When it comes to finding a job, candidates need to play up their “soft” side. A 2014 survey* found that 77% of employers believe that “soft skills”  — skills that include positive attitude, work ethic, initiative, dependability and other traits — are just as essential as hard skills when it comes to job success. Pair this need with a rapidly changing job market that requires candidates to adapt and it’s clear that workplace readiness skills are an essential part of any CTE program.
The Workplace Readiness curriculum from Today’s Class was developed to help fill the gap in soft skills for CTE students. The curriculum is based around the following core areas:
Reading skills: Reading for comprehension, making inferences, and following instructions.
Writing skills: Audience and purpose, gathering information, devising a layout, writing drafts, editing, and proofreading.
Math skills: Measurements, basic algebraic formulas, handling cash, and finances.
Work ethic: Integrity, responsibility, initiative, productivity, and other necessary character traits for successful professionals.
The Today’s Class Workplace Readiness program follows guidelines set forth by NOCTI in its 21st Century Skills for Workplace Success blueprint. The program will be further developed over the coming year to fully mirror the NOCTI guidelines and ensure students are receiving the most comprehensive program in career preparedness.
One of the most essential skills for workplace success is the ability to collaborate and work closely with others. The Today’s Class Workplace Readiness program places an emphasis on team-based activities to help students learn how to work within a team. This team-based approach also helps to hone students’ problem-solving, critical thinking, and leadership abilities.
Career readiness requires a multi-disciplinary approach and encompasses a wide variety of skills and characteristics. The Today’s Class Workplace Readiness curriculum aims to help make teaching these skills easier and more effective for instructors, while giving students accessible materials and activities to prepare them for the careers of today and tomorrow.
Today’s Class is a proud supporter of CTE and is a Gold Level Sponsor of the Advance CTE Spring Meeting.
*2014 Harris Poll for Careerbuilder.com of 2,138 hiring managers and HR professionals