Pam Jenson
WSTI Coordinator
pamj@wsti.org
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The Skills to Pay the Bills Curriculum was
created by the Office of Disability
Employment Policy within the Department of
Labor (ODEP)
The content of this presentation was adapted
from the Skills to Pay the Bills power point
presentation also created by the Office of
Disability Employment Policy.
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Explain how and why the curriculum was
developed and the project design features
Discuss the results of using the curriculum
Share the Skills to Pay the Bills curriculum
Highlight Resources Coming Soon from ODEP
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71% said answering a cell phone or texting
during an interview
69% said dressing inappropriately
66% said appearing arrogant
59% said chewing gum
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Businesses across the nation have identified
soft skills as crucial to the hiring and
employment success of all workers.
According to recent surveys, nearly threequarters of employers indicated high school
graduates were deficient in such basic skills
as punctuality, verbal communication and
working productively with others.
Building on these results, ODEP sought to
create an inclusive and dynamic curriculum to
address these deficiencies.
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Skills to Pay the Bills: Mastering Soft Skills for
Workplace Success is a curriculum developed by
the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of
Disability Employment Policy (ODEP)
Focused on teaching workforce readiness skills to
youth including youth with disabilities
Created for youth development professionals to
use when working with youth ages 14-24, in
both in-school an out-of-school environments
The tool consists of modular, hands-on engaging
activities that focus on six key skill areas
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Through feedback from the field
Quested sites all over the country that work with
youth
Wanted to create something that would be used.
Questioned what materials are being used now
Types of activities that have been effective
Type of lesson plans that are used
What type of format works the best for you-what is
easy to us
What sites felt about social networking, email,
texting-did you want this included.
Reached out and asked the hard questions to develop
something that would be helpful
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Do you believe youth in your program
understand and demonstrate skills in these
areas:
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Communication: 60%
Enthusiasm and Teamwork: 81%
Teamwork: 58%
Networking: 0%
Problem Solving and Critical Thinking: 50%
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Flexible lesson design
Structure for instructors
Minimal lecture/reading
Maximal interaction
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With and without disability
GED-Career Prep
Primary language other than English
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Yuck! Where do you guys come up with this
stuff?
It was kind of boring… but not the worst
thing I’ve ever done.
Eh… it was ok
It was pretty good.
It was AWESOME! I even learned something
new.
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Changes in student behaviors
Students eagerly partook in exercises
Liked hands on activities
Role-play was a favorite
Networking activities were beneficial for
students and parents.
Friendships developed
Team leaders emerged
Students started having fun while learning
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Do you believe youth in your program
understand and demonstrate skills in these
areas:
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Communication – from 60% to 100%
Enthusiasm and Teamwork – from 81% to 100%
Teamwork – from 58% to 100%
Networking - from 0% to 100%
Problem Solving & Critical Thinking – from 50% to
100%
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All activities are structured as follows:
JUST THE FACTS: This is the basic purpose of
the activity – plain and simple – and is
intended to be a brief description for the
instructor.
Time: A suggested time frame is offered for
planning purposes. Of course, as activities
are altered or modified for various reasons,
times may invariably change.
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Materials: A list of suggested materials for
the activity is provided. The goal of the basic
activity is to keep materials to a minimum.
Directions: Directions, including sample
scripts, are offered for convenience. You are
encouraged to adapt or modify these
activities to better resonate with your
particular audience, as these activities offer
an opportunity to tackle some difficult issues
and conversations.
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Conclusion: The conclusion is a guide to engage
participants in a thoughtful conversation. The goal of
this dialogue is to encourage independent ideas and
reasoning.
Journaling Activity: Journaling questions are offered
as a way to incorporate personal reflection using an
individualized means of expression. Participants
should be encouraged to choose a form of journaling
that feels right for them, while also being supported
to “test the waters” with a technique that might
stretch a traditional comfort zone.
Extension Activity: An extension activity is offered for
facilitators who wish to continue the topic. This
activity may involve the use of technology, field trips,
research, and more.
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Communication
Enthusiasm/Attitude
Teamwork
Networking
Problem solving/Critical Thinking
Professionalism
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X0voPlW2p
Ss&feature=youtu.be
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Many forms including verbal, written, and
visual
Important to develop skills in both
communicating TO others, and learning how
to receive info. FROM others
Employers routinely list communication skills
as a top-rated “must have” skill
Focus areas include information transfer and
recognition
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Communication skills are necessary for self
advocacy, self determination and life long
skills of youth today.
Listen Hear Communication
This section teaches:
 The importance of enthusiasm and having a
positive attitude.
 Turning negative thinking into positive
thinking.
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“I can” attitude is a critical component of
workplace success
Smiling, punctuality, eye contact and desire
to learn are traits of a positive attitude
Positive attitude can mean the difference
between getting hired and fired
Focus areas include positive thinking and
enthusiasm during interviews.
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Viewing positive and negative attitudes
Bounce back from failure
Success and failure
Getting the job with a positive attitude
Role play.
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-vk99seC_I&feature=youtu.be
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Working cooperatively
Contributing to groups with ideas,
suggestions, and effort
Communication
Sense of responsibility
Healthy respect for different opinions,
customs and individual preferences
Ability to participate in group
decision-making
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Each individual plays a role in team success
Cooperation, responsibility, communication
are key items in an effective team
Employers value team players
Focus areas include positive teamwork
behavior and understanding roles
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Identifying individual strengths and needs
Increasing confidence
Barriers to effective teamwork
Strategies to positive teamwork
Roles of a team
Identifying personality types
How teamwork is managed on the job
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There is no “I” in Team- p.58
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“It’s not what you know, it’s who you know”
Essential strategy for career development and
exploration
Networking is key to unlocking the “hidden
job market”
80% of available jobs are not advertised
(Cornell University’s Career Center)
Focus areas include taking initiative and
overcoming fear
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Focused on the process of networking and its
relevance and importance to career
development.
Taking initiative and overcoming fear.
The 3 P’s-Prepare, Practice and Pull Yourself
Together!
Social Media Networking
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZcOCJbvU
Y-w&feature=youtu.be
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The ability to use knowledge, facts and data
to solve problems
The process is as important as the final
answer
Employers value ability to develop solution
Focus areas include ethical decision-making
and problem solving in a team setting
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Differences between criticism, praise an
feedback.
Values and standards
Workplace ethics
Working together to solve problems
Perception and Reality
Thinking on your feet
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Professionalism is the key to success,
regardless of industry
Employers value those who carry out duties in
a professional manner
Quality work, honesty and integrity are key
facets of the “total package”
Focus areas include molding soft skills
together
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Employer’s want new workers to be
responsible, ethical, and team oriented, and
communication, interpersonal, and problem
solving skills. Wrap these skills up all
together and you’ve got PROFESSIONALISM.
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7dPWVjQS
ad4&NR=1&feature=endscreen
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Skills to Pay the Bills web-based game
◦ December of 2012
◦ A web based game teaching youth soft skills and
career awareness through a story based gamecreate an avatar.
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Tell us how you use the curriculum at:
softskills@dol.gov
To download in English or Spanish, please go
to:
www.dol.gov/odep/topics/youth/softskills
Help your students gain the skills they
need to be productive in today’s workforce
Skills to Pay the Bills