High school seniors Elizabeth Sligh and Patrick Ogbebor won’t have to wait until they really need a job to learn how to act in the workplace. Thanks to GeorgiaBEST, a pilot program launched in January by the Georgia Department of Labor, they’ve been learning the "soft" skills they’ll need for their future careers.
Dressed professionally and with résumés in hand, they participated in a Mock Interview Day event hosted by the Georgia Department of Labor, the Douglas County Chamber of Commerce, West Georgia Technical College and Douglas County Schools. Business leaders volunteered their time to interview and critique the mock candidates.
“I had never done an interview with anyone and was nervous,” said Sligh, a broadcast video student at Douglas County College and Career Institute, who will attend Georgia Southern University this fall. “But my teachers helped us prepare. It gave me a good idea of what to expect when I get a call about a real job.”
Dual enrolled at New Manchester High School and West Georgia Technical College, Ogbebor plans to build on his computer-aided drafting skills for a degree in architectural design at Southern Polytechnic State University. “But first I’ll try and find a job this summer to help with college expenses,” he said. “Having this opportunity to understand the interview process will help me a lot.”
Julian Carter, CEO of the Douglas County College and Career Institute, had coached students on professional appearance, body language, handshakes, eye contact and how to answer interview questions, based on his years as a banker. He said he believes that students appreciate the training and understand, now, how it will help them as they enter the real world.
Carter, who serves on the workforce development committee of the Douglas County Chamber, added, “All employers will tell you that everyone needs these skills and it’s an advantage for students to learn them in high school.”
When Labor Commissioner Mark Butler took office last year, he heard frequently from employers that younger applicants had the hard skills but lacked the work habits and soft skills for today’s jobs.
“Knowing that most new hires lose jobs because they lack soft skills, the commissioner decided to make soft skills a priority in building Georgia’s future workforce,” said Cindy Morley, manager of workforce solutions and special projects with the GDOL.
With business and industry input, the GDOL put together 10 standards that would be taught as part of the GeorgiaBEST (Business Ethics Student Training) program. Discipline and character, attendance and punctuality, work habits, teamwork, time management, attitude, communication skills, responsibility and organization were among them. The pilot program launched in January in 21 high schools across Georgia.
The standards are incorporated into school curricula.
“Teachers evaluate student performance, because we wanted to model the assessment on the business world, where bosses give annual performance reviews,” Morley said. “Success isn’t based on a test, but on their daily performance.”
Participating students earn 1, 2 or 3 points per standard, depending on how well and consistently they exhibit the skill. Those who earn 25 out of 30 possible points will receive a GeorgiaBEST certificate from the GDOL, a designation that will enhance their college and job applications.
Teachers have taught the standards in a variety of ways, including role playing, job dress-up days, having students write business emails and résumés, job shadowing and community service projects. The GDOL is gathering data on best practices and hopes to make GeorgiaBEST a part of every high school next year.
“This program fits very well with our educational curriculum, and it validates what we’ve been telling students as they go out on internships, apply for part-time jobs or have college interviews,” said Mandy Johnson, director of college and career programs for Douglas County Schools.
She’s proud that students now understand that these traits will give them an advantage in a highly competitive world. "We call them ‘soft’ skills, but we really should call them ‘life’ skills,” Johnson said.
Butler is hearing only encouragement for the initiative.
“Everyone who hears about this program wants to be involved and is energized by this new concept. Chambers of commerce, business owners, education officials, they all want to help,” he said. “Very soon, I believe having a GeorgiaBEST certificate will be a common signal for employers that these applicants know how to present themselves professionally and know what it takes to hold down jobs in today’s environment.”
