Introduction
The future no longer is so far off. There are more paths than ever to a “future”- whether it be college, a technical institute, the military, a trade school, an apprenticeship or directly to work , the graduates of the 21st century no longer see a straight line from graduation to career. High school students who are computer savvy are creating and entrepreneurial ventures and others with masters degrees are searching Craig’s List for employment. Learning is now crucial as a lifelong, ongoing pursuit as new employment requires an employee to adapt and retool. The modern workforce is in perpetual motion.
It is an exciting time – the opportunities are global and the search for options as simple as logging in. What is the challenge is spending the time up front to examine how individual skill sets and interests can be developed into credentials. Of high value to human resource directors who interview perspective employment is a prospective employees proven record rather than just years of service.
The landscape for business has changed. Customers and businesses are connected at an individual level in a relationship closer than ever before. The ability to track spending on the internet, through the stores, through credit card purchases means some businesses are tailoring their products to the mood of consumers. Malcolm Gladwell speaks to the way business shifts when they pay attention to the consumers – and how different the approach to business needs to be for the entering workforce in the TedTalk Malcom Gladwell on spaghetti sauce.
- Workplace Brainstorm (Word)
- WorkSource online
- Entrepreneurship: The Art of the Start (PDF)
- Apprenticeship Programs in Washington
- Interested in the military?
- Military.com
- March 2 Success (a free support for post secondary education offered by the Army)
Completion of academic programs needs to be balanced by practical work or volunteer experience and other certifications that show a candidate has done more than study. Career Readiness Certification is one of a host of other certifications that provide a credential that employers link to “on the job” readiness.
Within the Senior Seminar course – teachers and students have access to the Career Ready 101 course materials which include preparation materials for National Career Readiness Certificate; one credential several industries value to determine which employees they believe have the ability to successfully navigate the workplace.
Access URL: http://run.careerready101.com/cr-main/login.asp
Seminar Teachers have student log in information.
National Career Readiness Certificate
The Everett Public Schools is proud to provide its students with the opportunity to earn the nationally recognized career readiness certificate. The three day assessment will occur in final weeks of the course and provide students with a vision of their readiness to enter the workforce.
Momentum continues to build behind the National Career Readiness Certificate, which is now recognized as the most effective strategy for certifying workplace skills and predicting workplace success. When the NCRCTM debuted in September 2006, 10 states were issuing their own credentials. Today, over one million certificates have been issued and more than 40 states have statewide or regional certificate programs.
Learn more: National Career Readiness Certification Assessment