Job Readiness Program

M EETING E MPLOYERS ’ E XPECTATIONS : “K NOWING W HAT E MPLOYERS R EALLY W ANT "

Seminar Section 1 Objective The purpose of this section is to:  Identify the skills, qualities and characteristics employers look for in job candidates  Discuss the various types of skills  Identify and evaluate your skills

A two-year study of businesses found that employers wanted their workers to have seven common characteristics:

1. S OMEONE W HO C AN L EARN T O D O T HE J OB  Ask yourself: what helps you learn things quickly?  Remember, everyone learns differently  Identify actions you can take that will help make you a better learner  Ask yourself if you should take notes the first day of my new job

2. S OMEONE WHO HAS R EADING, W RITING, AND M ATH S KILLS  Do you have reading, writing, and math skills?  Do you need to improve these skills?  What action can you take?

3. S OMEONE W HO H AS C OMMUNICATION S KILLS  The average person spends… ○ 55% of their communications time listening ○ 23%-speaking ○ 13.3%-reading ○ 8.4%-writing.  Are you a good listener?

4. S OMEONE W HO C AN P ROBLEM -S OLVE  Employers look for adaptable workers who can think on their feet and solve problems quickly  It is important to be able to respond to new opportunities at work

5. S OMEONE WHO C AN M ANAGE T HEMSELVES AND H IS OR H ER J OB  Employers look for workers who care about themselves, their job, their employers’ goals, and their future  Also, it is important to be able to make good life/work choices

6. S OMEONE W HO C AN W ORK W ELL W ITH O THERS  Employees need to be able to work things out with others when conflict arises

7. S OMEONE W HO C AN U NDERSTAND T HE O RGANIZATION  Sometimes it is hard to understand and influence where the organization is, where it is going, and how it is going to get there

How Do You Measure Up as an Employee?  Now that you know what employers want, where do you need to improve?  Can you work on some of these things?

Skills Self- Assessment Hire Me Learning Task

Teams are an… What We Know About Teams… Each worker must do his/her share of the work in order for the team to be successful We are greater collectively than individually All of our decisions will be better when some degree of collaboration is applied

How Do Employees Benefit From Teamwork? Enhanced creativity and motivation Trusting relationships Increased efficiency and less duplication Better solutions to challenges Shared knowledge throughout the organization Reduced costs Improved quality of services Increased employee involvement Reduced conflict Enhanced creativity Better adaptability and flexibility in the organization

“S UCCESS T HAT L ASTS ” A DVANCING ON THE J OB :

Section Objective The purpose of this module is to:  Identify methods to achieve job success  Avoid the pitfalls of absenteeism  Understand company protocol  Provide tips and techniques for job success  Retention and advancement

H OW TO A DVANCE ON Y OUR J OB Always dress and groom for your next promotion Seek out additional assignments and responsibilities Arrive early and stay late if possible Maintain a positive attitude Don’t be a “know-it-all” Have a sense of humor F OLLOW THE RULES : F AMILIARIZE YOURSELF WITH THE COMPANY POLICIES AND PROCEDURES INCLUDING PERSONAL CALLS AND CELL PHONE USAGE

H OW TO A DVANCE ON Y OUR J OB Be a big picture visionary thinker See beyond your current role/position Find a mentor Set clear personal and professional career goals Ask for advice in getting a pay increase or a promotion Work on any weaknesses Long-term Goals and Strategies:

Common Reasons People Are Fired Dishonest: lied or stole things Unreliable: were excessively tardy or absent Unable to get along with supervisor or co­workers Used work time for personal business Worked too slow or made too many mistakes Unable to perform job functions or failed to meet expectations

Common Reasons People Are Fired Abused alcohol or drugs Did not follow safety rules Misrepresented skills, experience, or training Dressed inappropriately; had poor grooming Refused to do the work

. Social Media Do’s and Don’ts  Do Be Careful What You Tweet Be really careful what you tweet. You don't know who might read it.  Don't Spend Time Online on Your Boss's Dime Many people review and post on social media sites from work, but given the way companies monitor employees it's not wise especially with your activity being timed stamped!

The Right Way to Leave a Job Don’t react; think before you quit Clearly define why you are unhappy Carefully consider your options before deciding to leave Seek external employment opportunities Explore internal (lateral) positions

DISCUSSION & QUESTIONS Learning Task