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| Macy Allen of Johnson City, Mellissa Shaw of Jonesborough, and Kristina Hiller of Johnson City, all LPN students at TTC-Elizabethton, from left, participated in the Work Ethics kickoff. |
Students at the Tennessee Technology Center at Elizabethton, which is the premier workforce development provider in Northeast Tennessee, participated in a kickoff of Work Ethics training, recently.
Work Ethics has become an integral part of each training program at TTC-Elizabethton, which, in turn, should give graduates an edge with future employers, according to Jerry Patton, director.
The U.S. Department of Labor estimates that 80 percent of workers who lose their jobs do so because of poor work ethics.
"The first questions potential employers usually ask about our graduates are: What is their attendance like? What is their attitude like? Can they pass a drug screen test? Next, they want to know how well they did academically," Patton said.
"Major emphasis on Work Ethics, particularly in a tight job market, could be a major difference in setting our graduates apart, and, hopefully, getting them a job.
"Not only do students need good skills in their subject area but they should also be a team player and work with an employer to help them make a profit. At the technology center, we do not consider profit to be a dirty word.
"We want to see these companies and our graduates be successful. If our graduates do well at that particular company, that company will more than likely come back and hire more of our graduates," Patton said.
Over the next 10 weeks, faculty at TTC-Elizabethton will set aside time to review Work Ethics' traits of Attendance, Character, Teamwork, Appearance, Attitude, Productivity, Organizational Skills, Communication, Cooperation and Respect.
TTC-Elizabethton, one of 27 technology centers in the state initially to offer the Work Ethics training, also provides mock interviews and prepares resumes for graduates. "We will even go a step further. If the student is rather low on funds, we will help them obtain appropriate business attire for an interview," Patton said.
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