Helping Young Adults Improve Employability Skills
Strategies for parents to assist young adults in enhancing their employability skills and preparing for the workforce. The presentation covers the importance of work, differences between school and work environments, changing workplace dynamics, key employability skills desired by employers, and the significance of thinking skills in adapting to work challenges.
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GET READY FOR THAT PAYCHECK! Strategies for parents to help young adults improve employability skills and prepare for the world of work. 1
PRESENTEDBY: Linda Milliken Deily Health Program Specialist ldeily@utah.gov 801-887-9538 Work Ability Utah, Medicaid Infrastructure Grant # 1QACMS030319 Susan Loving Transition Specialist Susan.loving@schools.utah.gov 801-538-7645 2
WHYDOWEWORK? Working gives a sense of belonging to a community. Working provides meaningful contact with other people. Working can provide increased physical activity. Working can provide the employee dignity and respect. Working can provide money and material security. 3
SCHOOLANDWORKAREDIFFERENT School is: Work is: Preparing for adult life Individualized attention Encouragement to do your best Same group of friends Organized social activities Parental involvement and support encouraged Adult life Group activity Benefits for employer are critical New friends Independent social activities Emphasis is on employee, not the employee s family 4
HOWISTHEWORKPLACECHANGING? The number of skilled jobs is growing faster than less skilled jobs. And more workers are available to do the less skilled jobs. Doing only one job or task well may not be enough for continued employment. Companies are restructuring, leading to changes in job requirements and employee turnover. Economy is global, not local. The business owner may live in Asia. Companies and businesses are becoming more concerned with the bottom line than with the workforce. 5
WHATAREEMPLOYABILITYSKILLS? Employability skills are those basic skills necessary for getting, keeping, and doing well on a job. A recent employer survey found that employers listed these skills among those most desired for their employees: Thinking skills People skills Work skills Employers also value Basic academic skills (reading, writing, math) 6
THINKING SKILLS Being able to adapt to change Adapt to changes in work assignments Adapt to changes in the work environment, e.g. new employees, new supervisor, new job coach 8
HOW PARENTS CAN HELP Role play ways to accept changes What do you do when . What could you do if . Involve the student in planning replacement activities, e.g. when the picnic is cancelled because of rain Patronize a variety of businesses Grocery stores Fast food restaurants Gas stations 9
THINKING SKILLS Critical thinking and problem solving Is logical Identifies and solves problems Revises if necessary Demonstrates good judgment Is able to prioritize Is able to use and share information appropriately 10
HOW PARENTS CAN HELP Teach the student to follow recipes Help the student develop checklists for chores Help the student develop a school organizer and/or schedule Help the student build a model, following printed directions Discuss choices, jointly determining best choice 11
PEOPLE SKILLS Working as part of a team Is supportive of other team members Is organized Cooperates with a variety of people Works with others to achieve goals 13
HOW PARENTS CAN HELP Emphasize that learning takes place in groups such a sports teams, orchestra, scouting, etc. Help the student and siblings to learn to solve problems, work together Involve children in family discussions and decisions Where to eat Where to go on vacation Menu planning 14
PEOPLE SKILLS Personal and social responsibility Willingness to learn Demonstrating appropriate social skills, including practicing good manners Getting along well with others Demonstrating a positive attitude Demonstrating good self esteem Practicing negotiation skills Working well with people from different backgrounds 15
HOW PARENTS CAN HELP Involve the student in family, community, church, school activities Teach social skills and manners Greetings, requests, refusals Table manners Grooming (what s done publicly, privately) Practice, model and teach negotiation skills Practice and model appropriate adult interpersonal social skills 16
PEOPLE SKILLS Communication Writing Speaking Listening Reading Following directions Following rules and procedures Responding in a way that shows understanding 17
HOW PARENTS CAN HELP Encourage the student to participate in school activities, e.g. school newspaper, yearbook Teach skills, such as following a recipe Teach rules to games, such as board or card games Read to the student have the student read to you or younger children Have the student tell about activities, TV shows, stories read 18
WORK SKILLS Accepting responsibility for tasks Be honesty have integrity Be personally accountable Do quality work Be conscientious 19
WORK SKILLS 20
HOW PARENTS CAN HELP Model the desired behavior Do what you say you re going to do Acknowledge personal mistakes and accept the consequences of your actions Set up clear rules and follow them! Set a high standard for your work Good enough for government work or Close enough may not be good enough Be careful about jumping in to rescue your student when the job becomes difficult 21
WORK SKILLS Meeting deadlines Home jobs School assignments Setting goals, planning and getting results Transition planning Setting goals, asking for help, reevaluating goals 22
HOW PARENTS CAN HELP Be a good model of desired behavior Expect all schoolwork to be finished completely, neatly and on time Keep high standards for household chores Be punctual to school and other appointments Attend and participate in IEP and other school meetings Talk about the student s future plans at home and help the student share goals at school meetings 23
WORK SKILLS Basic work skills Specific job skills Skills for a specific job, such as welder, nurse, or teacher, Technical skills Motivation/initiative Staying on task Having a positive attitude about work Eager to learn new tasks Able to work independently 24
HOW PARENTS CAN HELP: Encourage the school team to consider Career and Technology Education (CTE) courses Assign home chores With the student, explore summer job possibilities in areas of career interest Arrange job shadowing or mentoring with relatives or family friends Talk about your own job positively Encourage the student to perform personal tasks independently, e.g. dressing, making the bed Connect learning to real life, e.g. counting change at the grocery store 25
WORK SKILLS Detail Oriented Self-checks work to catch errors Is thorough Takes pride in work Is accurate 26
HOW PARENTS CAN HELP Model making and correcting mistakes Play matching games Verbally double-check your own work, e.g. counting number of place settings on the table Help student check homework for accuracy Talk about your own work accomplishments 27
WORK SKILLS Commitment/Dedication Is willing to learn Continues to develop new skills Understands that companies hire for the long haul Finishes tasks Knows how own job contributes to the company goal 28
HOW PARENTS CAN HELP Work with teachers to set rigorous, yet realistic goals for new or improved skills Talk about how each family member s participation affected the outcome of the activity Make sure that family schedule allows for completion of chores and homework Participate in new activities, e.g. learn a new card game, decide as a family to learn a new skill 29
BASIC ACADEMIC SKILLS Has the ability to acquire additional skills Basic math skills Addition, subtraction, multiplication, division Fractions and percentages How to use tables, graphs, diagrams and charts Recognizing patterns Estimating Computer skills Basic understanding many jobs involve some basic computer use Computer literacy and keyboarding skills Software packages 30
HOW PARENTS CAN HELP Math Skills: Follow recipes; double the recipe for fraction practice Have the student count change at the store Have the student use a calculator to double check checkbook math Have the student figure the tip at a restaurant Have the student use the TV schedule to find a show for the family to watch 32 Use the odometer to figure the distance to favorite locations
HOW PARENTS CAN HELP Computer Skills: Demonstrate the use of the home computer for real life situations Play educational computer games Work with the school team to have the student participate in school technology programs Consider any needed accommodations for computer access 33
ADDITIONAL TIPSAND POINTSTO REMEMBER 34
CONNECTSCHOOLANDEMPLOYMENTBY REINFORCINGTHEFOLLOWING: Attending school when school is in session The quickest way to get fired is to just not show up Getting to class on time No employer likes a tardy employee Turning assignments in on time An employer s bottom line depends on workers meeting deadlines Completing homework assignments Workers who do a poor job don t get raises/promotions or they lose their employment Paying attention in class Everyone s job has boring moments 35
Getting along with classmates AND teachers People who aren t team players often get shown the door Manners Courtesy is important Respect for authority Yeah, it s the boss who decides if you still have a job Personal accountability Let children learn to deal with the consequences of their actions; don t always rescue them From: Help Your Child Succeed in the World of Work http://www.jobs.utah.gov/opencms/wi/pubs/teenguide 36
TIPSFOR PARENTSFROM THE U.S. DEPARTMENTOF LABOR Start early Grade school students can participate in volunteer activities with parent support Promote education Be involved in your child s total educational experience Encourage work-based learning experiences Internships, job-shadowing, mentoring Create leadership opportunities Provide opportunities for your student to mentor others Set goals Begin with small, achievable goals, progress to larger goals Develop social skills Promote student friendships in the school and community Be open to new ideas Listen to the experts and remember that you are the one who knows your child best. 37
POINTSTOREMEMBER ABOUTSKILLSANDATTITUDES Developing skills allows us to take control of our lives Encourage children to reach their full potential Learning takes place everywhere Support your child s development of self-advocacy skills Encourage your child to get as much education as possible 38
POINTSTOREMEMBER ABOUTSKILLSANDATTITUDES Be a partner in the transition/IEP process Empower your child by working with the school to support the student to be actively involved in their IEP meeting Increase the student s self-understanding including: Disability name and effects Strengths Abilities Interests Needs, including accommodations Learning styles 39
POINTSTOREMEMBER ABOUTSKILLSANDATTITUDES Celebrate diversity, including cultural and ability diversity Help the student develop more knowledge and understanding of employment benefits Help the student recognize her own skills and identify any needed skills Understand that the student will be leaving school soon; help him or her learn the skills needed to move successfully to the world of work. 40
THANK YOU QUESTIONS? COMMENTS? CONCERNS? 41
