By:ICOSA Issue: Collaborative Leadership Section: Collaboration Close Up
In several past issues, we have collaborated on stories with Business Roundtable. Recently, Business Roundtable and HR Policy Association announced the release of JobSTART 101: Smart Tips and Real-World Training, an online course geared to students and recent graduates, which introduces both the professional skills necessary for entry-level employees to succeed in the workplace and the challenges and expectations they will face. Accenture, a member of both organizations, provided instructional design, content and program management expertise for the course. A free, first-of-its-kind course, JobSTART 101 covers topics ranging from how to communicate and solve problems to how to develop a professional persona that helps drive a career for long-term success.
“While our nation remains focused on job creation, it’s equally important to ensure that our workforce has the skills and training to succeed in today’s economy. By building communication and analytical skills, JobSTART 101 helps prepare new employees to meet the challenges of the job market, thereby helping to create a more competitive workforce,” said William D. Green, chairman and chief executive officer of Accenture and chairman of Business Roundtable’s Education, Innovation and Workforce Initiative."
A student or young professional who spends 90 minutes with this course will be a more productive employee and experience greater satisfaction in his/her first job without having to undergo extensive – and expensive – coursework or training,” says Alexandra Levit, an expert on business and workplace issues and the online instructor for JobSTART 101. Six universities participated in the pilot evaluation with a majority reporting that the course engaged their interest, included useful information, and relevant examples that would help prepare them for workplace situations. The website was created through a partnership between The Springboard Project, HR Policy Association and Accenture. For more information on this free program, please visit www.JobSTART101.org.