By: Dr. Denny SmithDirector, ACT Center

Calhoun Community CollegePresented To: Alabama ACT

State Conference December 11th , 2015

Preparing Students for Tomorrow’s Jobs Today

Topics

• Understanding today’s high school seniors

• Student Incentives• Meeting Industry Needs • National Career Readiness Certificate

WorkKeys Brings Education and Industry

Together• Developed by ACT American College

Testing• Designed to help companies hire and

select qualified employees• Assessment taken at a local community

college and high schools across Alabama• Ability to provide results to employers

using WorkKeys

What Exactly is WorkKeys? Comprehensive Assessment of

Workplace Skills

Communication– Business

Writing– Reading for

Information– Writing

Interpersonal Skills– Teamwork

Problem Solving– Applied

Mathematics– Applied

Technology– Locating

Information– Observation

Conducted Focus Group of High School

Seniors

Fall 2015

Understand What Would Motivate

Students to do Their Best on the Assessment

Any Guess on What was the most popular

Non-Monetary Suggestion to

Motivate Students?

Pizza was the #1 motivatorfollowed by opportunity to exempt a semester exam

When you talk to Students about Career

Opportunities After High School, do your students look at you

like this?

Careers, Employment…What are you talking about?

Focus Group Suggested High Schools Motivate Students for Life after College Regarding WorkKeys

through “Real Examples.”

WorkKeys Adds Value to Your College Degree

• Do your very best today for future opportunities after college.

• WorkKeys scores will can follow you after college when entering the workforce.

• WorkKeys will add value along with your degree.

Importance of WorkKeys Testing

Ronnie’s Story

Right Choice to find the Right People….

List of Some Companies in Our Area Who Offer Employment

Opportunities Using the WorkKeys System

• Bunge• Toray• Hyosung• Carpenter

Technology

• OCI Chemical• Daikin

America• Decatur

Utilities• Hexcel

DYNAMIC OPPORTUNITY IN DECATUR! AIDT is seeking applicants for a pre-employment training program for Hexcel, a company located in Decatur, AL.

With our strong investment in research and development, and culture of continuous improvement, Hexcel is the industry leader in the manufacturing of industrial fabrics and composite materials. Over 5,000 people work for Hexcel at various manufacturing sites, sale offices and R&T centers around the globe.....we call them our “Strength Within”.

Hexcel is currently seeking candidates for Spin Line Operators for their Decatur, AL operation.

The starting wage is $19.60 per hour.

The successful candidates will be responsible for:

• Safely performing all operating functions required to initiate and maintain PAN fiber production.

• Safely start up, operate, shut down the entire spinning process, and necessary activities to insure quality and support production.

General Requirements: Previous manufacturing experience will be considered a strong plus. Seeking individuals with a dedication to quality and a desire to excel.

• High School Diploma or GED required • Related experience in a chemical or manufacturing environment

preferred • Legal authorization to work in the U.S. • Must be at least 18 years of age • Must be able to work weekends,holidays, and 12 hour rotating shifts • Applicants selected to attend the pre-employment classes will

be required to successfully pass Workkeys assessments prior to classes beginning. Cost of Workkeys assessments will be covered by Hexcel.

Hexcel offers a competitive benefits package.

Interested candidates should apply online at:

www.aidt.edu/jobs

Equal Opportunity Employer

Industry using WorkKeys in a newspaper ad

Source: The Decatur Daily• WorkKeys scores are

required in the newspaper ad

• Applicants are:– Screened by OCI

Human Resources– Referred to college

after the initial screening

– Required to pay for the assessment

• Scores are:– Faxed to OCI after the

assessment– Entered into the CRC

database

Level % of the jobsPlatinum 99%Gold 93%Silver 67%Bronze 16%

Pay Ranges

$80,000 - $141,00023,000 - 141,00014,000 - 74,00014,000 - 37,000

Med Pay$97,76262,98738,02227,340

The National Career Readiness Certificate

and Pay

Why Employers Like WorkKeys?

Solutions are Need Driven: Continuum of Employment

Purpose Needs Purpose Needs

Pre-Selection

-Screen people in most cost effective way-Find honest/dependable employees-Save time in the screening process

Coaching/Development

-Identify other jobs that an employee can fit-Develop employees for future company needs-Employees identify areas of improvement

Recruitment -Identify people who fit the work environment-Identify people with skills that match the job

Succession/Leadership

Planning

-Identify candidates for top-level positions-Develop employees for future needs of company-Retain top performers

Selection -Select employees with skills that best fit the job-Save time in selection process-Select people in most cost-effective way-Find honest/dependable employees-Certify employees

Training/Development

-Identify work readiness-Identify basic workplace skill levels-Educating about career planning-Job Placement

The Goal of the WorkKeys System

To serve as a nationally recognized SYSTEM for the assessment and improvement of WORK-RELATED SKILLS that assists employers, informs educators, and supports individuals.

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Why Employers Use WorkKeys System?

Screening/Selection

Find dependable employees and save time in the process.Takes guess work out of the hiring process based on skill instead of “gut feelings”Creates a diversity workforce by hiring based on skills.

Case Studies: The System in Action

Local Industry Turnover Without WorkKeys Rates

Local Industry Turnover Rates with WorkKeys

• ACT maintains a network of over 300 WorkKeys Solutions Providers.

• ACT teams provide more than 250 locations throughout the country to bring training and testing centers to employers via the ACT Centers.

• From Rural America to Urban America, ACT provides a network for everyone opportunities for everyone

ACT’s Testing Network

For More Information Contact Dr. Denny

Smith256-306-2637 or by

email at dws@calhoun.edu

Unlock the power of your workforce