Teens in FamilyMeans’ Ready To Be program are amassing knowledge, skills, experiences and contacts preparing them to make thoughtful choices about life after high school. While those choices could be one to six years away, what is more immediate, and have long-term effects, is job readiness. Today, more employers are not only scrutinizing job applicants’ educational experiences, but also what work experience and performance they bring to a position.
In partnership with the Washington County Workforce Center, FamilyMeans offered Ready To Be youth a series of job readiness workshops. In April, Workforce Center staff first schooled teens on employers’ general expectations for employee performance. Next, teens took a career interest inventory survey and began developing resumes. Last week, the Workforce Center organized a mini job fair at our Cimarron Youth Center. Staff from the Woodbury YMCA and the City of Lake Elmo were present to describe job opportunities. They also conducted mock interviews to give teens exposure to the process and feedback on their performance. Other employers left job applications. The Workforce Center distributed a list of Washington County employers’ job postings. An educator from FamilyMeans’ Financial Solutions department will soon meet with teens to guide them on money management steps and strategies they will need once they earn their first paychecks.
Our Ready To Be program coordinators seek to organize workplace visits for Ready To Be teens, so they may better comprehend work environments, and hopefully envision themselves in place as employees. If you are willing to host our teens, please contact Taherah Shamsulbari-Cobb at TShamsulbariCobb@familymeans.org.