With one of just two NCRC Job Profilers in the region, Career Resources has pioneered the use of the National Career Readiness Certificate in Connecticut.
The NCRC is a nationally recognized credential created by the national testing firm ACT, which worked closely with employers to define, teach and measure what skills a worker needs and makes a worker a good fit. It allows employers to save time and money by hiring a qualified worker who is right for the job the first time. It also has an associated testing and tutorial program that tells people how they’re likely to score on the NCRC test, and offers them a customized, on-line, self-paced tutorial to bring up their skills.
An informational session about the NCRC for employers is set for Thursday August 22 from 7:30 – 8:30 am at the United Way of Greater New Haven.
CRI has offered the NCRC system to all participants in our Bridgeport WIA and Jobs First Employment Services program for five years. It’s now also used in other CRI programs such as STRIVE, Fathers for Life, Adult Education and others. Career Resources also works with the state’s Department of Correction to offer the testing and tutorial program within three state prisons.
“As we have integrated the NCRC into our programs, we have seen that jobseekers are very happy to have the change to improve their skills,” said Career Resources President/CEO Scott K. Wilderman. ”But while the system offers valuable skill gains for participants, the real value is when employers realize who certificate-holders are a good fit for their company and value it in hiring decisions,”
NCRC system supporters include the Connecticut Business and Industry Association and the National Association of Manufacturers.
In addition to the NCRC certificate for jobseekers, the system also offers Job Profiling, in which a certified NCRC Profiler gains a thorough understanding of the skills and tasks required for a job and creates a profile that can be used to test and screen candidates. While other NCRC services are free, CRI charges a fee for Job Profiling.
The August 22 session will offer information for employers about how the NCRC can help in hiring, training, and increasing productivity. It is sponsored by Career Resources, The United Way of Greater New Haven and the Workforce Alliance. For more information or to RSVP, contact Lauren Harris, lharris@uwgnh.orf, (203) 772-2010, or Bill Blackwood at Career Resources, (203) 953-3266 or blackwood@careerresources.org.