Job Seekers FAQ

We work with various businesses in all types of industries in the counties we serve, view a map of businesses HERE. We work with you to identify the type of tasks & environment you want to pursue for your job and then we will contact businesses that match.

Trillium staff will meet with you, so you can ask questions about how we help people reach their employment goals. We always encourage people to meet with a few employment agencies to get a feel for differences in style, service and specialization.

Some questions to think about asking are:

• How do you help me find a job?
• Will I have only one Employment Consultant?
• What if I don’t know what job I want?
• How often will I see you or will you contact me while we are looking for a job?
• What will I have to do while you are helping me find a job?
• What are your outcomes for job placement? (ex. how long does it take or someone on average to get a job? How many jobs did your team find last year?)

Trillium acts as your advocate and coach, not your employer. The business that hires you is your employer. They will pay you and determine your work schedule.

Your family, friends, teachers, community members and anyone else that you associate with can help by giving ideas about jobs you would be good at or companies that might hire you. They may even have a business acquaintance who is an employer and might consider hiring you. Trillium can learn a lot from people in your life and we can use their ideas to help you find the right job.

First, we will get to know you, and learn about the type of job, the location, and the amount that you would like to work. We will also write a job development plan with you, to make sure that what you want and what we understand are the same. Then, we can help you write a resume to use when you apply for jobs. We will also contact employers for you and go with you to interviews if you desire.

There is no set time. Finding a job depends on a lot of things and everyone has a different work history and dreams about the perfect job. Sometimes it can take months to find a job. Trillium thinks it is more important to find a job where you can be successful and stay a long time than to find a job quickly.

Trillium can help with the following, if you need or desire them:

• Fill out new hire paperwork
• Attend orientations
• Take required tests when you start a new job
• Plan your transportation to and from work
• Ensure you have the clothes for the company’s dress code
• Help with the training at your new job
• Provide support to you on the job until you are comfortable working independently
• Help you build relationships and feel comfortable at work

Trillium will help you start your new job, but we want you to work independently after the training period.

Trillium will be with you as often as needed to provide coaching, training and support throughout the training period of your new job.

Depending on the type of funding you have, Trillium may be able to work with you after your initial training. Many people find this helpful, because expectations and duties change with every job. Trillium can assist you by working together with you and your employer to
help with these changes.

Clerical, daycare, manufacturing, warehouse, custodial, mail room and food services, as well as a variety of other fields. Here are some examples of positions and employers that we have worked with HERE

In order to have services from Trillium you must:

• be at least 21 years of age and not enrolled in public school or part of School-to-Work or connected to DVR.
• demonstrate motivation to work and to participate in your job search.
• have responsible members of the home environment and/or a personal advocate willing to cooperate with training programs and provide
  necessary support at home.
• have access to and ability to pay for appropriate transportation to and from the place of employment.
• have a plan in place for funding the needed employment services. This can be Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR) funding, a PASS plan, County Service Authorization or a private payment commitment.

Trillium Employment Services maintains that all individuals have employment potential; formal assessment of vocational aptitude or competence will not be used in determining an individual’s eligibility for service. We use a discovery process to learn about you, your marketable skills, and what supports make you successful.

Funding for our services are primarily through the Washington State Developmental Disabilities Administration (DDA), as administered by King, Clark, Kitsap, and Pierce Counties under the category “Individual Employment.” Authorization for this program comes from DDA through a County Service Authorization. Additional funding may be required through the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR), the Social Security Work Incentive Program. We also accept private pay.

Yes, but the Social Security Administration has several incentives to encourage you to work. We think with these incentives there is a definite positive benefit to most people going to work. Trillium does not provide advice, nor do we report your wages to them, that is your responsibility. Please contact Plan To Work to get individual consulting on your situation.

Go to our resources page for more information.

• Look at others’ stories on Facebook or YouTube.