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Home / Washington Business - November/December 2005 / Workforce Washington: Work Readiness Credential |
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Workforce Washington: Work Readiness Credential |
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Written On: November/December 2005 |
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Written By: by Mike Hudson |
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In the last four employer surveys conducted by the State Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board, employers have had one major complaint: "The entry-level prospects we interview don't have the basic work readiness skills we need."
Companies invest a great amount of time and money hiring and training entry-level employees. A resume can show skills on paper, but it does not insure that the person about to be hired can solve problems, be a team player, and meet the needs of customers. A solution is coming—it's called the Work Readiness Credential.
Washington has joined five other states and several national organizations such as the National Association of Manufacturers, National Retail Foundation, National Skill Standards Board, The National Governors Association, the Manufacturing Skill Standards Board, and the National Association of Workforce Boards to create the Work Readiness Credential. The project is coordinated by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Center for Workforce Preparation.
The WRC is based on a business-defined standard for entry-level work readiness. It reflects the knowledge, skills and abilities that front-line workers, supervisors, managers and other workforce experts agree are most important to successful performance or entry-level work in the 21st century.
The skills addressed in the standard include communication, interpersonal, problem-solving and learning skills, applied reading, and math. The WRC goes one step further and addresses workplace responsibilities including: how to acquire and use information to get the job done, use of appropriate technology, understanding and using systems, working with others, problem solving, responsible behaviors at work (coming to work on-time), and an applicant’s ability to learn new skills to meet ever-increasing job challenges.
Employers will not be the only ones to benefit from the WRC. Jobseekers who have not earned a high school diploma, those who have been out of the workforce for a number of years, or immigrants who may have limited English language skills and whose credentials may not be recognized in the United States will find the credential extremely valuable. Since the WRC will be nationally valid, it will enable jobseekers that move to another state to quickly signal employers that they are prepared to carry out critical work responsibilities and learn on the job.
Another beneficiary of the WRC will be those organizations, agencies and programs that prepare or refer job applicants to employers. The ability of the WRC to define and assess work readiness will enable the workforce system to simply and reliably determine which individuals have the knowledge, skills and abilities to meet the standard by certifying them and referring them to appropriate job openings. Those individuals who cannot meet the standard may then receive more streamlined service. Instead of being referred to jobs for which they are not qualified, they can be offered more appropriate education and training opportunities where they can build the knowledge and skills needed to meet the work readiness standard.
The Work Readiness Credential will be ready by the middle of 2006. Washington’s participation on the WRC means our employers and workforce organizations will have lifetime access to this valuable tool that will help insure a continuous stream of qualified job applicants.
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