COMMUNITY ORGANIZER: Employer

COMMUNITY ORGANIZER: ROLE PLAYING SCRIPT FOR EMPLOYER,
Ms Burke, Spring 2010 University of California-San Diego

It is May, 2010. You are the Executive Director of Coronado Family Services based in San Diego. The recent recession has been difficult for many families in your service area, and you are in the process of developing additional resources to keep up with the demand. One of these resources is a program called Shelter Sisters, and you are seeking a Community Organizer to create and manage this endeavor. Shelter Sisters will work with young girls and children who are living in shelters, either by themselves or with their families. The person who is hired will act as friend and mentor to the girls, while making referrals to the proper resources.

Many of these children have multiple problems. Their families are often in disarray and economic hardship is common. The Community Organizer will support these children by quickly identify barriers to their success. She must think holistically about the child's needs or lack of services.

You are anxious to fill the position, and are looking for just the right candidate who has the passion, the education, some community experience and the ability to create meaningful connections with these children. You would like someone with social media experience and who is bilingual in English and Spanish. This is a full time position, with some night and weekend work required.

You want to fill this position quickly and have interviewed many new graduates. You are well aware that UCSD produces successful graduates and were pleased to meet Ms. Garcia at the Job Fair last week. She is graduating in June 2010 with a BA in Political Science and a Minor in Psychology with a GPA of 3.3. She has been very involved on campus and in the community with programs that address issues of the rural poor, and her work with students, women and children impresses you. The fact that she is bilingual is another plus.

You know the type person who would fit well into the culture at Coronado Family Services. Every once in awhile an applicant comes along who shows you something special. You know immediately that this person would be of great value to the organization for many, many years, and you soften on driving a hard financial bargain because of the person’s exceptional potential. You’re never quite sure what that “something special” is, but you know it when you see it, and you see it in Ms. Garcia.

You interviewed Ms. Garcia yesterday. You were impressed with her experience, her poise and her work ethic as revealed when she discussed her education, skills, experience and passions. She obviously is a hard worker as she has maintained excellent grades while working and being active as a volunteer with her school and her community.

Ms. Garcia has exactly the qualities you seek for this position, and the experience which should make it easy for her to begin immediately with only “on the job training”. At the end of the interview yesterday you offered her the job as the Community Organizer for the Shelter Sisters Program at Coronado Family Services, and asked her to return today to set her salary, benefits and start date.

As the consummate professional, you offer competitive salaries. You know the salary range for a Community Organizer in the San Diego area is $29,000 to $40,000 with a median salary of $34,000. The benefits for this position add another $16,000 to the compensation package. You typically pay new hires at the low end of the salary range. This is even more necessary with state funding for your operation in jeopardy and the economy in a prolonged recession.

Last year, the starting salary for a similar position was $29,000, which seems about all you can afford to offer this year. The benefits package you are offering for this position is $12,000.

Ms. Garcia’s job offer is the last piece of your work for the day. You have to leave in 15 minutes to meet with potential donors at their corporate offices.

When you and Ms. Garcia sit down to talk, your opening lines to her are:

“We’re so pleased that you want to work for Coronado Family Services helping to create and manage the Shelter Sisters Program. You’ll be a wonderful addition to our team.

We have just a couple details to settle, then you can sign our contract, and we’ll see you after graduation.

I am authorized to offer you a starting salary of $29,000. You will be entitled to the standard benefits package all new employees get of $12,000, and we’d like you to start here on June 15th.

If that’s okay with you, please read over this contract, sign it and you’ll be our new Community Organizer.”

See how she reacts. Listen to her. Write down what points might persuade you to raise this offer. Write down what language she might use would make you hold the line and not raise her starting salary and why. Write down what objections you would have if she wants more money. Discuss thoughtfully with her, because you want her to accept your job offer.

In this discussion, see what is the lowest starting salary and benefits package that you can get her to accept and get her to accept a specific salary in the 15 minutes before you have to leave.

Remember, you made her a job offer because you were very impressed with her. Now it’s time to get her to work for you. Good Luck!