People want to do meaningful work. The fact that 2,000 people responded to our campaign during one of the hottest economies ever, in which jobs are literally going begging, shows that the work our agencies provide is much desired. Like any work, there must be a good match between worker and job. Clearly, working with individuals with mental retardation is not for everyone, but then not everyone wants to be a school teacher, policeman, or banker. Given the chance to learn about the work our agencies provide, people will respond.
Cooperation pays off .
Competition is a mantra in the business and even non-profit worlds, but more and more organizations are learning that cooperation pays off. Many times during planning meetings, the agencies partaking in the recruitment campaign shared ideas and tips to help each other. They frequently would refer a prospective worker to other agencies if the fit was not right for them, knowing that the favor would be, and often was, returned. At the job fair, many agencies found that in addition to meeting prospective workers, they could learn more about each other in ways that would help all of them achieve their goals. Autonomy is critical .