Sometimes the impression you make is something that you do or don’t do instead of something that you say.
This video features Courtney Wright, who oversees career training programs at a Maya Angelou Young Adult Learning Center in Washington D.C. This is a school for youth and young adults who dropped out of school and are earning their GED® diplomas and participating in a paid job internship program. She talks about “soft skills” in the workplace, which are skills that will help you succeed at your job. Some examples of soft skills are good communication, time management, cooperation, problem solving abilities, and positivity. The video features a student at the school who is succeeding in spite of having many challenges.
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Think about some of the soft skills Eric talked about that helped him. Now, use the chart to make a list of four or five “soft skills” you believe employers value. In the next column, list what habits you can develop that will help you improve those skills. The first row is filled out for you with the example, “Staying calm when you are angry.” Perhaps a quick temper has resulted in you losing a job or getting into trouble. One habit you could develop to help you deal with anger in the workplace is, “Silently count to 5 before you respond to something when you are upset.”
Now fill in the chart with more positive skills and habits for the workplace. Click in an empty box to start typing.