When participants have completed training and begun employment, they are paired for three months with job coaches who provide assistance and support. To help its Jobs Initiative sites meet employers' needs for workers with soft skills, the Annie E. Casey Foundation commissioned a two-part study on soft skills by the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies . The research involved defining soft skills and then identifying programs that were teaching those skills. It led to the publication of two reports, which are referenced in the above Publications and Electronic Resources section of this note. A Guide for Informed Discussion contains definitions of the four sets of workplace competencies and an annotated bibliography that is based on a survey of the literature on soft skills.
Participants engage in group learning experiences, such as role-plays, discussions, and games.
This curriculum can be adapted to different youth and adult audiences. Soft skills include personal qualities that promote employment success, such as self-esteem, motivation, and a willingness to learn. WIA currently partners with San Francisco's Women in Community Service program to enhance job training activities with critical life skills such as self-confidence and faith in ability. This training addresses the rules of the workplace, communication skills, and other areas critical for entry-level workers. Self-respect and being respectful are emphasized.