FALL 2008

The Pittsburgh Regional Compact meets the needs of employers faced with finding skilled workers to fill increasingly demanding jobs in the region. The Compact creates employer-educator partnerships to build southwestern Pennsylvania’s workforce of the future. It facilitates real-world career education in areas such as work readiness work readiness and skill training for young people and educator-in-the-workplace experience for teachers.

This edition of the Pittsburgh Regional Compact Quarterly features a career-building partnership between Citizens Bank of Pennsylvania and The Neighborhood Academy. The two are collaborating to address the future employment needs of the bank and of the students.

Citizens Bank and The Neighborhood Academy: Building Careers and Learning Corporate Culture

Citizens Bank of Pennsylvania is putting its money, proverbially speaking, where its mouth is by investing in real-world career education for a group of promising students from southwestern Pennsylvania.

BUSINESS LEADERS + TEACHERS + STUDENTS
A member of the Pittsburgh Regional Compact, Citizens Bank is in partnership with another Compact member, The Neighborhood Academy. Recently, the bank brought both faculty and students from The Academy to its corporate center in downtown Pittsburgh. There, both groups participated in a half-day Compact career education program designed to help the faculty and the students better understand how careers are built, with emphasis on working in the Pittsburgh region. The program was one of several planned for The Neighborhood Academy students this year in partnership with Citizens Bank. The bank corporately supports the school in a number of ways, including having bank leadership serving on the school’s board of directors.

DRESS FOR SUCCESS
Organized by James Nealon and Inez Miles, vice presidents with Citizens Bank, the career education program for a group of approximately 40 students began with a session on dressing to be successful, with emphasis on what to wear to job interviews.

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Fashion Editor LaMont Jones presented. He articulated how clothing creates a lasting impression, good or bad, within the first five seconds of meeting a new individual, such as a prospective employer. Jones provided students with examples of choices that can allow them to reflect their styles and personalities but convey the impression that they have good judgment, and are competent, responsible and reliable. “Answering the students’ questions and seeing their interest in the subject was enjoyable,” said Jones. “I hope that the students are now more thoughtful and intentional about how they dress and groom on any given occasion.”

FUTURE WORKFORCE: BUSINESS-EDUCATOR DISCUSSIONS
Concurrently, an educator-in-the-workplace session was held for a group of 10 Academy faculty members. During a roundtable, facilitated by three senior Citizens managers, faculty heard from the corporate sector regarding which industries or business segments are expected to grow in the region and what skills sets will be required from employees to be successful in these areas; what corporations look for in new employees who will advance new business; and what key life skills, learned outside of the classroom, have contributed to career success, and supported capitalizing on opportunities and recovering from setbacks.

RESUMES AND INTERVIEWS
Following these sessions, students and faculty came together for a workshop on resume writing and job interview skills. Conducted by Kiesha Williams, a Citizens recruiter, the workshop examined the key elements of a good resume. As a hands-on activity, groups of students examined several resumes to determine their strengths or weaknesses. Each group then reported on their findings and gave its vote for the best resume. Williams helped students work through concerns such as not having—as part of the up-and-coming workforce—a great deal of job experience. She stressed the value of volunteer experiences in the community, at school and at church.

THINKING ON YOUR FEET
Williams also conducted a mock job interview with a student volunteer. The focus was on behavior-based interviewing which, according to Williams, will be the favored technique among human resources professionals.

This technique helps employers get to more intimately know a prospective employee and how he or she might perform in the workplace by asking them to create a narrative about how they handled specific situations, such as a conflict. The responses help to illustrate how an employee thinks on his/her feet, how well he/she communicates and if he/she is being honest in responding. Williams explained that interviewers may ask the same question several different ways to check for consistency in answers.

Faculty’s participation in this workshop allowed them to glean ideas about career preparation—such as practicing behavior-based interviewing with students—when doing so is practical.

FERTILE GROUND FOR BUILDING THE WORKFORCE
“The Neighborhood Academy is fertile ground for us to help develop and nurture the workforce of the 21st century. Working with students who have a desire and passion to learn is a joy. The benefit is mutual since the students help keep us up to date as well,” said Miles.

The Employers Speak - “The New ‘Three Rs: Resourcefulness, Resilience and Respect’”

A panel of three senior Citizens Bank managers shared these observations about real-world career education during the educator-in-the-workplace roundtable session with The Neighborhood Academy faculty. The panelists included: Stanley J. Maharam, SVP and Team Leader; Keith Alves, SVP and Director of Regional Banking, Western PA; and James A. Feczko, VP Cash Management.

BEING A SELF-STARTER AND A LIFE-LONG LEARNER
“Organizations are flatter today to enhance efficiency. Because business moves rapidly, having fewer layers is important. This means that corporate training today isn’t the same as it was 20 years ago. Then, an employee may have had a lot more one-on-one training to get him or her up to speed. Today, an employee needs to take the initiative to ensure that he or she is getting the necessary training and skills. Today’s employees need to have skills, early on, that allow them to work independently and to be entrepreneurial.”

READY FOR TECHNOLOGY ON DAY ONE
“Students must be tech savvy. They need to be able to utilize a range of equipment, tools and software for research and other applications related to business. Teachers can help students focus the tech savviness of their personal lives so that it can support their professional growth.”

CRITICAL SKILLS
“Math, science, communications skills and writing are critical skills sets that employers need teachers to work on. Every job today requires these of employees. A supervisor or boss could be located in an office across the country, for example, and an employee needs to effectively communicate with that supervisor, distance notwithstanding.”

“Discipline and outward focus are critical. Discipline entails knowing ‘where will I take this project,’ ‘what are my goals’ and ‘how will I get there.’ Outward focus defines having a certain ‘emotional intelligence’—understanding a customer’s needs and how you can best serve him or her.”

WHERE THE JOBS ARE
“Eds and Meds are our most significant economic drivers in the Pittsburgh region, offering well-paying jobs. But good careers can also be found locally in back office support at corporate headquarters or with utilities or in high-tech manufacturing. All require different skills and education. Students need to determine what they love to do. They will work hard for what they love.”

RIGHT TRAINING, COMPETENCIES … KIDS WILL SHINE
“Kids with the right training and competencies can differentiate themselves in the workplace. Students with an understanding of a more complex world and how to deal with it will shine.”

In Their Own Words:

Reflecting on their experiences over a post-event lunch provided by Citizens Bank, several students — our future workforce — said:

• “It’s important to find the right balance with your clothing. What you like to wear may not be appropriate for work.”
  —LaTonya Perkins

• “Communication is important. You have to know how to talk to people in the right way. You need to make eye contact and not be aggressive.”
  —Jamie Williams

• “I want to pursue a career in sports journalism or sports marketing. I love to write. Today reminded me of all the important things I need to do to get ready for my career.”
  —Julian Reed

• “We are really lucky to be students at The Academy and to have experiences like this. I hope to be an electrical engineer, and I know there will be job competition. Getting to practice my interview skills and to learn more about what employers are looking for will help me get ahead.”
  —Darius Sullivan

Faculty member Brent Jernigan offered the following observation:
“Programs and experience like this make our kids think creatively. The ability to think and not just ‘do’ is the stuff executives are made of.”

Easier Than You’d Imagine! – Tips for Successful Career Awareness Events

Inez K. Miles, who coordinated the career education visit by The Neighborhood Academy students to Citizens Bank of Pennsylvania, reflected on what was successful and what can be done to enhance future visits.

What did you do to create success?
“I secured buy-in to program content with the school administration and internal corporate leadership during the development phase of the program.”

How would you improve on your success?
“Solicit feedback from program participants as well as presenters on an ongoing basis.”

What makes the effort worthwhile?
“Seeing the students become animated about the topics on which we presented - taking notes and asking questions - is satisfying. The hope that they will apply the career education concepts is also motivating.”

In Brief:

• Secure program content buy-in with school and corporate leadership early on.
• Routinely solicit feedback from participants and presenters.
• Find satisfaction in the students’ animated engagement.

Now's the Time to Connect to Build Your Future Workforce
Educator in the Workplace: “An Incredible Opportunity for Business Leaders…”

The educator-in-the-workplace program is an incredible opportunity for business leaders to work with school districts, according to Daniel Paul, a certified workforce development professional at the Allegheny Intermediate Unit. And now, says Paul, is the right time for businesses looking to connect with educators in this meaningful way to establish contact with an organization such as the Allegheny Intermediate Unit (AIU).
At the AIU, this program is more than just a series of business visits or job shadows by educators.  Rather, it’s an opportunity for professionals to meet professionals with a common goal:  to support and enhance the career growth and development of our youth—the workforce of tomorrow for the Pittsburgh region. 
Recently the Post-Gazette headlined, “…Teachers Travel to Work Sites to Learn What to Teach.” The article about the AIU program provided several local and real-world examples of how educators and employers are coming together to mutual benefit. For business leaders, these partnerships can help with the recruitment of new employees and provide opportunities to tell teachers what skills prospective employees might be lacking.

EDUCATORS: BRINGING WORKPLACE EXPERIENCES BACK TO THE CLASSROOM
The educator-in-the-workplace program at the AIU prepares educators and business hosts for a positive and constructive exchange of ideas. 

Prior to any placements at business sites, educators participate in an educator-in-the-workplace workshop to discuss employment issues with a panel of business leaders.  Engagement with business sites follows with educators using an educator-in-the-workplace logbook to record their observations in a common language appropriate for career education.  Next, educators prepare classroom lessons about the business culture, expectations and skill training components that they have witnessed in the workplace.  These lessons are aligned with the Pennsylvania Career Education and Work Standards as well as the Three Rivers Workforce Investment Board’s Work Ready Competencies. 

BUSINESSES + SCHOOLS: ENGAGING TO FILL THE EMPLOYEE PIPELINE
Business hosts receive a guidebook that helps them develop an agenda and understand the purpose of this program.  All of this preparation results in some extraordinary examples of career education being integrated into the classroom.  A secondary outcome is the development of a working relationship between the educator and a newfound business partner. Employee partners are often willing to visit a classroom to tell students the story of their career path and answer questions about the day to day work they do and make connections to the work that the student is doing in the classroom. Subsequently, job shadows, internships and part time employment can be the result of the special relationship between an employer and the class of the teacher participating in educator in the workplace.

“This is a ‘win-win-win’ program,” said Paul.  “Businesses win by their opportunity to engage in practical ways with education. Educators win by having a structured experience at an actual job site. And students win with the delivery of current, relevant and useful career information.”

MAKING THE CONNECTION
Paul notes that although the AIU runs its program every summer, beginning in June, it is possible for businesses and educators to partner at other times of the year, but it’s more difficult. “More important than when the program is done is determining that a business’s mission is aligned with the educator-in-the-workplace program’s intention. Unlike a student visit to a business or job shadowing for a student, this program requires professionals to develop ways to bring information, insight and inspiration to the classroom.

“It’s not difficult,” said Paul. I work with the participating business, to varying degrees, to help them have the best experience and to get across their most important messages to educators and students.

Editor’s note: For those seeking additional information on the Allegheny Intermediate Unit’s educator-in- the-workplace program, Dan Paul is available at 412-394-5702 or via e-mail at daniel.paul@aiu3.net.

Ready to Plan a Workplace Visit? A Guide is Now Available Via Compact Website’s Library

Pittsburgh Regional Compact Member FASA (Fostering Academic and Social Achievement) has prepared a job site visit guide, which is now available via the Compact Web site library as a sample planning template for job site visits. Intended to help employers prepare two- to four-hour job site visits for one or more students, the guide can be adapted by others for their own job site visits.

While some employers have long established routines and procedures for job site visits from students, many do not. FASA’s guide was designed to help employers plan job visits quickly and provides forms to capture key information for the participating school or after school program manager. Employers can use as much or as little of it as they like in planning site visits. This guidebook was prepared to support career development activities during FASA’s 2008 Summer Camp.

FASA (Fostering Academic and Social Achievement) is an after-school violence prevention program serving 23 sixth graders from Faison School Intermediate Campus in the Homewood neighborhood of the City of Pittsburgh.

Pittsburgh Regional Compact members are encouraged to share their career education materials via the Compact Web site’s library. Members with materials to share should contact Will Bernstein at the Allegheny Conference at wbernstein@alleghenyconference.org.

Compact in the News: the Media Look at Building the Workforce

• Compact Member WTAE – TV recently aired this report on workforce preparedness, part of a series on issues impacting the region. The report illustrates the messages of the Compact, including the impact on employers, the need for schools’ engagement in real-world career education and the industry sectors where the regional jobs of tomorrow will be found. Allegheny Conference CEO Mike Langley is interviewed by WTAE’s Sheldon Ingram. View the segment

In addition, Compact Member Pittsburgh Post-Gazette provided substantial editorial coverage for the Compact initiative during June, including both an article and an editorial in support of matching students with our region’s jobs:

• Job partnership initiative gets second wind
  Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, June 12, 2008
• Ready to Work
  Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, June 20, 2008
• Letter to the Editor
  Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, July 8, 2008

• The Post-Gazette also ran a story on the value of educator-in-the-workplace programs. Read the article to learn more about several employers’ experiences and how the Allegheny Intermediate Unit can help facilitate these partnerships.

• The Pittsburgh Regional Compact got national media exposure when the initiative was included in the July 2008 edition of Human Resources Executive^® magazine. The article, “Class Act,” focused on how employers are reaching out to help teachers develop curriculum to meet employers’ workforce needs.

Human Resource Executive^® is the premier publication focused on strategic issues in HR. Written primarily for vice presidents and directors of human resources, the magazine provides these key decision-makers with news, profiles of HR visionaries and success stories of human resource innovators. More than 75,000 HR decision-makers currently receive the publication.

Read the article and an accompanying sidebar, featuring Westinghouse Electric Company and South Fayette School District.

• The Hispanic Center Newsletter Spotlights Pittsburgh Regional Compact (PDF file)
  Interested in strengthening economic development and cultural diversity in southwestern Pennsylvania, The Hispanic Center specializes in analyzing the needs of Hispanics seeking employment referrals, training and other services. The Center featured the Compact in its June 2008 newsletter, Oportunidades.

The Pittsburgh Regional Compact is an employer-driven initiative collaboratively
sponsored by the Allegheny Conference on Community Development, business
leaders, educators, students, educational institutions and workforce development
organizations across the 10-county Pittsburgh region.