Learn4Life says high school must help prepare students for the workforce with professional and social skills

Learn4Life, a network of US public high schools offering personalized learning opportunities, says high schools need to prepare students for entry-level positions in the workforce.

“We believe it’s important that teens learn basic workplace skills to help them land and keep a job,” explains Shellie Hanes, Superintendent at Learn4Life. “Since only 50 percent of high school seniors plan to go to a four-year college, high schools must prepare students for the workforce as well as post-secondary education.”

A recent survey conducted by J. Wallin Opinion found that 43 percent of US businesses had lowered their hiring standards due to reduced skill levels. Of those that had lowered their standards, 57 percent said doing so had negatively impacted their business.

Learn4Life offers a ten week professional skills course that helps students develop basic skills such as computing, resume preparation and interview skills. Once completed, students can then move on to workforce development skills, with hands-on experiences helping them to identify career pathways.

“Many students lacked organizational skills, struggled with grammar, had no idea how to fill out a job application, handle a job interview or understand the basics of appropriate work behavior,” Hanes adds.

“We offer courses so teens can acquire the skills to succeed in whatever job they want to pursue. Plus, many graduate with industry-recognized certifications – saving them thousands of dollars and giving them an advantage over other recent grads.”