by Anita Brown-Graham, ncIMPACT Director

The Challenge: Disengagement

North Carolina is facing a critical challenge and a golden opportunity. On one hand, employers across the state are struggling to fill thousands of open positions. On the other, many young adults—specifically those ages 16-24 who are not in school or working in living-wage jobs—are looking for a clear path to a stable career. In 24 focus groups across the state in 2023, the critical need for employability skills emerged from employers, employment support organizations and young adults.

Bridging this gap is the mission of a powerful collaboration between the North Carolina Community College System (NCCCS), the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s Carolina Across 100 (CX100) and ncIMPACT initiatives, and the Golden LEAF Foundation. This partnership has created a no-cost program designed to connect young North Carolinians with the employability skills they need to thrive in today’s workforce. CX100 is partnering with local workforce development leaders, including community colleges, to connect young adults directly to the course and help them take a first step toward a fulfilling career.

The Solution: An Engaging Employability Course that Leads to Opportunity

Employability skills are a set of transferable skills and personal attributes that employers highly value, which enable individuals to not only secure employment but also thrive and advance in any workplace. These skills are essential for navigating the complexities of modern work environments, fostering positive relationships, and contributing effectively to an organization’s goals.
Employability skills are critical for success in today’s competitive job market for several reasons:

• Attracting Employers: They make individuals more attractive to employers who seek well-rounded candidates with a blend of technical and interpersonal abilities.
• Workplace Effectiveness: They enable individuals to perform tasks efficiently, collaborate effectively, and adapt to changing circumstances.
• Career Advancement: They contribute to professional growth, opening doors to promotions and new opportunities.
• Building Relationships: They are crucial for building strong rapport with colleagues, clients, and customers.
• Navigating Challenges: They equip individuals to handle conflicts constructively, manage stress, and bounce back from setbacks.

What skills will learners gain:

“7 Steps to Get Hired: The Keys to Building Your Future” is a self-paced employability skills course designed for Opportunity Youth and available for free through NCCCS Human Resource Development programs on campuses and the Carolina Across 100 website. This course is not your typical set of online modules. It was developed in direct response to feedback from local leaders involved in Carolina Across 100 “Our State, Our Work” program, NCCCS faculty, and Opportunity Youth with other young adults.

Course 1: Communication for Working with Others

From verbal cues to active listening, this module teaches how to communicate effectively with colleagues and clients.

Learners will:

• • • Develop 4 types of communication skills: Verbal or spoken.
    • Nonverbal – facial expressions and gestures.
    • Written – emails, letters, and presentations.
    • Visual – videos, charts, and images.
    • Learn and practice active listening strategies to help improve overall communication skills.
    • Recognize types of non-verbal messages sent to others through body language and facial expressions.
    • Apply verbal and non-verbal communication skills to build connections with coworkers, managers, and customers.
    • Select personal exercises to calm their nerves when speaking publicly.

Course 2: Managing Yourself and Working with Your Team

This module focuses on the essentials of professionalism, including reliability, punctuality, and teamwork.

Learners will:

• • • Recall the benefits of taking responsibility
    • Explore time management strategies and explore effective ways to meet deadlines
    • Recognize the benefits of working with others
    • Demonstrate skills to support teamwork

Course 3: Critical Thinking for Innovation

Young adults will learn to analyze information, solve problems, and make informed decisions.

Learners will:

• • • Learn how to find trustworthy sources and evaluate information.
    • Recognize how bias and assumptions influence opinions.
    • Practice brainstorming new ideas and choosing the best one.
    • Learn to use critical thinking to evaluate options.
    • Practice using recognized processes to solve problems and make smart decisions.

Course 4: Adaptability and Empathy

This module helps young adults navigate a diverse workplace and develop the emotional intelligence needed to handle various situations.

Learners will:

• • • Identify the traits, skills, and characteristics that make someone adaptable
    • Identify ways to develop adaptability skills
    • Describe why adaptability is important
    • Describe types of adaptability skills
    • Practice using recognized processes to solve problems and make smart decisions.

Courses 5-7: Getting the Job

A three-part series that covers everything from building a standout resume to acing an interview and landing the job.

Course 5: Getting the Job – Preparing yourself for Employment

•  Learners will:
  • Recognize and apply their personal transferable skills.
  • Identify skills for networking and create a network of their own.
  • Recall parts of an application and choose application areas they need to improve.
  • Create a list of transferable skills to apply to your resume and cover letter.

Course 6: Getting the Job – Developing Your Documents

•  Learners will:
  • Recognize and apply their personal transferable skills in a resume
  • Identify and create sections of a resume and cover letter
  • Identify application of skills and knowledge in different contexts
  • Complete sections of a resume and cover letter

Course 7: Getting the Job – Landing the Job

•  Learners will:
  • Recognize and apply general interviewing skills
  • Identify and demonstrate skills for three types of interviews
  • Recognize and select the appropriate personal transferable skills for an interview
  • Identify and prepare for steps required for after an interview

The course uses an interactive approach with guided practice sessions, helping learners build a personalized toolkit of skills and resources you can use immediately. To learn more about the course see this page.