Success StoryGrow Grayson County | Building Personal Skills for Job Success
Grow Grayson County | Building Personal Skills for Job Success
Author: Natalie Taul
Planning Unit: Grayson County CES
Major Program: Positive Employability
Plan of Work: Advance Adult & Youth Life Skills Preparation
Outcome: Initial Outcome
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 percent of job success comes from technical skills and knowledge (hard skills). 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 on-site but are critical to success.
To address this need, Grayson County Extension Office offered the Positive Employability: Preparing for Financial Success program to provide clientele with the personal skill sets and resources to be workforce ready. The program consisted of three curriculum sets delivering objective-based learning through interactive learning activities, including Ten Soft Skills for Success, Communication Skills, and Professional Etiquette
Participants received 6 hours of direct education. The program was delivered via a virtual platform both to the general public and to members of the local Chamber of Commerce. 56 people participated in the workshop series. Participants were surveyed following the classes. Statistically significant mean increases in knowledge were reported on 3 knowledge areas measured: 10 Soft Skills for Success, Communication Skills, and Professional Etiquette Skills. Additionally, 100 percent planned to utilize communication strategies to engage in productive networking conversations, 100% percent planned to utilize etiquette practices to improve verbal, written, and electronic communication practices, and 100% percent planned to utilize soft skills to contribute to a more efficient and productive workplace. Participants expressed the following:
“I appreciated the "Time Management" segment of this presentation. I am always looking for ways to be "more productive" and "efficient" in my life overall!!”
“thank you so much for the refresher on email etiquette, CC and BCC for privacy reason especially. And Also I need to learn how to set that automatic reply message for my email when I am going to be away for a few days. Thank you again for hosting this program!!”
Stories by Natalie Taul
Early Childhood Development Partnership
In recent years, Grayson County has realized below average kindergarten readiness rates. In 2016 and... Read More
Get Moving Grayson County a Multifaceted Community Wellness Program
Adults in Grayson County were asked to rank their own health status as excellent, very good, good, f... Read More
Stories by Grayson County CES
Utilizing Unconventional Forages for Beef Health and Profitability
Fescue has been the most consistent forage for hay and pasture in Grayson County. Some people will c... Read More
Growing Grayson County Beef Field Day
Based on the 2012 Census of Agriculture, beef production in Grayson County makes up over 52% of tota... Read More
© 2024 University of Kentucky, Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment