Sunday, March 14, 2010
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Sunday, March 14, 2010 |
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FACT SHEET FOR EMPLOYERS What is ACT’s WorkKeys?WorkKeys is ACT’s career, workforce, and economic development system, best known for translating a vague statement like "we need more qualified applicants" into a precise set of teachable skills really used in a job. Employers tell us they use WorkKeys for hiring, promotion, and training. Educators tell us they use it to tailor development plans and certify career readiness. Workforce and Economic Developers tell us they use it to match employees to employers and employers to communities. To date, WorkKeys’ service providers have administered more than 12,500,000 assessments and conducted 15,000 job profiles for Business and Industry, Schools and Colleges, training centers, Corrections, one-stops, and economic developers. For details, see http://www.workkeys.com What are some examples of WorkKeys scores in real life? Careers that require Applied Mathematics plus commonly used life skills: Level 7: Engineers and Scientists – plus tax, mortgage, insurance, and credit card decisions Level 6: Auditors and Technicians – plus Brickmason and Carpenter Apprenticeship programs Level 5, Managers and Loan Officers – plus College and Workforce Readiness programs Level 4: Judges and Social Workers – plus balancing a checkbook Level 3: School Counselors and Drivers – plus making change WorkKeys measures foundation skills, not the occupation or job specific skills required to perform a job. For example, School Counselors generally work at a Level 3 in math but must have achieved at least a Level 5 to have been College Ready. Careers that could support a family of four generally require college and workforce readiness programs at Level 5. Tools that ascertain target scores The Career Readiness Certificate – the baseline for applicant pools A coalition of States recognizing a need for an employability skill credential that demonstrates mastery of foundation skills important across a range of jobs, asked ACT to identify those skill requirements through WorkKeys research. The resulting document, the National Career Readiness Certificate (NCRC) provides an easily understood, conveniently attained, and universally valued credential that can contribute to a region’s workforce and economic development. The NCRC complements traditional credentials such as a degree or diploma. Certificate levels represent different skill levels, with each higher level communicating readiness for a greater range of jobs. A Gold Certificate, for example, is a rigorous standard of performance currently attained by less than 15% of the tested population. Also, the wide pay range for Gold illustrates that the NCRC focuses on foundation skills that prepare clients for further education and training. Gold signifies foundation skill readiness for approximately 90% of the occupations in the WorkKeys Occupational Profile Database. It is attained by scoring at least “5” in Applied Mathematics, Locating Information, and Reading for Information. Because it is a credential, not a diploma, it has an estimated ‘shelf life” of five years.
Obviously, the wide pay range for the Gold Level demonstrates that these are foundation skills. Using them matters. Occupational Profile Database – finding examples of typical WorkKeys scores for applicant pools You can find WorkKeys scores for occupations in the WorkKeys Occupational Profiles Database. This database identifies skills important to occupational success and gives readiness benchmarks. Because some occupations have had only a few profiles performed, we created the new Occupational Opportunities guide. It adds expert ratings to the data in the Occupational Profiles Handbook and links them to O*NET online occupational information.
Personal “Soft” Skills
Below is a recommended sequence of tests (in terms of priority) that takes into account job complexity and the predictive validities of different types of tests. Other components that are common in a selection system are not included in the table below for ease of presentation. These components are application blanks (usually a first step) and interviews (usually a last step).
WorkKeys in West Virginia The Governor will issue Career Readiness Certificates to West Virginia job seekers who demonstrate their job readiness levels in the three basic areas. The certificates are awarded at three levels: Gold, Silver, and Bronze. If a West Virginia company requires the assessment as part of a Job Order, WORKFORCE West Virginia will pay for the three basic tests in Applied Mathematics, Reading for Information, and Locating Information. NOTE THAT EMPLOYERS MUST PAY FOR A JOB PROFILE OF THE POSITION to receive WORKFORCE West Virginia funding. Additionally, all test scores paid for by the state will be entered into the WORKFORCE database to benefit the labor market. For more information about WorkKeys for West Virginia employers, contact Michele Wilson, State WorkKeys Director, or your local WORKFORCE West Virginia office.
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