The New Workplace Readiness Skills – Professional Knowledge And Skills Needs Identified By Virginia Employers WRS Link WRS Resources

WRS.008-.017: Professional Knowledge and Skills

The activities found throughout this powerpoint are NOT collected and should only be used to help you understand the material in preparation for the associated quiz. Students may be required to take an end-of-course Workplace Readiness Skills Industry Certification Exam at your home school. Mrs. Kish will let you know if you will be taking this certification exam at a later date.

WRS.008: Speaking And Listening Follows directions Communicates effectively with customers and fellow employees

Speaking and Listening – Process Questions How do the professional standards and practices in your chosen field reflect the need for good speaking and listening skills? How can miscommunication interfere with your performance in the workplace? What resources are available to help you develop speaking and listening skills? What are some potential consequences of having poor oral communication skills? What do employers expect from job applicants and workers in terms of communication skills?

Speaking And Listening – Process Answers Communicating effectively with customers and fellow co-workers (e.g., avoiding the use of slang, being pleasant and helpful) Exhibiting public and group speaking skills Comprehending details and following directions Repeating directions or requests to ensure understanding (e.g., practicing active listening)

Speaking & Listening Activities & Resources Communication Style Inventory

WRS.009: Reading And Writing Reads and interprets workplace documents Writes clearly

Reading And Writing – Process Questions What level of reading is required on the job? Would you like to raise your reading level? Why, or why not? How could you improve your reading skills? What level of writing skills do you need to hold a technical job? A professional job? What writing skills do you need to improve? What resources are available to help you?

Reading And Writing – Process Answers Reading and correctly interpreting workplace documents (e.g., instructional manuals, work orders, invoices, memorandums) Writing clear, correct language, appropriate to audience.

Critical Thinking And Problem Solving Analyzes and resolves problems that arise in completing assigned tasks

Critical Thinking And Problem Solving – Process Questions What are some examples of problem-solving and decision-making methods, and how are they alike and different? What are the consequences of using a reasoning approach to problem solving and decision making? What are some potential consequences of using a non-reasoning approach?

Critical Thinking And Problem Solving – Process Questions What steps are involved in implementing the solution to a problem? Why do you need to test a solution or decision?

Critical Thinking And Problem Solving – Process Answers Recognizing, analyzing, and solving problems that arise in completing assigned tasks Identifying resources that may help solve a specific problem Using a logical approach to make decisions and solve problems

Critical Thinking And Problem Solving – Activity Your plane crashed...your group needs to choose the 12 most useful items to survive... Choose / rank equipment items in terms of their relative survival value: - Participants choose/rank the items individually - Discuss choices/rankings in small group and come to a group consensus - Score answers against "expert" opinion - Possible scenarios: - Lost at sea or island survival (shipwreck) - Desert (plane crash) - Space or Moon Source: http://wilderdom.com/games/descriptions/SurvivalScenarios.html

11. Health And Safety Follows safety guidelines Manages personal health

Health And Safety – Process Questions What are some things you can start doing today to better manage your personal health? What are the three types of safety guidelines that you should follow?

Health And Safety – Process Answers Managing personal health (e.g., setting short-, medium-, and long-term physical-fitness goals; eating non- or minimally-processed foods) Following safety guidelines (e.g., adhering to Occupational Safety and Health Administration [OSHA] standards and instructor and manufacturer guidelines).

Health And Safety – Activity 1 http://www.affirmativeaction.org/resources.html This web-site is located under this competency on the resources page of VERSO. The we-site gives different government agencies that you may want to look at and show the students the legalities of safety and healthy behaviors on-the-job.

Health And Safety – Activity 2 http://www.safework.sa.gov.au/youth This site offers a variety of games to spot items that are unsafe in the workplace. http://203.147.178.216/safeworksa/EducationAndTraining/ActivitiesAndTests/SafetyCheck/default.asp This site gives a real test of safety that workers must complete by OSHA.

12. Organizations, Systems, And Climates Identifies “big picture” issues Identifies his/her role in fulfilling the mission of the workplace

Organizations, Systems, And Climates – Process Questions Why is it important to know where you fit into your family, your circle of friends, your school, and other groups or communities? How do a company's vision and mission statements help you understand the big picture of the company's structure and organization? How does a knowledge of All Aspects of the Industry help? How can a knowledge of the big picture of an industry help you with career planning?

Organizations, Systems, And Climates – Process Answers Identifying “big picture” issues (e.g., the organization’s structure, culture, policies, and procedures, as well as it’s role and status within the industry, economy, and community) Acknowledging the economic, political, and social relationships that exist at multiple levels (e.g., local, national, international) throughout the world Explaining one’s role in fulfilling the mission of the organization.

Organizations, Systems, And Climates – Activity 1 http://www.cteresource.org/attachments/atb/aai/organiz_values.pdf This web-site is also available on the VERSO resources web-site

Organizations, Systems, And Climates – Activity 2 http://www.fldoe.org/workforce/programs/cd/pdf/9-12-2-3.pdf This web-site is also on VERSO. It is an attitude survey on your habits and attitudes on the job.

Organizations, Systems, And Climates – Activity 3 http://www.mymanagementguide.com/self- management-skills-for-employees-or-how-to-be-a- productive-employee/#more-1867 This site gives information on self-management on the job. The checklist on how to be a productive employee could be given to each student or a group of students and have them list things that are important under that task on the checklist.

Organizations, Systems, And Climates – Activity 4 The following web-sites contain case studies on different problems from the workplace that students could give their opinion on how to solve. http://www.hreoc.gov.au/complaints_information/woyr_case studies.htm, http://www.employment- law.uk.com/casestudies.php, and http://www.resumesinaction.com/CaseStudies.shtm.  

13. Lifelong Learning Continually acquires new industry-related information Improves professional skills

Lifelong Learning – Process Questions How often to you need to acquire new industry-related knowledge? What must you do to stay current in the field and to promote personal advancement?

Lifelong Learning – Process Answers Continually acquiring new industry-related knowledge Improving professional skills to stay current in the field and to promote personal advancement Seeking education and experiences that enhance personal growth.

Lifelong Learning – Activity Use this web-site from VERSO to complete a personal job evaluation. http://cteresource.org/attachments/atb/wrsc/do_what_you_enjoy.pdf

Lifelong Learning – Activity 3 Have students draw their education and job goals in a diagram.

14. Job Acquisition And Advancement Prepares to apply for a job Seek Promotion

Job Acquisition And Advancement - Process Questions What is included in preparing to apply for a job ? What are three things you can do to prepare for a promotion?

Job Acquisition And Advancement - Process Answers Preparing to apply for a job (e.g., performing a job search, developing a résumé, preparing for an interview) Identifying steps for seeking promotion (e.g., taking advantage of professional development opportunities, offering to accept additional assignments, learning new skills).

Job Acquisition And Advancement Activity 1 Review with the students the different ways to find a job (job search websites, newspapers, etc), how to complete a job application, and how to write a resume

15. Time, Task, And Resource Management Organizes and implements a productive plan of work

Time, Task, And Resource Management – Process Questions What is the relationship between attendance at school or work and ethical behavior? Between attendance and professionalism? Between attendance and time management? How do you feel about people who always seem to be late for everything? How can you improve your time-management skills?

Time, Task, And Resource Management – Process Answers Organizing and implementing a productive plan of work (e.g., setting and meeting short-, medium-, and long-term professional goals) Working efficiently to make the best use of time Managing personnel to capitalize on their strengths while respecting their professional desires Maintaining equipment to ensure longevity and efficiency Using natural resources (and products made from them) in a sustainable manner.

Time, Task, And Resource Management – Activity 2 Using a calendar for 3 consecutive days., students are to write on these 3 day pages what they do each day. Discussion should follow on how their time was used and how it could be used more wisely.

16. Mathematics Uses mathematical reasoning to accomplish tasks

Mathematics – Process Questions What mathematics skills are required to attain an entry-level job in your chosen field? Are more complex mathematics operations required for higher-level jobs? If so, what are they? What resources are available to help you improve your mathematics skills? Why is mathematics considered a communication skill?

Mathematics – Process Answers Using mathematical reasoning and processes to accomplish job-specific tasks (e.g., using geometry and algebra to predict required supplies for a construction job, using computer mathematics to create a programming algorithm) Making calculations related to personal finance (e.g., wage rates, paycheck deductions, taxes).

Mathematics – Activity Use the “Pricing” activity on the VERSO resource web-site. Calculating Payroll Deductions Activity

17. Customer Service Identifies and addresses the needs of all customers, providing helpful, courteous, and knowledgeable service

Customer Service – Process Questions What does having a positive attitude mean in terms of work behavior? How does a positive attitude help you in your personal life? In school? At work? Why do you think employers put a premium on employees having a positive attitude?

Customer Service – Process Answers Addressing the needs of all customers (e.g., proactively engaging customers until they are satisfied) Providing helpful, courteous, and knowledgeable service (e.g., displaying a positive attitude, treating all customers with the same degree of professional respect, sharing information and knowledge honestly and forthrightly).

Customer Service – Activity 1 Think of 4 or 5 scenarios of where you have found bad customer service. What could have been done better by the employee(s) of the business in that situation.

Students are now ready to take the Professional Knowledge & Skills Quiz