A job resume is a vehicle to list employment history, showcase specific skill sets and highlight accomplishments to summarize qualifications as a job candidate. But in today’s economy listing skill sets may not be enough to effectively illustrate skill competencies.
Industry training programs are not standardized across states, essentially allowing room for gaps in skills that could produce a misaligned workforce. U.S. Senator Kay R. Hagan (D-NC) is attempting to address this issue by introducing the AMERICA Works Act, which will create a commonsense system to identify qualified workers and ultimately help people find jobs.
“This bill is targeted toward those individuals who are unemployed right now. And it is specifically a portable credential program that is industry recognized so people who are out of work hopefully can find jobs more easily,” said Hagan. “Many job training programs right now do not make people job ready.”
Not only are jobs lacking in today’s economy, with the U.S. unemployment rate hovering at 9 percent, but workers are not qualified for the few jobs that are available. Under the AMERICA Works Act, workers would receive industry-backed training and walk away with a credential for employment in any state. National industries, including manufacturing, welding, design and product development, will be encouraged to come together and agree upon the skill sets necessary for employees. When the industries have agreed upon standards, curriculums will be developed for training programs at community colleges that will offer industry-recognized credentials. These credentials will not be as cost or time intensive as a two-year degree program, however, the training could count toward a degree.
“Industries can’t find qualified people to fill jobs. There are jobs out there we want to fill,” said Hagan. “Once this bill is put into place and an individual comes forward to take a job and they have this credential then that company will know that individual will have the skills necessary to do that job.”
Recently, Jim Rogers, head of Duke Energy, said during President Obama’s Jobs Council meeting in North Carolina that his company cannot find qualified welders to do installation work. This is an eye-opening perspective on unemployment, in a time where we are led to believe jobs are scarce, but skilled workforce plenty. Senator Hagan is offering a solution to realign industry with the proposed AMERICA Works Act to put qualified workers back in the workforce.
This bill will instill a “cut to the chase” way of hiring, where no fluff or embellishments on resumes will need to be dissected, allowing the credential to stand on its own to vouch that an individual is a competent, qualified worker.
For a summary of Senator Hagan’s job bill, click here .
Written for TrainingIndustry.com
