers, supervisors, or workplace culture that supports any employee's success (Correct answer)
- Accommodations funded through vocational rehabilitation
- Disability-specific training provided by an ADA coordinator
Correct answer: Assistance from coworkers, supervisors, or workplace culture that supports any employee's success
Natural supports are the typical assistance and relationships available to all workers in a workplace, which employment specialists help job seekers access and leverage.
Question 5: Which of the following actions would be MOST consistent with an employer-focused job development approach?
- Sending mass resumes to hundreds of employers on behalf of job seekers
- Building ongoing relationships with specific employers to understand their workforce needs before presenting candidates (Correct answer)
- Applying only to job postings listed on public job boards
- Scheduling informational interviews for employers to learn about disability services
Correct answer: Building ongoing relationships with specific employers to understand their workforce needs before presenting candidates
Employer-focused job development prioritizes understanding employer needs first, building trust and presenting job seekers as solutions to real business problems.
Question 6: When a job seeker with a psychiatric disability requests that their diagnosis not be disclosed to an employer, an employment specialist should:
- Disclose the diagnosis to ensure appropriate accommodations are arranged
- Respect the individual's decision and help them identify functional limitations they may choose to share if requesting accommodations (Correct answer)
- Decline to provide job development services if disclosure is refused
- Inform the employer of general behavioral expectations without mentioning disability
Correct answer: Respect the individual's decision and help them identify functional limitations they may choose to share if requesting accommodations
Disclosure is the individual's right; employment specialists should support informed decision-making by explaining options for requesting accommodations without revealing a specific diagnosis.
Question 7: A 'job shadow' experience is BEST used during which phase of the employment process?
- After a formal job offer has been accepted
- During job stabilization to reinforce learned tasks
- During exploration or discovery to help a job seeker evaluate their interest in an occupation (Correct answer)
- After extended services are faded to maintain job retention
Correct answer: During exploration or discovery to help a job seeker evaluate their interest in an occupation
Job shadowing allows job seekers to observe work environments and tasks firsthand, helping them make informed career decisions during the exploration phase.
CESP Employment Services & Job Development 4
Which principle of customized employment emphasizes starting the job development process by understanding the job seeker's conditions for success rather than available job openings?