A Hard Look at Soft Skills

1. A Hard Look at Soft Skills National Council for Workforce Education, 10.21.2012 Beth Fayyad, Educations Solutions Group, HMH Julia Olsen, Youth Opportunity Center - Pacific Gateway, Long Beach, CA Bridgett Harris, National Work Readiness Credential Recipient

2. What’s Happening National Meeting - Insight National Network of Sector Partners Gathering of Business & Economic Development - Manufacturing - Energy - Construction - Healthcare HIGH DEMAND SKILLS [JOB OPENINGS] Mississippi 500 jobs welders Silicon Valley – 6000

3. Pacific Gateway Workforce Investment Network

4. DISCUSSION • DEMAND for soft skill proficiency • RESOURCES & PRACTICES proven to dramatically increase soft skill proficiencies • DEVELOPMENTS that support work readiness credentialing PACIFIC GATEWAY Youth Opportunity Programs success in developing soft skills and improving assessment results

5. CONTEXT/DEMAND • How has work readiness changed?What was it in the past? What is it now? • Why? What’s at stake?

6. Online Job Applications You wake up at 7:45 and realize you are not going to make it to work by 8:00. What would you be MOST likely to do? Call your supervisor as soon as you wake up to give an early warning. Don't call; it will only slow you down. Call at 8:15, when you're on your way, to let them know you are running late. Go back to sleep so you can rest. and get refreshed for the next day. Call in sick to avoid getting in trouble for being late.

7. “It bothers you a long time when someone treats you unfairly.” • “ You do not like to take orders.” • “Your stuff is often kind of messy.”

8. A customer needs 88, 2-inch pipe connectors, each package has 25. How many packages does the client need? • I tend to stay with my original opinion even after discussion with others. • A customer uses a $20 bill at a self check-out register to pay for products totaling $14.50. How much change should be given?

9. “My supervisor can always count on me to do what they ask me to do on the job.” “ I generally don’t worry what I look like.” “When I talk with customers, I try and give them my undivided attention.”

10. TEACHING and Learning What skills are most challenging to learn/teach? Why?

11. PREPARATION PROCESS

12. TOPICS – Situational Judgment & Active Listening Teacher Support Lesson Plans Teaching Tips Scripts MP3Files Pacing Guides PDF Assessments Answer Keys

13. Business Driven Credenital Seven Industries Contributed to the Skill Alignment ConstructionManufacturingRetail TradeTemporary HelpHealthHospitality & Food ServicesTransportation Speak so others can understand Listen actively Cooperate with others Resolve conflict & negotiate Take responsibility for learning Solve Problems & Make Decisions Observe Critically Read with Understanding Use Math to Solve Problems & Communicate Use information & communications technology Soft Skills

14. PREPARATION PROCESS

15. CASE for Credentialling

16. ASSESSES READING MATH SITUATIONAL JUDGMENT ACTIVE LISTENING [Academic Skills] [Soft Skills]

17. “The Work Readiness Credential provides a common language for understanding entry-level work readiness…” • Karen A. Coleman, Director • Division of Employment and Workforce Solutions, New York State

18. UPDATES of SUPPORT The US DOL fully supports activities including work readiness training and credentialing of youth using WIA funds when activities support moving youth towards earning industry recognized credentials and move programs toward accountability measures. Evan Rosenberg Unit Chief , Youth Policy and Performance Division of Youth Services, US DoL

19. Large systems using the WRC • New York Department of Labor • NYC Dept of Youth & Comm. Development • NYS Child & Family Services • Long Beach, CA – Pacific Gateway Workforce Investment Network • SUNY system – University of Buffalo, Educational Opportunities Center • Community College of the District of Columbia

20. Large systems using the WRC • We are in conversations or attend conferences about using the WRC • California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office • Goodwill International • Northern Virginia Community College • New Jersey YouthCorps • USDOL WIA Leadership • NAWDP, NAWB, NCWE, SHRM • Native American Councils

21. DISCUSSION • DEMAND for soft skill proficiency • RESOURCES & PRACTICES proven to dramatically increase soft skill proficiencies • DEVELOPMENTS that support work readiness credentialing PACIFIC GATEWAY Youth Opportunity Programs success in developing soft skills and improving assessment results

22. Pacific Gateway Workforce Investment Network

23. The WRC Process: Math Assessment USE APPROPRIATE MEASURES AND TOOLS APPLY PROBLEM SOLVING STRATEGIES HANDLING BUDGETS TABLES AND CHARTS WORK WITH DATA MAKING CHANGE ESTIMATE

24. The WRC Process: Active Listening Assessment MAKE APPROPRIATE DECISIONS BASED ON ORAL INPUT INTERPRET THE PURPOSE OF A CONVERSATION UNDERSTAND ORAL LANGUAGE

25. The WRC Process: Situational Assessment Setting Goals Solving Problems Negotiating Resolving Conflict Making Decisions Taking Initiative Cooperating with Others Listening Working as Part of a Team Communicating Effectively Personal and Interpersonal Skills SOLVE REAL-WORLD WORK RELATED PROBLEMS EXERCISE ON THE SPOT JUDGMENT MAKE EFFECTIVE DECISIONS

26. Introductions & Format Beth Fayyad HMH Education Solutions Group Beth.Fayyad@hmhpub.com Julia Olsen Pacific Gateway Youth Opportunity Julia.Olsen@LongBeach.gov Bridgett Harris NWRC Recipient