You may have heard that employers are interested in hiring people with good “soft skills.” But what exactly are good soft skills?
Soft skills are sometimes called people skills, or work-readiness skills. They are your personality, attitudes, and manners. They can also include how you present yourself. So the way you talk, the way you listen, the way you make eye contact, and even the way you dress are part of your soft skills.
Employers look for soft skills to decide how someone may do at a job. This is important to employers when they hire. Soft skills are often the reason employers decide whether to keep or promote workers.
Typical soft skills
Some soft skills can be taught in school. But most you learn in everyday life and can improve at any time. Here are some examples:
flexible about change
comfortable working with different people
determined
quick learner
follow instructions
friendly and respectful
solve problems
handle criticism well
on time
patient
self-motivated
stick with the job
take responsibility for actions
accept the rules
teamworker
work calmly
You might have these skills and not even realize they can help an employer. Or you might struggle with them. If so, it’s always a good idea to practice soft skills. One way to practice is to talk to friends, family, or a counselor. Ask for feedback on your soft skills. Look for specific things you can improve. For instance, if you have trouble making eye contact, you can practice this.
CareeerOneStop has a Skills Checklist (also available en español) that can help you identify your soft skills. Then you can name them in resumes, cover letters, or interviews.
Wonder how public training funds work? Or whether you might be eligible?
One of the most common types of public training funds is available in every state under the federal program known as WIOA, the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act. To participate in WIOA, both the people who get the training, and the educational programs themselves, must meet certain criteria.
Who’s eligible?
Let’s start with who qualifies to apply for WIOA training money. There are three major groups of people who are eligible, depending on the availability of funds:
1 Dislocated workers. If you were laid off as part of a mass layoff, you may qualify for training services through the Dislocated Worker program. If you lost your job or had your hours reduced as a result of increased imports, you may qualify for assistance through the Trade Adjustment Act (TAA).
2 Adults with barriers to employment. Adults ages 18 or older, who meet one or more of the following criteria: have a low income, receive public assistance, or have a low level of basic skills in math or reading. Services may be available for individuals who do not meet any of the 3 criteria, but have one or more of these barriers to employment: have a disability, are homelessness, have previous justice involvement, lack a high school diploma or GED, have limited work history, or lack occupational skills. Veterans and eligible spouses may receive priority service.
3 Youth with barriers to employment. Youth and young adults between the ages of 14 to 24, in school or out of school, who have one or more of these barriers to employment: have a low income, have a low level of basic skills in math or reading, English language learner, justice involved, homeless or runaway, in foster care, pregnant or parenting, have a disability, or need additional assistance due to other issues.
What kind of training is available?
Any training program available through WIOA must help participants qualify for jobs that pay well and have good employment prospects in that local area. The training programs are provided by colleges, non-profits, professional schools, and other institutions.
The type and length of training programs that participants may be able to use WIOA funds to cover depend on a number of factors. Local programs may base their decisions on which programs will be supported depending on the local economy, and the types of jobs that are in demand in their area.
You can use the U.S. Department of Labor’s Training Provider Results website to identify training programs in your area that you might want to enroll in. The WIOA-Eligible Training Program Finder on CareerOneStop offers every state’s own website related to its eligible training providers.
How can you get started?
If you think you may be eligible for WIOA training funds, start by contacting your nearby American Job Center (AJC) to ask them how to begin the application process. Find AJCs near you.
If you’d like to start by exploring the types of training available in your area under WIOA, follow the steps below to use the Eligible Training Provider tool. Besides listing programs, this website shows how many students have enrolled in the program, the percentage who complete it, percentage employed, and even their average 3-month earnings, where available.
1) Using the search bar, enter a keyword, field of study, specific program, or specific provider. If you want some ideas of different careers to start from, you can search by career cluster.
2) Check out your search results—a list of training programs based on your search term.
3) Select a program to read a brief description, see the program location, find out what occupations match that training, and read about what’s happened for graduates of the program.
4) You can compare different programs side by side to get a better idea of which one might work best for you.
5) Select the Find American Job Center button to see a list of the AJCs near the location you entered to search for training programs. Contact an AJC Center to speak with a career advisor to get your questions answered and, if eligible, enroll in a program.
As pandemic shutdowns end and the economy re-opens, this summer promises to have plenty of job opportunities. Already many employers are reporting that they can’t fill open positions. But if you’re young and don’t have work experience, or if you lack a degree or have other barriers to employment, landing a job can still be tough.
Luckily, there are people and places to help you with your job search. A great place to start is to connect with a youth employment program in your local area. These programs offer free job, career, and training assistance to people between the ages of 16 and 24. They are often geared toward people with barriers to employment such as youth who are experiencing homelessness, have had criminal justice involvement, are pregnant or parenting, or are dealing with other issues including concerns related to BIPOC of LGBTQ.
Youth employment programs are usually run by local nonprofit organizations, but are also available at many American Job Centers. When you enter your city and state or ZIP code at the Youth Program Finder, you’ll get a list of services in your area. Some may have income or other guidelines about who they can serve. And different programs offer different services, so try contacting a few programs to ask what kinds of assistance they offer.
Services may include:
Help finding a full-time, part-time, or summer job
Resume or job application assistance
Interview practice
Information on apprenticeships or internships
Community referrals for assistance with housing, health, or other concerns
Find more resources to help with your job or education goals at CareerOneStop’s GetMyFuture website.
Curious about who’s hiring in your area? One of the strongest employment sectors nationwide—with a variety of types of jobs to consider—is transportation, warehouse, and delivery.
Even as more stores and restaurants open, and vaccinations allow for greater public mobility, goods delivery companies—from giants like Amazon to your local pet store—are extremely busy. And they need workers in their warehouses and on their delivery teams to help them meet that demand. Job openings in this industry range from entry-level warehouse and fulfillment jobs to logistics and operations manager positions.
Some facts about the industry:
This industry employs over five million workers, about 3.6% of total U.S. jobs
Trucks deliver nearly 70% of all freight in the U.S.
The most commonly shipped items are food, clothing, furniture, and electronics
What kinds of jobs are available?
No matter what your level of education and experience, you can find a place in the transportation, warehouse, and deliveryindustry.
Jobs that require a high school education A high school diploma or equivalent qualifies applicants for many entry-level jobs in transportation, such as material movers, highway maintenance workers, office clerks and administrative assistants, customer service reps, school and public transit bus drivers. Warehouses need forklift operators and stock movers, and distribution/warehousing workers.
Delivery driver jobs are in demand at this level of education; some businesses hire their own delivery drivers and some use services such as UPS, FedEx, or the postal service, creating a lot of openings at those organizations as well.
Some training, apprenticeship, or other preparation required Careers that require some training, apprenticeship, significant on-the-job learning, or specific licenses include dispatchers and mechanics for buses, trucks, and aircraft.
One of the most in-demand careers that require some training is commercial driving, which requires a commercial driving license – or CDL – that can be earned in less than two months. Experts estimate that there are up to 50,000 truck driver jobs unfilled, and trucking- related jobs account for about one-third of the job openings in the industry.
You’ll need extensive experience or a bachelors degree With several years of work experience, candidates may qualify for many management and supervision positions in this industry. Some careers, such as engineers, designers, logistics analysts, and supply chain managers, usually require a bachelor’s or advanced degree.
Is a career in this industry for you?
A number of careers in this industry share some characteristics that may make it more appealing – or definitely less so – for you. Consider that:
Most careers in transportation and logistics pay wages that are higher than the national median.
Many careers in this industry are best for people who like to be on the move themselves, or to be part of moving things around – locally, regionally, or even globally.
Hours and schedules can be irregular, and time away from home may be required.
Expect to do a lot of communication, record keeping, and observation of government safety regulations on the job.
Learn more
Like what you see? Learn more about this sector from these sources:
If there’s ever been a year when teachers deserve admiration and gratefulness, it’s this one! That’s what the theme of Teacher Appreciation Week this year (May 3-7, 2021) is #ThankATeacher.
The past year has probably changed the worklife of every single teacher in the United States. As the Washington Post recently noted, the pandemic and the closing of schools, or shifting to online or hybrid schedules has changed everything about instruction, attendance, testing, funding, the role of technology and the human connections that hold it all together.
So how have teachers’ roles changed this past year?
Let’s take a look at the top workplace skills of teachers, according the U.S. Department of Labor’s O*NET taxonomy:
Instructing: Teaching others how to do something.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Learning Strategies: electing and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Active Learning: Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
While most teachers used to go through years of training to put those skills to work in one environment or another (think classroom, or online), the sudden closing of schools last spring meant that overnight teacher’s had to adapt their current teaching methods and styles to suit their new virtual reality. Teachers of all grades had to re-do their entire curriculum. Most had to learn new online technologies—and, much harder, had to get their students up to speed with hardware and software and skills needed to participate in virtual classes.
National Volunteer Week April 18-24, 2021, is a time to recognize the impact of volunteer service in your local area and nationwide. It’s also a great chance to learn about the broad range of volunteer opportunities available that could allow you to support events, activities and social issues, while also expanding your career prospects.
Established in 1974, National Volunteer Week has grown as citizens’ interest in – and commitment to – volunteering has expanded over the decades. For many volunteers, the importance of putting their values into practice speaks to where they work, live, how they spend and invest their money, and how they spend their free time.
Why volunteer?
Volunteering is unpaid work. It’s a great way to develop work skills that you can leverage to open up new career options. You may also be able to earn a professional reference from a volunteer supervisor. Many employers and education programs take volunteer work seriously as a qualification, so if you volunteer, be sure to describe your role on a resume or program application.
The types of opportunities for volunteering are extremely broad, as are the skills you might develop. For example, volunteer opportunities could help you gain skills like writing, child care, teaching, coaching, fundraising, mentoring, board leadership, sales, phone answering, organizing materials, construction, fine arts, and more.
Another major purpose of volunteering is to benefit society – whether that’s your local school, community, city, or a wider audience. Knowing that you have contributed to improvements to society in some way can be deeply meaningful.
Some people volunteer for the connection with people – coworkers, students or clients, and the public. In particular, for people who seldom interact with others, volunteering can be an uplifting means of social connection. A variety of studies have demonstrated that volunteering has a number of psychological benefits, including greater satisfaction with one’s life, increased sense of belonging, as well as physical benefits such as lower blood pressure.
How to engage in volunteering
The range of volunteer opportunities is extensive and now includes many online options as well as in-person roles. Some organizations offer volunteer orientations and training, while others may provide basic information and launch you on your way. If training is important to you, contact the organization directly to ask about how they prepare volunteers.
There are several easy ways to get started exploring volunteer opportunities:
The Points of Light Foundation was created in 1990 as an independent, nonpartisan nonprofit organization in the United States. They offer an online volunteer search feature to look for volunteer opportunities that you can work on from home.
There are “hands on” volunteer listing websites in many communities around the country, such as HandsOn San Diego, Spark the Change Colorado, HandsOn Suncoast, Pittsburgh Cares, Seattle Works, HandsOn Suburban Chicago, and more. Try searching “HandsOn” volunteering (your city) for listings in your area.
Search in Google or other browsers for contact information for local nonprofits that address the issues you would like to promote. Call, email or stop in to ask about volunteer opportunities.
Wondering about how your values might relate to volunteering? Check out CareerOneStop’s Work Values Matcher to learn about your own top values, which may provide direction for your volunteering search.
National Library Week, April 4-10, 2021, celebrates library staff, library users, administrators, and Friends and other stakeholder groups to recognize the valuable contributions made by all library workers. At CareerOneStop, we’re celebrating the week by sharing details about what library workers do and how you can learn more about these intriguing careers that combine information resources, research, materials management, and customer service.
The world of libraries
Nationwide, there are more than 9,000 public libraries. Public libraries provide their communities with access to books and other media, computer and Internet use, job search help, and family programs.
Besides public libraries, there are libraries housed in schools and universities, government agencies, and corporations. There are also special libraries that focus on a particular subject matter or client group, that might be housed outside a library setting. Examples include law or medical libraries, music libraries, or military libraries.
What are the types of library workers and what do they do?
There are three general categories of library workers:
Library Assistant jobs typically require a high school diploma and brief on-the-job training. In general, their job duties are these:
Compile records, and sort, shelve, issue, and receive library materials such as books, electronic media, pictures, cards, slides and microfilm.
Locate library materials for loan and replace material in shelving area, stacks, or files according to identification number and title.
Register patrons to permit them to borrow books, periodicals, and other library materials.
Library Technician jobs typically require an associate’s degree or a certificate that may be earned online or from a community college. Job duties are to:
Assist librarians by helping readers in the use of library catalogs, databases, and indexes to locate books and other materials; and by answering questions that require only brief consultation of standard reference.
Compile records; sort and shelve books or other media; remove or repair damaged books or other media; register patrons; and check materials in and out of the circulation process.
Replace materials in shelving area (stacks) or files. Includes bookmobile drivers who assist with providing services in mobile libraries.
Administer and maintain libraries or collections of information, for public or private access through reference or borrowing.
Work in a variety of settings, such as educational institutions, museums, and corporations, and with various types of informational materials, such as books, periodicals, recordings, films, and databases.
Acquire, catalogue, or circulate library materials.
Provide user services such as locating and organizing information, providing instruction on how to access information, and setting up and operating a library’s media equipment.
Learn more about library workers and other occupations you want to explore by watching career videos on CareerOneStop.
Need a career boost? There are many online training providers offering free and low-cost courses that can help you master a new in-demand skill or even help you qualify for jobs.
Options range from brushing up on basic English, math, or introductory computer use, to mastering specialized skills such as coding or specialized software programs.
Check out these training options that offer free and low-cost online courses:
LinkedIn online skills learning offers a collection of online courses and learning paths to employment. The partnership of LinkedIn Learning, Microsoft Learn, and GitHub Learning Lab is offereing free course videos and discounted certification exams to unemployed job seekers until the end of 2021. You can begin by selecting one of the learning paths for any of ten in-demand occupations that offer a livable wage, such as project manager, data analyst, or customer service specialist.
Code Academy offers free online coding instruction for a variety of topics, from building websites to analyzing data. You can begin with a quiz to help direct your learning plan.
Coursera , edX , and Academic Earth offer free online college classes using video lecture, quizzes, and readings. Some courses have a fee, and some offer online degree programs.
GCF Learn Free emphasizes basic digital and software skills including Microsoft Office, Windows basics, e-mail basics, introduction to computers, and job search topics.
Khan Academy offers free online learning in school subjects such as math, science, history, economics, and SAT preparation, at levels from middle school through college.
LINCS Learner Center from the U.S. Department of Education connects you to free online resources to reach your life goals, including job skills, reading, math and English proficiency, U.S. citizenship, and managing your health.
The OSHA Outreach Training Program provides workers with basic and more advanced training about common safety and health hazards on the job.
Language apps such as Duolingo, Babbel, Busuu, or Memrise provide foreign language instruction in a wide variety of languages, including Spanish, Swahili, Japanese, Hindi, Russian, and more.
For most people, it means very little: they should expect to see their benefits continue uninterrupted. Many states have already issued statements saying that current or former unemployment insurance payment recipients will not have to do anything to qualify for the extended payments.
But since all states administer their own unemployment insurance programs, recipients should double check with their own state program to see if they do need to do anything. In most cases, people should be able to log in to their online unemployment insurance accounts and see where they stand. If it’s not obvious from their benefits summary, they should check their state website’s frequently asked questions section to see if there are any notices about delayed payments.
If you have questions about your benefit payments, or whether you’re eligible for unemployment insurance or for the extended benefits, find your state’s unemployment insurance website to learn more.
Careers in the energy industry relate to extracting or harnessing power from a variety of sources, refining it and distributing it, and ensuring it’s safe to use by consumers. The energy sector includes:
Non-renewable sources such as oil and natural gas, nuclear, and coal. Oil and natural gas account for nearly 60% of current energy production.
Renewable energy sources including solar, wind, hydroelectric, and biomass.
As demand for energy continuously increases, experts predict that more of the industry will shift to “green” energy in the coming decades, and technology advances will make renewables more cost effective.
Quick facts about the Energy industry and cluster:
Utilities, mining, oil and gas jobs account for a large share. Jobs in mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction account for more than 600,000 energy-related jobs, while the utilities side of the industry accounts for over 500,000 jobs.
High growth in renewable energy. Renewable energy is estimated to grow to as much as 80% of total energy production by 2050.
Solar and wind energy job openings are increasing rapidly. Job openings for solar photovoltaic installers and wind turbine service technicians are expected to double in the next decade.
Energy distribution is a key aspect. Jobs as power distributors and dispatchers or electrical power-line installers and repairers are essential to powering cities, commercial buildings, and homes. Power-line installers are projected to grow by over 10,000 jobs in the next several years.
Most jobs are in the private sector. While public utilities employ thousands of energy workers, private companies employ the vast majority throughout the country.
Would a career in the energy industry be a good fit for me?
Are you an effective time manager? That’s helpful for the project-oriented work typical of the industry. How are your critical thinking skills? They are important when on-site troubleshooting is needed. Mechanical and mathematical skills are also key in many roles. Here are some other points to keep in mind:
Long hours are common and the work can be physically demanding and require safety gear and precautions.
Many workers are exposed to extreme weather conditions.
In the oil and gas sector, job sites may be at off-shore drilling rigs but most jobs are located in western states, chiefly Texas, Colorado, Utah, and North Dakota.
Renewable energy sector growth offers opportunities for entrepreneurs and inventors to create new products and services.
Cybersecurity positions will become increasingly important to protect the power grid.
What are some careers in Energy?
From extracting oil and harnessing the wind, to supervising a power plant or maintaining power lines, there are many career options in the energy industry.
Careers that generally require a high school diploma, or have no formal education requirements:
Roustabouts
Wellhead pumpers
Riggers
Solar thermal installers
Power plant operators
Explosives workers
Geothermal technicians
Careers that generally require a certificate or associate’s degree:
Wind turbine service technicians
Industrial machinery mechanics
Electrical power-line installers and repairers
Apprenticeships may be available for several energy occupations, including:
