Research conducted by Harvard University, the Carnegie Foundation, and Stanford Research Center indicates 85 percent of job success comes from having well developed soft and people skills and only 15 % of job success comes from technical skills and knowledge.  Employers are often prepared to teach technical job skills; however the intangible skills of being a team player, time management, and positive attitude are difficult to teach onsite, yet are critical to success.  To address this need, the Caldwell County Family & Consumer Sciences Extension Agent offered Positive Employability: Preparing for Financial Success to twenty-four culinary arts students at the local high school.  The program consisted of six lessons including Ten Soft Skills for Success, Conveying Your Message, Listening & Inquiry, Networking and Communicating Effectively, Dining Etiquette, and Dressing for Success. Participants were surveyed following the program.  100% stated they can now define soft skills, effectively engage in teamwork, and identify the basic elements of positive communication.  90% can identify the elements of professionalism, manage time to enhance productivity, and identify barriers to successful communication.  95% can demonstrate strong verbal and nonverbal communications and effectively communicate a written message. 96% learned strategies to minimize nervous behaviors and 91% can introduce themselves and engage in small talk.    100% plan to create a positive professional image and use empathy and communication to build work place relationships.  95% plan to utilize soft skills to contribute to a more efficient and productive workplace.  90% plan to utilize elements of enhanced verbal and nonverbal communication. One participant said, “I learned a lot from these activities. The most important thing I learned was how to communicate not only with words, but with body language and non-verbal actions.”