New Program to Help You Get a Job

Students at the University of Central Oklahoma who soon will be looking for jobs can get help through a new program on campus starting Nov. 10.

The Workforce Advantage Program from UCO’s Customized Education is designed to help students build stronger ‘soft skills.’

The new program will allow employees learn about business etiquette, reputation management and professional communication, said Karen Youngblood, executive director for Customized Education.
The Workforce Advantage Program will address information on generational differences, dressing professionally, entitlements, punctuality and honoring hierarchy. The program will also discuss texting and social media in the workplace.

UCO’s Customized Education partnered with the State Chamber of Oklahoma to provide innovative instructions to keep learners engaged with real-world scenarios.

Youngblood said the idea for the program started a year ago when she attended Gov. Mary Fallin‘s Oklahoma Work Summit.

At the summit Youngblood heard from organizations, associations, non-profits and businesses that there was a need to improve soft skills to get employees boardroom-ready.

“All of [the employers] were saying the same thing. They were saying our young employees coming out of college don’t have soft skills. They have good talent; they have good technical skills; but they don’t have the soft skills,” Youngblood said.

According to Youngblood, soft skills are basic skills needed in the workplace including how to properly handshake, look somebody in the eye, use silverware, write a professional email, along with other traits.

The program is opened to anyone but is designed for new or advancing professionals, typically someone that is new to a company or has received a new position.

“We are not going to teach rocket science, but we are going to teach the business perspective and expectations that people don’t tell when you go in … We are trying to bridge that gap so that employees are even more valuable to employers,” Youngblood said.

The new program is intended to help employees convey a positive image and serve in the upper-level management of the organization. Professionalism, customer service and collaboration will also be studied throughout the program.

There’s no age requirement for the Workforce Advantage Program. Students that finished high school, received a bachelor’s degree, or even a master’s degree are all welcomed to take these valuable classes.

The program is designed to be a 90-day session, with three Thursdays and three Fridays over a period of three months. Classes will take place from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Thursdays and from 8 a.m. to noon on Friday. Classes will cost $1299, and discounts may be applied.

Research shows that employees that want to stand out will need to polish soft skills and be able to leave a strong impression. After three months of classes, students will receive a professional certificate as a way to stand out from the crowd, said Youngblood.

The Workforce Advantage Program has a lifetime guarantee, where employees are able to retake classes again without any cost. Companies also may offer to pay for the training, as research has proven the long-term profits.

“Our goal is really to make sure the employee has that additional edge, that additional standout, that additional boardroom-ready functionality so they stand out among other peers,” Youngblood said.

Changes further personal development

Many of us would prefer to shy away from changes and live in a world where everything stays the same. Despite all the fears, change is fundamental and is an integral part of our personal development.

Some things might stay the same longer where others might change faster. It doesn’t matter what kind of change, small or big, it alters all aspects of life and lets us embrace the unknown.

Your city doesn’t look the same, your friends are grown-ups and your favorite food has now been replaced. Things change with time, but use it as a challenge to push yourself more, alter your insight and further your personal progression.

Changes enable us to become the person we want to be. We practice, learn from our mistakes, pick up the pieces, and learn valuable life skills.

 If you are able to identify the areas that make you unhappy, you will be able to further develop the ones that give you confidence and joy.

 Living in the same neighborhood, same city, same state, will only narrow your view on the world. Avoid stagnation, move, take a course, develop new skills and be the boss of own your life.

 “You have to engage the community. We are blessed with a large international population. They come from a lot of countries, and it’s the biggest opportunity for them to learn about, and for you to learn about them. If you only hang out with people that look like you, think like you; talk like you… there are no new ideas. So you need to engage in the community and you do that through your imagination, and experimentation,” said Maurice Haff, Instructor at the College of Business.

 If you think you are moving too slow, take a look back at far how you’ve come. You have progressed, even if the changes seem small.

The seasons will change, new technology will arise, and years will fly by in the blink of an eye. Your college assignments will end, and your career will begin.

Your adult years are just a step from where most UCO students are now, and soon you’ll be responsible for bills, children, and work. Inevitable change will happen, whether you want it or not.

It’s important to understand that your personal development relies on the changes you made in the past, and where you are now. It doesn’t matter where you are in life, you are one step closer to your dreams and to becoming the person you’ve always wanted to be.

Your goal should always be to progress and use your memory to help you further your personal development.

 Take risks, go hiking, dance like nobody is watching and enjoy your favorite ice cream on a cold day. A happier lifestyle will bring you a sense of fulfillment and joy.