With “now hiring” signs on full display all across Centre County, employers now have a pathway to job candidates who have been designated as CentreREADYTM.
“We want to connect local businesses and hiring managers with a pool of applicants who we believe are head and shoulders above the rest of the applications that businesses are currently reviewing,” explained Vern Squier, President & CEO of the Chamber of Business & Industry of Centre County (CBICC).
Accessing these designees is as easy as clicking here and submitting a job opening. After the job is submitted, the CBICC will relay that information to the CentreREADY designees. From there, the designees can apply directly to the employer if the job is the right fit for their skill set.
“When an employer sees the CentreREADYTM logo on an applicant’s resume or hears them mention it during an interview, we want that business to know the weight that this designation carries,” continued Squier. “These designees earned their recognition by meeting their education institution’s requirements in six soft skill areas: teamwork, communication, work ethic, tactfulness/manners, critical thinking/problem solving, and understanding the world of work/supervision.”
The CentreREADYTM program is a collaborative effort that began two years ago as part of the CBICC Business & Industry Partnership Committee’s work. The committee interviewed over 60 local employers that identified these six core skills as lacking in both the job applications received and with new hires. To address this concern, educational partners from across Centre County joined the conversation and began developing curriculums that could mold more well-rounded students who would be better equipped to enter the workforce.
These educational partners include: Bald Eagle Area School District, Bellefonte Area School District, Central Pennsylvania Institute of Science of Technology, PA CareerLink Centre County, Penns Valley Area School District, Philipsburg-Osceola Area School District, Private Industry Council of the Central Corridor, South Hills School of Business & Industry, and the State College Area School District.
This year’s inaugural class of CentreREADYTM designees will graduate in June wearing the program’s bright green cords to signify their additional proficiencies. A ceremony to honor these 70 students was held earlier this month.
“The students were very proud of themselves and you can tell how excited they are about their job prospects,” reflected Squier. “We are equally excited to see what the future holds for these CentreREADYTM designees and our community.”
Employers may learn more about CentreREADYTM program by visiting CentreREADY.org and are encouraged to add their businesses’ name to the list of program supporters, use the logo on their own websites and with job postings, and ask applicants about their CentreREADYTM experiences when they see it on resumes. An employer breakfast briefing about the program will be held on May 29 at the CBICC office; click here for more information and to RSVP.
To explore this topic in greater depth, please join the CBICC at the annual State of Education Luncheon on June 11 to discuss the future of the workforce and well-rounded students. More information is available at cbicc.org or contact Irene Miller, VP of Membership Engagement (irene@cbicc.org | 814-234-1829).
The CentreREADYTM program is sponsored in part by PNC Foundation and The HR Office, Inc.
