“Skills to Pay the Bills”

On the one hand, companies throughout the country agree that “soft skills” such as punctuality,  verbal communications, and working productively with others are essential to getting hired and staying hired.  On the other hand, recent surveys of employers also indicate that nearly three-quarters of high school graduates are deficient in these basic skills.

In order to address this need, the Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) just released a six-part course called “Skills to Pay the Bills: Mastering Soft Skills for Workplace Success.”  Based on the results of a survey of prominent businesses to determine what they believe to be the most important competencies and skills for young workers, this workforce readiness course has modules on Communication, Enthusiasm & Attitude, Teamwork, Networking, Problem Solving & Critical Thinking, and Professionalism.  The course targets ages 14-21, is available in both English and Spanish, and is available for free download from the ODEP website.