Low-income or unemployed individuals who have limited exposure to the work place or barriers to employment often lack the "soft skills" needed to get a job, keep it and get promoted. Soft skills, as they are commonly referred to, are the non-technical skills, abilities and qualities that workers need to function and succeed in employment. These include cognitive skills, oral communication skills, a strong work ethic and a positive attitude as well as interpersonal skills and the ability to work well in a team.
Most employers state that they would be less likely to hire someone who lacks these soft skills, especially someone who lacks a positive attitude and a strong work ethic. Research also indicates that when a new hire looses his or her job, the cause is most often traceable to the lack of interpersonal and or soft skills.
Therefore, training job seekers in the soft skills they will require is crucial to their success. The key strategies below will help you through some critical components in preparing the job seeker for success in the job search. Among these resources you will find a sample one-week soft skills curriculum, tips and techniques for communicating about sensitive issues, strategies for helping your customers overcome their personal barriers to employment, and finally, a list to help you make sure you and the job seeker are thoroughly prepared to begin the search.
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