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Name: Kari Olson
Year you graduated from Cornell: 1989
Other majors or minors: WomenÕs Studies
Post Cornell Education: Currently pursuing my Master's Degree
in Organizational Management at Concordia University
Job Title: Placement Manager
Job description: Supervise and train placement staff to provide
job placement services to individuals with disabilities or individuals
who are currently receiving welfare. Manage program budgets, write grant
reports and compile quarterly and year end program statistics.
Most satisfying and rewarding aspects of your position: Placement
staff work one-on-one with individuals to help them compose resumes, fill
out job applications, talk to employers, prepare for job interviews and
sometimes accompany that person to the interview. A lot of time is invested
in our clients and it's very exciting every time someone gets a job. Even
obtaining a part time dishwashing job can make the difference between
someone feeling like a purposeful, productive member of society vs. someone
who sits at home and collects disabiltiy payments. I enjoy seeing placement
staff glow with pride because they facilitated someone obtaining a job,
successfully provided job coaching to help someone get trained in at a
new job, or helped save someone's job by providing a job accommodation.
What jobs or other positions have you held that prepared you for this
position? Internship at a shelter for battered women. Job Coach, Follow-Up
Specialist, Placement Specialist and Program Coordinator all at various
vocational rehabilitation agencies.
What are your occupational and/or educational goals? I am looking
forward to completing my master's degree. I plan on staying in the management
area because I enjoy training people and coordinating programs.
Additional comments: Cornell does a great job of giving students
a well rounded education. In any social services career, the ability to
write well, use critical thinking skills and to communicate effectively
with others is of the utmost importance. Cornell prepared me to enter
the workforce with confidence in my abilities to do all of the above.
Email: kolson@mail.rise.org
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