Students from Spaulding High School preparing to enter the workforce and seasoned employees from Laars Heating Systems Co. 完成了一门全新的WorkReadyNH课程. 这两个
Offered through the Community College System of New Hampshire, WorkReadyNH is a tuition-free professional-development program designed to build skills that help employees succeed in the workforce and adapt to changes. Those skills include effective communication, 团队建设, problem solving, and decision making. The program is tailored for those who are entering the workforce, as well as people who are employed and interested in improving their skills to become more effective and valuable to their employers.
除此之外, they learn to write and refine their resumes and how to interview for a job or promotion. They also learn essential workplace skills such as how to succeed while being a supportive teammate.
Historically, the two largest age-groups of participants are 51 to 60 and 18 to 30. 哈姆迪说 this is the first time a community college has offered a WorkReadyNH course with both groups at the same time. During the recently completed session at Great Bay’s Rochester campus, seven graduating seniors from Spaulding took classes with five full-time employees from Laars, 一家位于冰球突破豪华版试玩的设计公司, 构建, and installs residential and commercial heating and water systems.
The idea for the class came about when Hamdi attended a job fair and had a booth next to a group from Laars. They talked about mutual needs, and the class evolved from those conversations. Laars and Spaulding High School have a long-standing partnership, making it a natural fit.
The participants gathered for three hours every Tuesday and Thursday afternoon from late January through early April. 高中毕业后, 他们沿着街道走到我们的校园, 拉尔斯的人从他们的机构过来了,哈姆迪说. “They learned from each other, and they had fun getting to know each other.”
The high-school students shared their skills and knowledge related to technology, while the Laars employees shared their workforce experiences and helped prepare their new young peers for the transition from school to work.
杰森·哈特福德, 一个来自斯波尔丁的17岁高中生, took the class on the advice of a high-school counselor, who suggested it would help him think about “what I want to do with myself.” The course has helped him realize his interest in cooking could lead to a career. He now intends to enter the hospitality industry after he graduates in June and work his way up to become a chef. “Cooking is something I have always enjoyed doing, and I have been doing it for years,他说. “我想我可以以此为业. 为什么不?”
Through his conversations with the workers from Laars, he understands that he will have to work hard for his successes, 使自己在同事中脱颖而出, and take advantage of opportunities when they come up.
“他们谈了很多自己的经历, about the job process and what it’s like go to work every day,他说. “一开始我很担心和这些人说话. It was nerve-wracking, but they were laid back and nice. They understood way more than I was expecting – about life, work, and the whole nine yards.”
Hartford loved the class because it helped him envision his future and face it with confidence. “I would recommend this class for those who are unsure about what they want to do or need some experience with writing a resume or getting ready for a job,他说.
According to Hamdi, the Laars employees found the WorkReady program equally valuable. “我和生产主管谈过了。”, 哈姆迪说, “who shared that he noticed that he is actively listening to members of his team instead of jumping in to resolve issues for them. In doing so, his team members appear to be more motivated find a solution.”
James Persely, 33, supervises two assembly lines at Laars, where he has worked for eight years. He said the WorkReadyNH program also helped him improve his communications skills, 这将使他成为一个更好的经理, 还有他的自信.
He benefitted from portions of the class that addressed conflict resolution, 团队建设, 积极倾听. 他也喜欢和年轻的学生一起工作, and agreed with Hartford that it was a bit awkward at first.
“You put a bunch of old guys together with high-school kids, I think everybody hesitates at first. 但随着项目的进行，每个人都敞开了心扉. 就像我们一起工作了很多年一样.”
他也推荐了这个项目. “I can definitely see this being a continuous thing, and I am sure it will be based on the feedback that I and others will give. It’s been a really good program, and I highly recommend it.”
