Career Readiness

Helping prepare Washington's workforce to be career ready for aerospace and advanced manufacturing careers.

Job seekers

To be ready is to be in a suitable state of action. It means that you have studied the material and perhaps have developed your social and soft skills. You are ready to enter the workplace and to listen, intepret, assimilate and just plain get your hands onto the product to make something that works - something useful to a system or to a company. You can get prepared through pre-employment testing.

Employers

Having career ready candidates means that they have already been tested and have earned a certification to be work-ready. By standardizing with pre-employment testing, you can save time and money and get to production faster.

Pre-employment Training and Testing

Standardized pre-employment training and testing is a financial and time savings to Washington's employers.

• We have worked to discover key skills desired by employers for their employees.

• We are also pursuing dedicated growth in pre-employment training and testing.
   
• There are national standards that have been developed through ACT, the testing company, and one of their tests is the National Career Readiness Certificate (NCRC).
   
• There are other pre-employment tests being done in aerospace and manufacturing companies that measure math, writing and teamwork skills, among others.
   
• Some manufacturing companies in Washington have created their own pre-employment testing, others are using NCRC.

How it works

Step 1: WorkKeys and KeyTrain Training and Testing

• What it is: WorkKeys and KeyTrain are job skills assessments that can lead to National Career Readiness Certification (NCRC).
   
• Where training is held: These assessments are being taken at select high schools through career and technical education (CTE) programs. They can also be taken through WorkSource locations, Workforce Development Councils (WDC) and at community colleges.
   
• What it measures: It measures applied mathamatics, locating information, reading for information.

Key Train, a software program that can be used by all ages and skill levels is available at WorkSource centers and is free to use. It is also available to high school students, but the district will need to buy a license for its use. 

Key Train can help high school graduates of today, who are seemingly less prepared for the workplace than their predecessors. The program includes training on math, reading, writing, problem solving and critical thinking.

• For more information: ACT WorkKeys website.
   

Step 2: National Career Readiness Certification (NCRC) 

This test measures cognitive and soft skills. It ensures that those being tested will be prepared to show up for work on time and will be dependable. It means that they can work with customers and can communicate. Over 1 million people have received this certification. The certification paired with a resume speaks volumes about a candidate.

• For more information: National Career Readiness Certification (NCRC)
   

Other certifications

NAM-endorsed Skills Certification

Using one of several certifications endorsed by NAM (National Association of Manufacturing), industry and education by working together can create benchmarks that standardize the knowledge, skills, and abilities of future employees.

The Center of Excellence for Aerospace and 11 community colleges throughout the state will be working on implementing NAM-endorsed certification programs throughout the state over the next three years.

• For more information: National Association of Manufacturers stackable credentials and skills certification program

In summary, hiring work-ready employees is a goal for all employers. Center of Excellence for Aerospace and Advanced Materials Manufacturing is a partner is the development of pre-employment resources and testing for industry and education.