‘Bring your A-game to work’

WisdomQuest students were honing their 'A-game” on Friday, Oct. 26, as they learned about soft skills they need to be more successful students and future employees.

The 'Bring Your A-Game to Work” workshop was presented by Iowa Workforce Development and focused on seven essential workplace ethics for success in any job. Students had a chance to critically think about how their attitude, attendance, appearance and ambition affects their success in the work environment.

'These kids have strong skill sets,” WisdomQuest teacher Rocko Russo said. 'This gives them the tools they need to make them better candidates.”

August Bunger, a student at WisdomQuest, said while he knew a lot of the information beforehand, he appreciated the effort that was put into bringing experts in the field to WisdomQuest. The conversation gave him a chance to step back and think about what he is doing and what he wants to do.

Brunger who is already enlisted in the National Guard, is now thinking about what actions he needs to take to present himself well and be kind to his superiors and co-workers as he looks forward to basic training.

Michael Bruns, a WisdomQuest student, is also an employee at Walt's Taproom, a job that has led him to pursue a career in the culinary arts at Indian Hills College. The workshop enlightened Bruns on ways he can go above and beyond now to develop skills that will help him in the future.

Workshop leaders stressed that when you're at work, you're there to work. For Bruns, that means showing up on time, dressing professionally and presenting a good image as an employee at Walt's Taproom.

WisdomQuest student Makenzie Church has been thinking about applying for a job. The skill sets discussed during the workshop helped her feel better prepared for the interviewing process. From her attitude to the way she dresses, she is confident a high school job is something she can handle.

Michal Bagwell, who is enrolled in the building trades program at the high school, said he was reminded through the class to respond to his peers and superiors 'without an attitude.”

The workshop was kind of a trial run as administrators with the Mt. Pleasant Community School District hope to implement it with more students in the future.

The soft skill sets are important skills to develop, said WisdomQuest Principal Tyler Rodgers. 'Showing up on time and having a good attitude, these are qualities that make them better workers,” he said.

Teachers of the workshop were Kelsey Howard and Courtney Mullen, from The Next Step program at Southeastern Community College, and Kelly Brousseau from Iowa Works.

'If we're teaching students at the high school level how to be good employees, they'll fill open jobs and move up in careers,” Howard said. 'This group is very receptive, interactive and respectful. They've been a fun group.