WorkKeys and the National Career Readiness Certificate Help Meet Vermont Employers’ Needs for Skilled Workers

When Vermont employers asked for help equipping workers with entry-level skills, a business and education partnership responded with a program that combines ACT’s WorkKeys^® assessments with soft skills training.

Following a survey of more than 100 Vermont employers, the state’s Departments of Labor and Economic Development teamed up with the Community College of Vermont (CCV) to create the CCV Career Readiness Certificate Program.

A Community College of Vermont (CCV) instructor helps a student at the computer during a CCV Career Readiness Certificate Program class.

“Instead of building a program on what we thought employers needed, we based it on the skills employers told us were missing from their employees and job applicants,” said Allan Rodgers, Career Readiness Certificate program manager for the Vermont State College Workforce and Business Development Network.

The program consists of six modules that help unemployed and underemployed workers develop and enhance their skills. Each module is a short course of study in a particular subject. Those who successfully complete all six modules earn a CCV Career Readiness Certificate, and those who score a level 3 or higher on the three WorkKeys assessments also receive a National Career Readiness Certificate.

A grant from the Vermont Department of Labor is funding the 10-week program, which is offered at no charge to participants. The department assesses potential participants to determine if they are ready for the program and to identify the skill areas where they need the most help.

The program benefits both employees and employers. Employees gain the skills to qualify for an interview, a new job, or a higher pay scale, and employers hire workers who have mastered the skills needed for jobs.

Graduates of the Community College of Vermont Career Readiness Certificate Program show off the National Career Readiness Certificates they earned in the program.

“A common credential takes some of the guesswork out of the hiring process. Employers can be assured they are hiring people who can perform a job,” said Joyce Judy, interim president of CCV. “It also helps employers maximize their training dollars and gives workers the developmental skills they need to access employer training programs.”

In addition to sessions of the program being held at CCV sites throughout the state, some Vermont employers are offering the program at their own facilities. Green Mountain Coffee Roasters is offering the program to help temporary employees transition into permanent jobs and to provide professional development training for incumbent employees.

“It is a perfect fit for establishing consistency in skills and skill levels for the same positions across our four sites,” said Pru Sullivan, director of continuous learning and organizational effectiveness for Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, which is based in Waterbury. “Our employees leave the program with a National Career Readiness Certificate that defines their skill levels. Knowing their skills levels helps them make a smoother transition through our company’s career pathways.”