The Youth Outreach Workforce Partnership program has begun its second year of providing the "soft skills" training identified as missing in today's workforce by a survey conducted by the Southwest Region Workforce Investment Board. These skills include: 1) getting a fob (application do's & don'ts, interview behavior & appearance), 2) customer service (greetings, thanking the customer, making change), and 3) keeping a job (good work habits, avoiding tardiness & absenteeism, conflict resolution, interacting with team members & supervisors, being a good employee).
Able Manufacturing & Assembly, LLC, Southwest Missouri Bank, JCPenney, Inc, and Rock-Tenn Ave, St. John's Regional Medical Center, Cardinal Scale, General Mills Bakeries & Foodservice and Vatterott College were all instrumental in the partnership with the Chamber, the Career Center, and the WIB.
The students in the program are given a tour of each facility followed by a seminar on one aspect of workforce skills that is particularly important to that company. Response from the students and businesses has been overwhelmingly positive. These businesses and several others have agreed to give a preferential interview to any applicant who successfully completes this program. All the applicant has to do is attach a copy of the Certificate of Achievement to their application. A copy of the certificate is available to view on the chamber website.
The Chamber encourages all of its member businesses to consider joining them in this Employer Interview Pledge and support these individuals in their attempts to become significantly qualified to join today's workforce. Susan Adams, Able Manufacturing & Assembly, LLC, is the Chair of our committee. This year's program runs through March, 2007. If you would like more information about this program or are interested in becoming a participating business, please contact Susan at 623.3060, or by email. Cary Beasley can be reached by phone at 624.4150 or by email.
Seed capital to launch the program in 2005 was provided by a grant from the Workforce Investment Board. The WIB is involved this year in helping organizing the program link to the Career Center. Financial support for the Chamber now comes through corporate sponsorships. The Presenting Sponsor is General Mills Bakeries and Foodservice. Gold sponsors include: Cardinal Scale, LaBarge, Inc. - Electronics Division, Vatterott College and EaglePicher Technologies, LLC.
Connecting businesses with a skilled workforce to create economic vitality for Southwest Missouri...that's the mission of the Workforce Investment Board, or WIB, for short. We're a progressive workforce intermediary that oversees employment and training programs across the region while leveraging resources to improve Southwest Missouri's portfolio of human capital. Visit our main website for info on strategies and initiatives at www.workforcezone.net.
