Business Advisory Committee

2:45 Work readiness credential/developing soft skills – group discussion

General Advisory Council

Educational Service Center

4730 Colby Ave, Room C3

February 5, 2008 – 2 – 3:30 p.m.

Minutes

Present: Ryan Moore, Terrie Drayer, Amy Persell, Nick Alvanos and John Monroe

2:00 Welcome

2:05 Review a model of frameworks

Carl reviewed a sample framework from accounting. John expressed interest in reviewing the Project Lead The Way frameworks. (Lauren e-mailed the link to John following the meeting.

2:30 Program updates

Manufacturing next steps

Automotive program

IT Computer Science Engineering

Carl shared the program updates with the council.

2:45 Work readiness credential/developing soft skills – group discussion

Goal - When students leave our programs, they will be work ready.

What does this look like?

How do we asses that students are work ready?

The council discussed work readiness and shared perspectives from their industry.

John: Manufacturing curriculum still hasn’t been answered. Where are we going to go with these classes? The closest model that he has seen is the workforce center in Mukilteo. The program takes students through the seven steps of manufacturing to give students the broad sense of manufacturing. He suggested a tour because of the quality of the program and that there are lots of jobs out there that high school graduates can qualify for if they have some basic skills. (Carl and Lauren toured the program)

Nick: HR departments have a disconnect in helping students find opportunities. How can we work together to do this?

Terrie: There have been changes in hiring and it has changed how we hire and our ability to share what options are. Again, we’ll provide training, it is all about the soft skill that people bring with them.

Nick: It is going to an employee’s marketplace for the next 10 years.

Work readiness – What does it look like? Ideas from the council.

Resume ready

Articulate yourself

Have a job

It is a real life work component

It teaches attendance, work ethic and work training

Internship, job shadow, volunteerism, community service

Seeing what life is like in a job based on the class you’re taking

Help make a connection between school and work

Problem solving

Reading, research, writing

Technology problem solving – can they figure it out

Self directed learning

Be able to complete a task without being told

Time management

Use information

Comprehension

Take online assessments (Boeing, WaMu and Goodrich all have them, Boeing has a soft skills assessment too)

Adaptability

Knowledge of how to look for a job and apply for jobs – can you upload a resume?

How to change jobs/careers

Critical thinking

Confidence

Connect dots from experience, jobs and trainings


3:15	Request for volunteers to serve on a subcommittee to develop work readiness credential.


Ryan, Terrie, Amy, Nick and John were all interested in this work.


3:25	Request for volunteer to review WAVE scholarship applicants

The WAVE scholarship pays undergraduate educational tuition expenses for two years. Everett Public Schools submits one applicant per legislative district on to the state selection committee.


Nick volunteered to review WAVE scholarship applications.

3:30

Adjourn


Upcoming meeting: May 13, 2008