Navigating Job Applications: Personality Assessment Training & Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS)
- Categories:
- communitypartners | employment | employmentnetwork | engagement | information session | MDEN | Productivity | work
- Speaker:
- Deb Temple, WIP-C, VET-C, Youth-C | Kariema Meggett, CPWIC
- Duration:
- 2 hours
Description
Navigating Personality Assessments & Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS):
Empowering Supported Employment Specialists to Confidently Guide Job-Seekers
Through Modern Recruitment Tools
About the Training:
- Today’s job market is driven by technology and data — from personality assessments that measure workplace behavior to Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) that screen applications before a human ever sees them.
- This interactive session equips Supported Employment Specialists with the knowledge and tools to help their clients navigate both effectively and authentically.
Why This Training Matters:
- Employers increasingly rely on automated and psychological tools to identify top talent. For many job-seekers — especially those facing barriers to employment — these systems can feel confusing or unfair.
This training helps SE Specialists:
Understand what information personality assessments and ATS gather
Recognize why employers use them in recruitment and promotion
Identify and address potential bias within these tools
Learn how to coach clients to respond confidently and authentically
Strengthen client outcomes by ensuring applications and assessments reflect true potential
What You’ll Learn:
Personality Assessments:
- How these tools measure behavior, motivation, and work preferences
- Strategies to help candidates interpret and answer questions honestly
- How to recognize and discuss potential bias (cultural, disability, or neurodiversity-related)
Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS):
- How resumes and applications are screened automatically
- How to optimize content and keywords for visibility
- Common pitfalls that lead to candidates being filtered out — and how to prevent them
Key Takeaways:
- Practical coaching tips to support diverse job-seekers
- Insights into reducing bias and promoting fairness in hiring
- Increased confidence in navigating digital recruitment tools
- Resources and templates for everyday practice
Who Should Attend:
- Supported Employment Specialists
- Employment Coaches
- Vocational Consultants
- Anyone supporting clients with job search or career advancement
Format & Duration:
- Length: 2 hours (virtual)
- Includes: Interactive activities, real examples, and take-home resources
Outcome:
- Participants leave with a stronger understanding of how modern hiring works.
- The confidence to empower every job-seeker to put their best self forward in personality assessments and through ATS systems.
Speaker
Deb Temple, WIP-C, VET-C, Youth-C Related Seminars and Products
Ticket to Work Coordinator
Maryland Employment Network
Joining us with a strong background in workforce development, disability services, transitioning youth, and program development, Deb fulfills a new role at MD-EN. For more than 20 years she has worked to remove barriers to success for individuals with differing-abilities, those experiencing homelessness, at-risk youth, and low-income families while consistently strengthening communities through partnerships and education. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Fine Arts and is certified as a Work Incentives Practitioner. Deb understands that people are unique and success looks different for each person – she is committed to helping others define their own success and supporting them to reach their own vision of self-sufficiency.
Kariema Meggett, CPWIC Related Seminars and Products
Career Consultant
Maryland Employment Network
Kariema has over six years of experience helping individuals achieve their goals to become self-sufficient. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Industrial/Organizational Psychology and is a Community Partner Work Incentive Counselor. Before transitioning to a Career Consultant for the Maryland Employment Network, she worked for three years on the Promoting Opportunities Demonstration (POD), a special demonstration for the Social Security Administration. In this role, she provided benefits planning for participants enrolled in the demonstration who were working or planning to start working. She worked with low-income individuals seeking training and enhancing their basic education to become more self-sufficient. Kariema also uses her calm nature and ability to empathize with and listen to her clients. Maryland Employment Network brings her experience in training and development and benefits counseling to assist clients in reaching their full potential.