by Mary Russell, Workforce Development Division Director
comments open from July 29 until August 17

The CareerReady Colorado Certificate is a tool that helps match the right person with the right job. It enables employers to make important hiring and training decisions, while career seekers can use it to prove they possess the real-world workplace skills to qualify for better jobs.

The certification also indicates the recipient is a motivated individual who is willing to learn and highly trainable, which is a valuable asset when seeking either an entry-level job or a promotion within the company. Now recognized in more than 40 states, this portable skills credential can be used to facilitate job placement, retention and advancement in our mobile society.

The CareerReady Colorado Certificate is awarded after an individual completes a skills assessment using the respected WorkKeys™ system from ACT. The assessment verifies workplace skills in three business critical areas:
1. Reading for Information
2. Locating Information
3. Applied Mathematics

Individuals are then certified on one of three skill levels, based upon their performance:
• Bronze indicates skills for approximately 35% of jobs
• Silver indicates skills for approximately 65% of jobs
• Gold indicates skills for approximately 90% of jobs

The CareerReady Colorado Certificate is being offered by the Jefferson County Workforce Center. For more information, please contact Caren Swales, program manager.