Allstate:

Address:
51 W. Higgins Rd.
South Barrington, IL  60010

Phone:   
(847) 551-2000

Site Overview
Allstate has had a training site for the last 15 years. It is a very collaborative effort between the Student Center, Regional Commerce Department, Commercial Department, Motor Club, Cafeteria and Gift Shop.  This program currently houses ten students in the afternoon. We are looking to expand this site to include students in both the morning and the afternoon.

 The training site includes high, medium and low ability levels of students. Allstate is extremely accepting of our students and they are part of the Allstate community. The areas we target at Allstate are clerical, cafeteria cleaning, more individual clerical such as photocopying and faxing, as well as retail (gift shop). The dress code at Allstate is business casual.

 Specific Job Descriptions

 Cafeteria

 Summary: The cafeteria positions are available for low to middle ability students, especially those  who like routine. The students in this role will have to stand for the duration of their time at work. As well, the students must be able to pay attention to detail so that the work is completed in a satisfactory manner.

Primary Responsibilities:

Ø      Chairs – Fill pail with water and detergent and get gloves and paper towels from job coach. Wipe down chair seating surfaces and dry off thoroughly.

Ø      Tables – Wash each table completely with water and detergent from pail and dry off thoroughly.
Garbage – Throw away any garbage remaining in cafeteria.
Silver ware- Wipe off spotted silverware with a cloth.
Restocking – Refill paper ketchup cups, beverage cups, salt and pepper as well as silverware. Check with job coach for any additional tasks.

 Student Center (number of positions vary with tasks available, generally four to five positions)

 Summary: The student center positions are available to mid and higher level students as they require relatively high attention to detail. These positions are ideal for students who want to learn more about working in an office setting. Many times, the students work directly with the job coach. Other tasks may require that a student be independent and self-motivated. Students are expected to have the ability to follow specific, multiple step instructions.

Primary Responsibilities:

Ø      Surveys – Surveys, inner envelopes and window envelopes must be put in three stacks. Students will place both survey and inner business reply envelope in window envelope and then stack completed mailing in tray.

Ø      Marketing Folders – Place sheets in folders in proper sequence. This task is done on a weekly basis.

Ø      Shredding – Documents shredded carefully and safely with paper shredder. This task is done on a weekly basis.

Ø      Photocopying – Documents are photocopied per the job coach’s instructions. This task is done on a weekly basis.

Ø      Check with job coach for any additional tasks.

 Gift Shop (one student)

 Summary: This position requires a student with higher abilities, who is able to read well, keep track of items with similar labels and interact with customers in an appropriate manner. This experience is excellent for anyone who may be thinking about working in the retail sector.

Primary Responsibilities:

Ø      Check with Allstate employee daily to see which tasks have the highest priority for that day.

Ø      Fill pop cooler according to plan-o-gram in Gift Shop and in the cafeteria. This task is done on a daily basis.

Ø      Fill snacks where inventory is low. This task is done on a daily basis.

Ø      Check with job coach and/or Allstate Gift Shop employee for any additional tasks.

 Clerical Positions in Allstate Departments (two students, one in each department)

 Summary: This position requires students with very high abilities, who are detail oriented, follow supervisor instructions in an extremely accurate manner and who are able to work independently.

Ø      Check with Allstate supervisor daily to receive task assignments.

Ø      Tasks include, but are not limited to photocopying, faxing, purging computer files and creating new files.

Ø      Check with Allstate supervisor for more work when tasks for that day have been completed in a satisfactory manner.

 

Primary Responsibilities:

Ø      Towels – students are responsible for collecting the laundry from the locker rooms, loading the washer and dryer, folding the towels, and stocking the shelves with the folded towels.

Ø      Locker room – the unused lockers are checked for trash and any items left behind.  The sinks and counters are cleaned.

Ø      Misc. tasks – the students are periodically asked to clean fitness equipment, setup tables and chairs, and do paperwork for mass mailings.

 Maintenance
Summary:  The maintenance position requires a student to be independent, flexible, and self-motivated.  It is ideal for someone who wants to learn more about hands-on maintenance tasks and provides the opportunity for the student to work one-on-one with the maintenance person at the fitness center.  The student will occasionally need to lift heavy objects and follow specific, multi-step directions.

Primary Responsibilities:

Ø      Closely assist the maintenance staff member with various tasks

Ø      Check chlorine and pH levels of the pool water

Ø      Refill the water softener with salt pellets

Ø      Use the remote controlled pool vacuum to clean the pool

 Kid’s Klub
Summary:  The Kid’s Klub position requires a student to work well with others and especially with children.  It is great experience for anyone who enjoys working with kids and is considering a career in childcare.  The student must be very responsible as they may be expected to handle infants.

Primary Responsibilities:

Ø      Care and supervision of children ranging from infant to elementary age

Ø      Cleaning and sanitizing the facility and the toys

 

 Nordstrom Department Store

 Address: 
6 Woodfield Mall
Schaumburg, Illinois  60173

 Phone:
(847) 755-4600

 Site Overview:

 Nordstrom is a large department store located in the Woodfield Shopping Mall.  It has three floors of various departments.  Nordstrom has been a work site since the spring semester of 2005.  The students primarily work in the Women’s Shoe Department; however independent opportunities are available in other areas of the store.

 Specific Job Descriptions:

 Preparing Sales Racks –

Ø      Remove the right shoe from a box on the shelf

Ø      Check to see that a price sticker is one the shoe.  If there is no sticker on shoe, put one on.

Ø      Place shoe on proper sale rack according to size.

Ø      Return the shoebox to shelf.

 Organizing the Stockroom –

Ø      Organize shoe boxes on the shelves according to identifying information such a size, color, style and brand name.

 Cleaning Out Boxes –

Ø      Remove all packing paper from inside boxes and shoes and discard.

 Relocating Inventory –

Ø      Stack shoeboxes onto hand truck.  Load hand truck onto freight elevator.  Ride to designated floor and remove truck.  Take the boxes off the hand truck and stack them on the proper shelves.

 Scanning Prices –

Ø      Scan bar codes on shoe boxes with scanning gun to determine which shoes are on sale.  Place a sticker on the boxes that are on sale.

 Independent Work –

Ø      Independent opportunities exist based on the student’s abilities.  These include “shadowing” a Nordstrom employee and learning various aspect’s of their job, i.e., arranging merchandise on racks according to sizes, scanning prices, locating prices on the computer, handling returns, and assembling boxes, etc.

 Specific Job Skills:

Ø      Good listening skills

Ø      Able to understand and follow directions

Ø      Able to ask questions if unsure about something

Ø      Organizational skills (working in rows on shelves from top to bottom).

Ø      Staying focused and on task

Ø      Sequencing skills (putting shoes in order according to sizes)

Ø      Being able to distinguish between right and left shoe

Ø      Able to get along with supervisors and co-workers

Ø      Able to use scanning gun to determine sale items

 

 IKEA

 Address:
1800 E. McConnor Parkway
Schaumburg, IL 60173

 Telephone:
(847) 969-9700

 Site Overview:

 IKEA is a high volume Swedish retailer of furniture and household goods located in Schaumburg by Roosevelt University.  It has three floors with many departments including the Bistro and Swedish Market on the first floor and the Restaurant on the third floor.

 There are many daily tasks as well as special projects for the students.  Independent students may also have an opportunity to work in different departments, i.e. Children’s IKEA, Textiles, AS-IS and the Restaurant.

 Specific Job Descriptions:

 Bistro/Café (First Floor):

§         Fill ice

§         Restock condiments

§         Wipe/clean countertops, tables, chairs, table ads and high chairs

§         Take down chairs

§         Clean microwave and serving trays

§         Fold cleaning towels

§         Organize newspapers & recycle old newspapers

§         Wipe window ledges

§         Sweep if necessary

 AM Enclave

Student must be able to-follow directions, basic communication skills, basic reading skills, able to work w/cleaning supplies (sprays/chemicals), lift 25 lbs., and exhibit problem solving skills.

 Swedish Market (First Floor):

§         Restock shelves rotating product as needed

§         Break down boxes

§         Take broken down boxes to recycling

§         Throw garbage out

§         Maintain the appearance of the Swedish Market: i.e., sweeping, fronting and facing products

  Restaurant (Third Floor):

§         Take down chairs if necessary

§         Wipe/clean tables, chairs, salt & pepper shakers, table ads & high chairs

§         Clean microwave

§         Wipe coffee/condiment counters

§         Organize add-on sales (chips, cookies, candy etc.)

 AM Enclave-Must be done by 9:45am

 Candles (First Floor):

§         Organize products on shelves

§         Remove misplaced or broken items

§         Collect garbage

§         Take misplaced/broken items to Recovery

§         Throw garbage out

 Recycling/ Warehouse (First Floor):

§         Collect plastic wrap, boxes & strapping from warehouse

§         Replace plastic bags if necessary

§         In recycling center, separate collected garbage and place them into the appropriate bins

Misc.:

§         Collect yellow bags and merchandise from cash lanes

§         Clean out yellow bags (throw out broken bags) throughout the store

§         Replenish yellow bags throughout the store

§         Merchandise from the cash lanes go to Recovery

§         Wipe down children’s playhouse in front of the cash lanes

§         Replenish the bed sheet bins in bedroom displays on 2^nd floor

§         Collect garbage & misplaced items in Self-Serve Aisles

§         Fill packaged hardware in Self-Serve Aisles as needed

§         Fold blue bags and replenish throughout the store

 Departments:

§         AS-IS (First Floor)

§         Bistro (First Floor)

§         Children’s IKEA (Second Floor)

§         Textiles (Second Floor)

§         Lighting (Second Floor)

 

Nordstrom Rack

 

Address:
Woodfield Village Green
1520 E. Golf Road
Schaumburg, IL 60173

 Phone:
(847) 413-2121
FAX: 847-413-9316 

Site Overview:
Nordstrom Rack is located in the shopping mall across the street from the Woodfield Mall. It consists of one floor with several departments.  The students are assigned tasks in the Shoe Department, Women’s Department, Men’s Department and Accessories. There is a dress code for all employees: Khakis or neat, clean slacks for both men and women. No advertising is allowed on the cloths worn. No gym shoes unless newer and clean. A nametag must be worn at all times.

 

Specific Job Descriptions:

 Shoe Department

 Summary: This area is adaptable to almost all levels, especially for those students who like routine.  The students in this role will have to stand for the duration of the time at work. The student must be able to distinguish between right and left shoe and have sequencing skills  The students must be able to pay attention to detail so that the work is completed in a satisfactory manner.

 Primary responsibilities:

Ø      The student is to remove shoes that do not belong in that size section and place them in a barrel. The student is instructed to straighten out the shoes by putting them in the correct size section and facing the shoes so the toe is pointing toward the aisle

Ø      The student will also be responsible for stocking shoes from the back room.  Shoes will be taken from a barrel or grocery cart and returned to the proper place on the shelf

 Women’s and Men’s Department

 Summary:  This area would be suitable to students who can read and understand sales tags and have the dexterity needed to be able to place sensors on clothing. The student must have organizational skills and be able to pay attention to detail so that the work is completed correctly. The students in this role will have to stand for the duration of the time at work.

 Primary responsibilities:

Ø      The student is responsible for dusting the fixtures

Ø      Size merchandise on the sales racks and remove clothing that does not have a sales tag

Ø      The student will place store sensors on the clothing

 Accessories:

 Summary:  This area requires a student to have basic communications skills, basic reading skills, organization skills and be able to follow directions. The student in this role will have to stand for the duration of the time at work.  The student must be able to pay attention to detail and exhibit problem solving skills.

 Primary responsibilities:

Ø      Size clothing articles

Ø      Unpack jewelry and place in display racks

Ø      Fill display units by the checkout area

Ø      Straighten merchandise in the cosmetic cases

Ø      Dust the display cases

 

Kenneth Young Thrift Shop

 Address:
1150 S. Roselle Rd.
Schaumburg, IL  60193

 Phone:
847) 891-0978

 Site Overview:
Kenneth Young became a training site in November of 2006. Located in Schaumburg, it is a large resale shop.  Because of the size and quantity of merchandise, there is a constant need for organization, folding, pricing and facing and restocking merchandise.

 Specific Job Description:
Students at the training site will be responsible for recognizing when an item needs to be re-folded and then following through with demonstrating the ability to fold the item to the employer’s standards. The student will be responsible for placing price tags on items, hanging items, filling bins that are low in stock, and restocking designated areas within the store.