Companies and individuals can get involved as guest lecturers or practitioners working directly with job candidates in the Starkloff Career Academy. The eight-week capstone course always welcomes new teams of volunteers and experts on a variety of subjects related to successfully entering the workforce. Lecture topics may include but are not limited to:

• Resume-writing
• Behavioral, Problem solving, Unstructured, and Panel interviewing Techniques
• Networking
• Utilizing social media
• Salary and Benefit Negotiation
• Professional attire and workplace etiquette
• Conflict resolution
• Adding value; advancing and promotion in an organization
• Personal finance and saving for retirement

Corporate Volunteer Testimonial:

“Over the past two years, it is through Purina that I have had the opportunity to work with the Starkloff Disability Institute; an opportunity that I will forever be grateful for. They are an organization that helps individuals with disabilities participate equally and fully in all aspects of society. I only wish my brother would have had the opportunity to work with such an amazing group of individuals. I have had the blessing of coaching people with disabilities on how to interview with employers that will hopefully, in turn, lead to them obtaining employment for being the hardworking individual that they are. While I know this has helped the people I have coached, it has helped me more. It has allowed me to give back and honor my brother, but more importantly, it has reinforced what I already knew – a little kindness goes a long way.”

Mandi is a Senior Recruiting Specialist at Nestle Purina
Volunteers at SDI as a job coach. (Mandi knows much about disability because her brother Steve had cerebral palsy. Steve unexpectedly passed away in 2012.)

Anyone interested in volunteering in the Starkloff Career Academy should contact Susan Menhard, Program Director, at smenhard@starkloff.org or 314-588-7090.