Citizenship Ready -- Students as Citizens Citizenship ready includes the development of soft skills such as responsibility, integrity, and respect as well as important life skills such as appropriate and effective use of technology.
Thriving communities need citizens who can and will contribute their time and talents by lending their service. Whether it's through service learning, community service projects, volunteerism, youth groups participation, or ministry support, students are able to make a vital connection and practice the skills necessary to be productive citizens.
These opportunities help students increase their understanding of the rights and responsibilities of being a citizen who serves and contributes in their household, co-op, ministry, the workforce, and the community at large.
Thriving communities need citizens who can and will contribute their time and talents by lending their service. Whether it's through service learning, community service projects, volunteerism, youth groups participation, or ministry support, students are able to make a vital connection and practice the skills necessary to be productive citizens.
These opportunities help students increase their understanding of the rights and responsibilities of being a citizen who serves and contributes in their household, co-op, ministry, the workforce, and the community at large.
Soft Skills are those character traits, interpersonal skills, and social habits that characterize a person’s relationships with other people. These skills are critical for personal and professional success. Many of today’s employers emphasize that soft skills are just as important — if not more — as academic preparation and job-specific skills and training.
Soft Skills Most In Demand By Today’s Employers
Skills to Pay the Bills
The US Department of Labor’s “Skills to Pay the Bills” curriculum and video series highlights several important soft skills including teamwork, communication and critical thinking and problem solving.
Download the entire document (PDF) View the Soft Skills video series
Soft Skills Most In Demand By Today’s Employers
- Effective Communication
- Teamwork
- Integrity
- Time Management
- Organizational Skills
- Initiative
- Critical Thinking and Problem Solving
- Ability and Willingness to Learn
- Positive, Professional Attitude
Skills to Pay the Bills
The US Department of Labor’s “Skills to Pay the Bills” curriculum and video series highlights several important soft skills including teamwork, communication and critical thinking and problem solving.
Download the entire document (PDF) View the Soft Skills video series
Social Media Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, YouTube, Instagram, the list goes on and on. Chances are pretty good that you currently use one or more of these social media platforms to interact online with friends and other network members by sharing messages, posting photographs, etc. Consider the image that social media is portraying about you.
A common trend for today’s employers is to seek out a candidate’s personal information on search engines such as Google as well as their social media profiles on sites like Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, etc. Be aware that what you do online now, including how and what you share on various social networks, can impact your future career path.
Consider these Social Networking Tips:
A common trend for today’s employers is to seek out a candidate’s personal information on search engines such as Google as well as their social media profiles on sites like Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, etc. Be aware that what you do online now, including how and what you share on various social networks, can impact your future career path.
Consider these Social Networking Tips:
- Don't mix business with pleasure. Create a professional email address to use only for job search and for school and a separate personal email address for social networking.
- Google yourself! Make sure there are no surprises which may hinder your success.
- Check your privacy settings. Make sure your privacy settings are set to “My friends only” and not public. This should include settings that control who can view posts, photos and comments other people may make on your profile.
- Keep your profile picture in good taste.
- Think before you tweet. Be careful what you tweet because you never know who might read it. Tweets can show up in a Google search and follow you for the long haul, well into adulthood .
Networking is the process of building relationships with other people who have complementary interests to help increase your influence and position within a specific market or industry.
Having connections and contacts can help you get your foot in the door. The beneficial factors of networking can be academic or professional. If you are trying to get into a particular academic program in the summer, having a professional contact with whom you have a strong relationship can help you to secure a good recommendation and increase your chances of acceptance.
Having a good employment record with your current employer/clients will allow you to obtain good references for more mid and upper level jobs, clients, and/or contracts.
Below are some Networking 101 Tips for you to consider before you head out to your next "networking opportunity".
Getting started:
Having connections and contacts can help you get your foot in the door. The beneficial factors of networking can be academic or professional. If you are trying to get into a particular academic program in the summer, having a professional contact with whom you have a strong relationship can help you to secure a good recommendation and increase your chances of acceptance.
Having a good employment record with your current employer/clients will allow you to obtain good references for more mid and upper level jobs, clients, and/or contracts.
Below are some Networking 101 Tips for you to consider before you head out to your next "networking opportunity".
Getting started:
- Ask the event sponsors for a list of prospective participants
- Prepare a list of questions prior to the event
- Be prepared to offer some information about your interests, talents, skills, accomplishments and/or goals
- Research some career fields of interest
- Practice a brief introduction or "elevator speech" which can be delivered in 20 - 30 seconds.
- Arrive early so you can mingle with people as they arrive
- The Introduction– give a brief overview about yourself, find out who they are (be genuine and interested)
- Bring business cards if you have one and create one if you don't, so you can exchange contact information
- Request permission to contact Business Professionals you made connections with after the event
- Send a follow up email or thank you note
- Join social networks based on career interest
- Initiate connections through social networking sites such as Linkedin and Twitter to establish your brand or professional contact database
