Apprentice Life Skills Training · teaching team (credit counselor, banker). • Connect students...

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Apprentice Life Skills Training

Stephanie M. KellnerAirport University Manager

Port JobsSeattle, Washington

Mark KessenichPresident and 

Chief Executive OfficerWRTP/BIG STEP

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

James St. JohnBusiness Manager/Financial Secretary

Central Ontario Building TradesToronto, Ontario

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Financial Tools for the Trades

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“Trying to get apprentices to understand that they need to save for those down times is always a difficult thing.”

–Apprenticeship Coordinator

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About Financial Tools

• Created in 2005• Designed with

apprenticeship programs• 4-hour class and Survival

Guide• For first year apprentices• 3,200 WA apprentices

and pre-apprentices trained

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Main Topics

1. Financial Goals2. Spending plans3. Be prepared for

apprenticeship4. Credit reports

and credit scores

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SMART Goals

Better: Pay off my $2,000 credit card debt in six months.

Ok: Get out of debt.

Best: Take $85 from my weekly paycheck to pay off my $2,000 credit card debt in six months.

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Spending Plan: A Tool to Plan and Track Spending

• How much money is coming in

• How much money is going out (and where)

• Bottom line = what’s left over

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Spending Leaks: The Little Things Add Up!

$5.00 a day = $150 a month =

$1,800 a year$5.00 a day = $150 a month =

$1,800 a year

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Ricky’s Unemployment Plan

$3,000 monthly expenses

$1,000 unemployment

$1,200 partner income

$300 savings

$300 side work

$200 budget cuts

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Credit Cards

Pays minimum payment

starts at $199/Month$11,600/Interest27 years to pay

Pays a fixed amount each month

$250/month$2,980/Interest5 years to pay

Pay off 22 years faster

Save $8,600 in interest

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Survival Guide

• Apprentices take home to reinforce what they learned

• Goes hand-in-hand with class

• Includes saving and investing basics

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Key Takeaways

• Make as interactive as possible, e.g. spending plan game; calculate your own emergency fund goal

• Involve financial professionals as part of the teaching team (credit counselor, banker).

• Connect students who need additional help to reputable financial services. E.g., credit counseling offered at training center.

• Infuse financial education throughout apprenticeship. Students are interested and want more! E.g., homeownership, investing, retirement education.

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“I’ve got a big family and every month something comes up. I’m really interested in doing a spending plan and having an emergency fund.

Having [a financial education] class sends the right message that this is something serious enough that everybody should sit down and learn.”

-Heat & Frost Insulator apprentice

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WRTP/Big Step

• Workforce Intermediary– Manufacturing and Construction Industry

• Recruitment, Preparation, and Retention

• Registered Apprenticeship Alignment– Operate Apprenticeship Readiness and

Preparation Programs – Industry Partnerships include labor-

management, JATC/JAC’s, and State/Federal Apprenticeship Offices

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Building The Future

• Mentoring – Worksite Partnerships

• “Life Skills Coaching”– Community and Family Support

• Retention– Classroom Support and Learning Skills

• Re-engagement– Managing Layoff and Staying Focused

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“Life Skills”

Apprenticeship Readiness• Building a foundation for Success• Academic, Essential Skills, and Life Skills—

Industry Designed and Structured Programs– Attendance Policy– Handbook of Expectations– Worksite Communications– Work Pace and Quality

Expectations

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“Life Skills”

Apprenticeship • Preparing for Success

– Wisconsin, Train the Trainer– Mentorship – Team and interpersonal skills

• Workforce diversity• Generational change

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Life Skills and Change

• Industry preparing for current and future workforce– Changed

expectations– What is required vs.

what is known• Changing technology• Demographic shift

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Strong Life Skills Foundation = Better Workers

• Increase towards excellence and quality-“Code of Distinction”

• Build loyalty to craft and industry• Decrease worker stress

– More financially stable– Team orientation– Responsive to changing work environment

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Key Takeaways

• Life Skills is a serious part of successful Apprenticeship Readiness and Apprenticeship

• Apprenticeship Readiness programs need to align to industry and establish a foundation of life skills

• RA System and Industry needs to lead and assist Coordinators and industry partners to help them incorporate further life skills development– Staying in touch and linking to support, mentoring

and training– Providing resources to industry to help them better

meet their needs

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COBTCentral Ontario Building Trades

Hammer Heads—It’s Working

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Result Driven

Hammer Heads is a 12 week “hands-on boot camp” style program exposing youth to a variety of construction trades, ensuring they have the necessary social and professional skills to successfully obtain a rewarding full-time career in construction with a fair wage, benefits and pension.

Developing Life Skills is the key both personally and professionally.

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Real Successes

Our first class graduated in 2010. As we head into our 7th

year, several of our apprentices have now fully completed their apprenticeship and are full-fledged journeypersons.

36 Journeypersons69 have worked between 3-5 years97 have worked between 1-2 yearsWith several more working towards their 1st year

Good life skills are essential to job retention and longevity.

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New Beginnings

Hammer Heads on Assistance6 Youth of the Children’s Aid Society10 Shelter Residents104 Residents of Toronto Community Housing

85% of all Hammer Head Graduates represent non-traditional populations.

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Making an Impact

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Preparing Our Youth

Hammer Heads focuses on 3 major components, all of significant value, but in our experience, the disconnect between those who make it and those who do not is Life Skills:

• Safety—Mandatory Starting Certificates• Hands-on Training—Touching it, Feeling it• Life Skills—Interpersonal Interaction

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Giving Back

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Bridging The Gap

Baby Boomers, Generation X and Millennials• Lack of Job Readiness • Attitude of Entitlement• Instant Gratification• Lack of Attention Span• Need for Constant Reassurance

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Construction Etiquette

Understanding the Industry• Preparing our Youth for the Realities of

Construction• Temperament and Language

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Pathways to Success

• Preparation• Time Management• Execution• Staying the Course

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Key Takeaways

• It’s hard to change your first impression• Perception is not reality• Effort is limitless

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ATE15 - Apprentice Life Skills Training