Purpose

Workplace readiness aims to help students acquire the skills they need to get and keep a job.

First, to get a job, students learn how to:

• Complete a job application
• Prepare for an interview
• Arrange transportation to and from an interview
• Manage time to ensure punctuality

Second, to keep a job, students learn necessary "soft skills," those good work habits or expectations inherent in all work. Students learn how to:

• Mind their hygiene, appearance, and manners
• Show up to work as scheduled and on time
• Take direction from the supervisor and adjust performance or behavior
• Perform duties according to the supervisor's expectations
• Get along with others by being respectful and cooperative
• Ask questions when confused
• Seek assistance when needed

Third, depending on their disabilities, students may need to acquire additional skills to access work. For example:

• Orientation and Mobility Training for those who live with visual impairments
• Assistive Technology Training for those who live with visual or print impairments (e.g., dyslexia)

Supporting Evidence

• These foundational experiences also develop and hone employability or "soft" skills, including communication, leadership, decision-making, and conflict management skills. Youth must develop and expand these employability skills to secure jobs through their networks and social connections and to succeed in meaningful opportunities available to them in the world of work (Lindsay et al., 2014). GP-2
• The research literature indicates that youth demonstrating employability skills attain advantages of finding, obtaining, performing, retaining, and advancing a job or career (AIR, 2015; Lippman et al., 2015; Solberg et al., 2012). GP-2