CNC/Tool and Die Technology students recently completed 6 weeks of Soft Skills sessions with Lisa Ferguson, Careers Instructor on the West Bend Campus, as part of their CNC Controls classes with CNC Instructors, Jim Hokensen and Craig Seidl.  The sessions enforced the importance of Soft Skills in the workplace and were centered on Wisconsin’s Critical Core Manufacturing Skills (CCMS). What started four years ago, as part of the Career Pathways grant, is still in place today as part of this collaboration.

Soft Skill sessions included: Soft Skills and why are they are important, DISC Assessment, Positive Attitude, FISH, Communication Skills (including non-verbal communication skills) and Team Building/Problem Solving. Students participated in interactive activities for each session.

Representatives from business and industry have identified skills that are essential to success in manufacturing. Students are expected to demonstrate the Critical Core Manufacturing Skills (CCMS) throughout all manufacturing classes. These skills include work cooperatively, work productively, listen effectively, demonstrate a positive attitude, maintain a safe work environment, demonstrate integrity, communicate clearly, follow directions, apply problem solving strategies, apply mathematical reasoning, think critically and adapt to change.

Moraine Park Careers Instructors assist with Soft Skills in addition to Career Assessment (DISC, MBTI, Strong Interest Inventory, and EDITS), Job Seeking/Employability Skills  (Job Search, Résumés, Cover Letters, and Interviewing) and more.

Career Center class schedules are available at: www.morainepark.edu/careers

Moraine Park Careers Instructors

Rhonda Roehrig (Fond du Lac Campus) – 920-924-3244 | rroehrig2@morainepark.edu

Kim Braatz (Beaver Dam Campus) – 920-887-4437 | kbraatz1@morainepark.edu

Lisa Ferguson (West Bend Campus) – 262-335-5773 | lferguson@morainepark.edu

(Pictured are CNC Students building marshmallow towers as part of a team building challenge.)

For more information on Moraine Park, visit morainepark.edu.

“I believe attainment of soft skills are vital to the success of our graduating Moraine Park Technical College students,” said Ronaldo Cordeiro M.S., Allied Health Academic Advisor.

Why? Well, he thinks of it this way: Continue reading

Written by: Beau Gellings

As a business representative, I spend most of my day speaking with employers.  Through several conversations I see some commonalities surrounding key workforce gaps.  Items such as technology, different generations, and evolving business plans have impacted how a business’s workforce interacts with each other and how their business is done.   Continue reading