Pre-Vocational Services

Employment often comes with a distinct sense of pride, responsibility and personal satisfaction.  And for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, a job can lead to greater independence, confidence and improved quality of life.

REM Mississippi’s pre-vocational services provide comprehensive job training and other job-related resources.  We help individuals of all abilities acquire the skills they need to work in the communities they call home.  The focus of our training is in the following fields:

• Gardening & lawn care
• Janitorial services
• Automotive maintenance
• Carpentry

Individualized Job Training

Our staff analyzes each participant’s interests and capabilities before providing a track for training.  They also suggest additional technical or social skills training that may enable a more successful job experience.

We simulate work environments and situations the participants might face and work with them on handling challenges, such as:

• Changes in responsibilities
• Working on a schedule
• Working with a boss
• Getting acquainted with their surroundings
• Communicating and forming positive relationships with coworkers

Creating a Career Path

In addition to teaching job-specific skills, we also focus on career-exploration, where participants can learn about seeking and applying for jobs in their chosen field.  Our goal with this part of the program is to ensure that the individuals have the best chance of landing the position in which they are most interested.  Our staff assists with areas such as:

• Filling out employment applications
• Creating resumes
• Conducting mock interviews
• Indentifying recruitment specialists to speak about similar job-related topics
• Attending job fairs

Contact your local office to learn more about REM Mississippi’s pre-vocational services.