Oakland PIC Offers New Tool for Jobseekers and Employers

The Oakland Private Industry Council (PIC) will soon offer a nationally-recognized tool that helps job seekers stand out from a crowded field of competent applicants. In addition to highlighting skills and qualifications on their resumes, job seekers will have an opportunity to demonstrate their employability by earning the National Career Readiness Certificate through the PIC.

The certificate provides an independent validation of essential workplace skills, based on successfully completing three WorkKeys assessments. Individuals are assessed in three areas: applied mathematics, locating information, and reading for information. Each assessment has about 35 questions and takes about an hour to complete. The certificate was developed by ACT, a national testing organization.

“Through the National Career Readiness Certificate, we are pleased to offer our job seeking customers added leverage in today’s job market,” said Gay Plair Cobb, chief executive officer of the PIC. “As importantly, employers know that job applicants who have earned the certificate are well-versed in skills that are vital for a wide range of positions.”

The PIC will begin offering WorkKeys assessments, leading to the certificate, during the first quarter of 2012. The first step in preparing for the certificate is to take a KeyTrain assessment, a pre-test that determines readiness for WorkKeys. Where there are skills deficiencies in any of the three areas assessed, the KeyTrain then prescribes e-learning modules that can be taken to improve one’s skills and to ensure successful performance on the WorkKeys assessment.

The PIC administers KeyTrain pre-tests and e-learning modules at the downtown Oakland One Stop Career Center on a weekly basis. Pre-registration is required, and is easily accomplished by visiting www.eastbayworks.com/oakland, creating an account, and signing up for a testing appointment. KeyTrain and WorkKeys assessments must be taken onsite at the Career Center. There is no charge for this service. To learn more, please email adacci@oaklandpic.org or call (510) 622-4348.