Ability ASCEND Module 1

Transcript

1. Initial Intake Background & Goals www.theASCENDcollective.org Visit Our Website
2. Ability ASCEND is dedicated to empowering individuals with diverse abilities by connecting their unique skills with meaningful employment opportunities. Through an innovative AI-enabled platform, Ability ASCEND removes the traditional barriers of resumes and job applications by matching individuals' talents and abilities directly with employers seeking those specific strengths. The program emphasizes personal branding and customized career pathways, offering the tools, resources, and support needed to successfully navigate the job market and secure fulfilling, sustainable employment that aligns with each person's capabilities and aspirations. Ability ASCEND The ASCEND Collective is a nonprofit organization committed to transforming employment opportunities for individuals often overlooked in traditional hiring processes. We harness innovative, AI- enabled technology to match people with meaningful job opportunities. The ASCEND Collective
3. Objectives Personal Experience Personal Goals Identify experiences from both personal and professional life, breaking them down into Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs). Consider the tasks, roles, and responsibilities, along with the knowledge gained, skills developed (such as leadership and problem-solving), and abilities demonstrated (like adaptability and team management). This breakdown helps create a strong profile, highlighting your unique strengths and talents to support future career opportunities. Establish clear, tangible goals that align with both personal and professional aspirations. Identify key accomplishments, desired outcomes, and measurable milestones. Pinpoint industries or roles of interest, highlight skills to showcase or develop, and set a timeline for each stage of your career journey. Develop a focused plan that leverages your unique strengths, ensuring meaningful employment and long-term growth.
4. What is Personal Experience? Personal experience includes the unique events, encounters, and circumstances that shape an individual’s perspectives, skills, values, and character. It spans both professional and personal contexts—such as work history, education, volunteer activities, hobbies, life challenges, accomplishments, and relationships. Personal experience is deeply individual and influenced by one's background, culture, and choices. It forms the foundation for learning and growth, contributing to the development of skills and abilities, and often provides valuable insights that guide future actions and decisions.
5. Why reflecting on your experience is an important step Translating Skills Solving Problems Knowing Your Worth Reflecting on personal experience helps Ability ASCEND candidates translate their unique skills into meaningful careers. Specialized knowledge, such as project management, IT, or customer service expertise, gained through hands-on experience, directly applies to various industries. Employers value these practical skills, as they demonstrate candidates' readiness to contribute effectively from day one. Personal experience fosters resilience and problem-solving skills, both essential in any workplace. Having navigated challenges and high- pressure situations, individuals excel in roles that require adaptability and quick decision-making. Employers value these qualities in candidates who can confidently tackle obstacles and stay focused under pressure, bringing added value to any team. Personal experience equips Ability ASCEND candidates with strong leadership and teamwork skills. Individuals understand how to lead diverse teams, motivate others, and collaborate effectively. These qualities are highly valuable to employers seeking leaders who can manage teams, navigate various dynamics, and enhance productivity, making them ideal for leadership roles.
6. Skills in Professional Language Technical Skills Communication Skills Leadership & Supervisory Skills Flexibility Critical Thinking Translating unique skills into professional language is essential for individuals to effectively communicate their value to employers. This involves framing experiences in ways that resonate with job requirements, such as describing leadership roles as "project management" or "team supervision" and using terms like "operations coordination" instead of specialized terminology. By aligning personal accomplishments with civilian competencies, candidates can showcase their adaptability, problem-solving abilities, and leadership skills, clearly demonstrating how their background directly benefits employers across various industries. Individuals often have expertise in areas such as information technology, engineering, and logistics, which can be directly applied to roles in tech support, operations, or supply chain management. Experience with clear, effective communication in high- stress environments translates into strong verbal and written communication skills essential for client relations, presentations, and team coordination. Leaders often manage teams, make strategic decisions, and maintain morale under pressure, which translates into strong managerial, team-building, and conflict- resolution abilities in professional roles. The ability to adapt quickly to new environments and challenges, developed through diverse personal experiences, is essential for roles that require flexibility, fast learning, and the capacity to manage change effectively. Individuals often develop critical thinking and data analysis skills through hands-on problem-solving and planning, which are highly valuable in roles that require strategic planning, data interpretation, or market analysis.
7. Collaborated effectively with diverse groups to achieve common goals, fostering a cooperative and efficient work environment. Led diverse teams in high-pressure environments, demonstrating an ability to motivate, guide, and achieve objectives under challenging conditions. Examples of Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Teamwork Leadership Logistics Management Project Management Resilience Technical Proficiency Training & Development Communication Coordinated and managed supply chains, optimizing resources and ensuring the timely delivery of materials and equipment. Managed complex projects from planning through execution, ensuring objectives were met on time and within budget. Maintained focus and composure under pressure, demonstrating an ability to work effectively in high-stress situations. Operated and maintained advanced technology and equipment, translating to strong technical and troubleshooting skills in professional settings. Trained personnel in new skills and procedures, showing expertise in coaching, mentoring, and instructional design. Delivered clear and concise briefings and reports, effectively conveying complex information to varying levels of authority. Cultural Competence Problem-Solving Adapted to diverse environments and cultures, demonstrating the ability to work effectively with people from various backgrounds. Developed quick decision-making skills in unpredictable situations, essential for handling challenges and finding solutions in dynamic environments.
8. Put it into action Access your Talents ASCEND talent profile and start identifying your specific Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities based on your experiences. Reach out to your mentor if you have any questions or need clarification - or if you just need to brainstorm. Once you have completed the initial questionnaires and filled out the form, you are ready to move on to your goals.
9. Overcoming barriers is crucial because it allows us to recognize the obstacles that stand in the way of our success, whether they are internal challenges like self- doubt or external ones like limited resources or lack of access. Understanding these barriers before setting our goals helps us create a realistic and achievable plan, ensuring we are prepared to tackle challenges effectively. Begin by identifying specific barriers that may hinder progress, such as skills gaps, lack of resources, or external challenges, and prioritize them based on their impact. Develop targeted strategies for each barrier, like acquiring new skills, seeking mentorship, or leveraging available resources, to address them systematically. Set small, achievable milestones to monitor progress, maintain motivation, and adjust strategies as needed to ensure consistent advancement toward your goals. After creating a plan to break down barriers, you can focus on achieving your goals with renewed clarity and purpose, leveraging each small victory to build momentum. By systematically overcoming obstacles, you gain the confidence, skills, and resilience needed to reach your ultimate objectives, turning challenges into stepping stones for success. Identify General Barriers Make a Plan Achieve your Goals 01 02 03
10. Identify and engage with mentors, peers, or resources that can provide guidance, advice, or assistance in overcoming challenges. Clearly define the specific obstacles standing in the way of your progress, whether internal or external. Overcoming Barriers Stay flexible and ready to adapt your plan as needed, using each step forward as motivation to continue overcoming barriers. Break down your strategies into smaller, manageable milestones to track progress and maintain motivation. Evaluate how each barrier affects your goals and prioritize them based on their level of impact. Implement your strategies consistently, focusing on one barrier at a time to avoid becoming overwhelmed. Regularly assess your progress, noting any new challenges or adjustments needed to keep moving forward. Create targeted strategies for addressing each barrier, such as learning new skills, networking, or finding alternative resources. Seek Support Adapt and Persist Identify Barriers Set Milestones Assess Impact Take Action Evaluate Progress Develop Strategies
11. Turning Barriers into Goals Recognize Barriers as Opportunities Set Goals Aligned with Overcoming Barriers Measure Success Through Barrier Removal View barriers not as setbacks, but as opportunities for growth and improvement. Each challenge presents a chance to learn new skills, expand your capabilities, or adapt to changing circumstances. By reframing obstacles this way, you can turn potential roadblocks into stepping stones toward achieving your goals. Transform each identified barrier into a specific, actionable goal. For instance, if lack of experience is a barrier, set a goal to complete a relevant training course or seek mentorship in that area. This approach ensures that every action you take is directly aligned with eliminating obstacles on your path. Track your progress by measuring how effectively you overcome each barrier, using it as a metric for success. Celebrate each small victory as you move past challenges, reinforcing the idea that every step forward is an achievement in itself, ultimately leading to your larger objectives.
12. Setting SMART goals ensures your objectives are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time- bound, making them easier to accomplish. Set smart goals Put it into action Access the Goals and Barriers Worksheet on the Ability ASCEND class portal. Based on what you have learned in this lesson you should: Knowing your barriers helps you understand the specific challenges you need to overcome to reach your objectives. Having an initial plan provides a clear roadmap for tackling these challenges step-by-step, ensuring you stay focused and proactive. Know your barriers Have an initial plan
13. Summary & Conclusion In this module, you identified your Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities and created a Talent Profile. You also identified Goals and made a plan to achieve them. Make sure that all of the worksheets in this module are completed. If you have any questions, please ask! Let your career coach know that you are ready to review the worksheets and discuss what you learned in this module. In the next lesson, we will discuss Skills Enhancement for the career you deserve. Finish all worksheets Reach out to your career coach Prepare for the next step
14. www.theASCENDcollective.org Visit Our Website Thank You F o r Y o u r A t t e n t i o n