Job Corps Field Test of an Observations of Readiness Tool for use by Admissions Staff

OMB Control Number: 1225-0088

Expiration Date: 08/31/2017

Questions for Use by Job Corps Admissions Staff – Observations of Readiness tool

Answers to these questions will help determine program readiness, and will provide a platform to assist Admissions staff in completing the Observations of Readiness (OR) tool. These questions would be asked at three points during the admissions process as described in the table below.

	Initial Conversation (during the first telephone contact)	Application Mid-Point (during the first face-to-face interview)	Application End-Point (during the second face-to-face interview)
Interest in Job Corps
Why do you want to enroll in Job Corps at this time?	X
Who referred you to Job Corps? How did you find out about it?	X
Now that you have a better understanding about the Job Corps program and what is required of students, do you see any roadblocks that might affect your participation in Job Corps?			X
Do you have any questions about the Job Corps program at this time?	X		X
Education
Why did you leave school?	X
What subjects did you like?	X
What didn’t you like about school?	X
Why do you want to come back to a school setting now?	X
What educational opportunities do you want to get through coming to Job Corps?		X
Tell me about what you would do to gain respect as a new student on center.	X
Work Attitude
What have you been doing since you left school?	X
Do you help out at home? Please describe.		X
What time did you go to bed last night?			X
When was the last time you got up at 6:30 or 7:00 a.m. to arrive some place by 8:00 a.m.?			X
Is there anything in your background that an employer would be concerned about?		X
IF A CRIMINAL BACKGROUND IS PRESENT: Since you do have some criminal convictions on your record, what would you say to an employer about that?		X
Did those crimes happen? Do you want to tell me about them?		X
How do you handle stress or what do you do when things are not going your way?		X
Attitude Toward Peers
Do you like working alone or with other people?		X
Have you ever worked as part of a team or group?		X
How well do you get along with people?	X
How would you feel about working with people of the opposite sex or race?	X
How would you feel about sharing a dorm room with up to two other roommates?		X
How would you feel about sharing a dorm room with people of other races?		X
How do you react to other people’s challenges? For example, if a personal is having a bad attitude day, doesn’t do their part on a project, or is having trouble getting along with others.			X
Do you have a tendency to help others when they are in need, and if so, give me a good example.			X
Tell me about a time when you got angry with a friend. How did you handle it?	X
Leadership
Have you ever been seen as a leader? If so, tell me about that.			X
Have you ever been the one who made good things happen for other people? If so, describe it.		X
Where do you see yourself in a year, in three years, in five years?	X
What changes would you like to see in your community?			X
How do you think that could be done?			X
What changes would you like to see in yourself, and why?		X
How do you think that could be done?		X
Is there someone in your group of family or friends that you admire or look up to as a leader? If so, why?			X
Complying with Rules
How do you feel about following rules and requirements?	X
How do you feel about taking direction from others – like teachers, administrators, and other adults that hold authority?	X
Do you see yourself as someone who challenges the rules, and if so, give me an example of when you challenged a rule, either at school, at home, at work, in the community, or with the law.		X
What did you think of the Job Corps video? Do you have any questions about it?		X	X
Do you understand that following rules is required when you are in Job Corps and that not following them could result in separation from the program?			X
When you are worried, mad, or sad what do you do to make yourself feel better?			X

Paperwork Reduction Act Public Burden Statement: Persons are not required to respond to this collection of information. Collections of information approved by OMB must display a currently valid OMB control number and expiration date. Public reporting burden for this collection of all information contained within this instrument, which is required to obtain or retain benefits (29 USC 2881), is estimated to average one hour per applicant and one hour per admissions counselor, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the information, for a total of two hours for each application. This instrument is being tested among a total of 90 applications, rendering an estimated public reporting burden of 180 hours in total. This information collection is for program management. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to the US Department of Labor, Office of Job Corps, Room N-4507, Washington, D.C. 20210 (OMB Control No. 1225-0088).

13