In today’s vibrant job market, opportunities abound, especially in regions like Arkansas’ Mississippi County where industries like steel are thriving. However, with this continued economic growth comes the need for a highly skilled workforce.
Through my role as a dean at Arkansas Northeastern College (ANC), I’ve seen how helping individuals land their dream jobs isn’t just about equipping them with technical know-how. It’s also about enabling them to develop essential, durable skills such as creativity, adaptability and effective communication that will carry them through their careers and beyond.
Here are three keys to building that lasting workplace success.
1. Provide development opportunities. Real growth happens outside of comfort zones. We encourage students to take on dynamic challenges, knowing that temporary setbacks can strengthen problem solving and critical thinking skills. By embracing challenges, people develop resilience to navigate the complexities of their careers and lives.
2. Take a whole-person approach. Success isn’t just about what happens in the classroom or on the job. By taking a holistic approach, we can help people identify their needs and offer tailored support to address them. As Forbes noted, greater self-awareness can enhance an individual’s communication skills, time management, decision making and productivity.
3. Put it into practice. Durable skills are most effective when applied in real-world settings. We offer paid internships, career fairs and industry-specific networking events for precisely this purpose. Hands-on experience is the best way to prepare individuals with technical and soft skills that can benefit them, future employers and communities.
Durable skills are the keys to thriving in today’s ever-changing job market. By fostering these capabilities, we’ll not only meet the needs of industries and businesses, but empower our workforce to achieve fulfilling careers and lives.
Stacey Walker is the dean of customized training at Arkansas Northeastern College in Blytheville.
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