Developing Job Interview Skills in Mentally Retarded Adults

Abstract

A preparatory job interview training program was designed for moderately retarded clients based upon behavioral needs selected by staff involved in job placement of this population. The results of this program are presented with four moderately retarded clients through a changing criterion design including two generalization probes in a community setting. The program demonstrates that mentally retarded clients may lack simple prosocial behaviors useful during job interviews such as orienting to the interviewer, good posture, and appropriate verbal responses. The results suggest, however, that these behaviors can be gained through systematic instruction and may be generalized to novel situations.