Students, Are You Ready to Work?
The world of work is waiting for high school, technical school, and college students. It’s the way our economy operates: businesses provide products and services to consumers willing to pay for them. But to produce those products and provide those services, businesses hire employees to do the job. Students—that’s where you come in. You may not realize it, but one of the primary purposes of your education is to prepare you for the world of work.
The realm of job possibilities is endless. For example, a restaurant’s service is providing food—and a restaurant worker’s job may entail cooking, serving, collecting money; easy enough to understand. A large manufacturer has many job descriptions that may not be so obvious to you as a high school student. A worker there may control complicated, computer-driven machines or check manufactured parts for quality control. Some employers hire for jobs that require special training—like those provided at Manatee Technical Institute, Sarasota County Technical Institute, or Manatee Community College. Regardless of the type of job or the type of business, however, nearly all employers have something in common: they want employees who can read to understand, who can grasp basic math concepts, and who can find information if they need it.
That’s where The Florida Ready to Work (FRTW) Credential Program comes in. The FRTW Program is designed to help businesses find qualified employees. The program also helps students prepare for the world of work and show employers that you have what it takes to be a skilled worker. Here’s how it works.
First, students take a series of computerized assessments in these areas: Reading for Information, Applied Mathematics, and Locating Information. When the student passes the assessments, he/she is awarded a FRTW Credential card. Depending on the level of performance on the assessment, carrying a Bronze, Silver, or Gold FRTW Credential card is a sure sign to employers that the student is ready to work!
If a student does not pass, he/she is given the opportunity to take online tutorial courses specifically designed to reinforce weak areas. The tutorials review concepts and information relating to reading, mathematics, and locating information. Students then retake the assessments and earn the Ready to Work credential card.
Watch for the Florida Ready to Work program at your area high school, technical school, or community college. You’ll definitely want to be a card-carrying, credentialed job applicant when you are ready to work. And by the way, go for the GOLD!