Collaboration is understanding your part is a piece of the bigger puzzle and everyone must contribute together.
Contributed by Walter Weekes Jr., Dana W. Smith Director of Workforce Development, Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston
Welcome back to post #2 of Club at Home: Ready to Work! We hope you’ve been productive and staying safe during this time period. Before we continue on our journey of preparing you for your great futures, we want to highlight the values of Ready to Work (RTW), which are still new to the organization, and to discuss their importance to you.
Ready to Work Values
Growth Mindset: Understand that intelligence can be developed and your skill sets can always grow.
Why is this important? A growth mindset is important to develop at a young age because we’re all a work in progress, even in adulthood. As a young teen in Boston or Chelsea, you have your whole future ahead of you. A growth mindset will help you accomplish any goal in your life, no matter how big or small. If you believe you can become anything, you’re right! Find the path and do the work.
Accountability: Accept responsibility for your actions and performance.
Why is this important? Accountability is how you accept responsibility for your own outcomes and actions. That means although there are many things you can’t control, you can focus on controlling as much as possible without making excuses.
Respect: Treat others and yourself with kindness, sincerity, and professionalism.
Why is this important? Respect is about treating everyone equally and the same way you would like to be treated. This is important in life and work, as you will always meet people who are different than you. Be open-minded and willing to treat people with the respect you desire and deserve.
Collaboration: Work with others, or within a group to produce positive outcomes.
Why is this important? If you look at your favorite brand of sneakers, food, or tech products, a team of people were needed to make it happen. Collaboration is understanding your part is a piece of the bigger puzzle and everyone must contribute, together.
Network: Create professional relationships and identify mentors to remain connected to on your future journey.
Why is this important? There’s a saying, “Show me your friends and I’ll tell you where you’re going.” Your network is the people you choose to associate yourself with, as well as your ability to connect with new people who share common interests and goals. Take a second to reflect on how you’ve benefited from having BGCB in your network.
Now that you’re more familiar with RTW values, we hope you apply these throughout your BGCB journey and in life.
Preparing for Your Job Interview
Now that you have your resume and have applied for some potential summer job opportunities, it’s time to get ready for the interviews.
Interviews? Yes, interviews! There’s absolutely no need to worry when it’s interview time. The fact that a company is interested in interviewing you means they’re strongly considering you for employment. Be prepared to sell yourself and know what makes you an amazing teen and a desirable employee.
Below are some videos that will help you understand what you should and shouldn’t do while interviewing. Tune in! Grab a notebook and take notes on tips you think will help you land your next job after this quarantine.
Have you been on an interview before? These are some typical questions for teens in high school. Before you watch each video, think about how you would answer these questions, then see if that response matches what an employer would look for.
What do you think? Are you Ready to Work now? Do you know what your strengths and weaknesses are? What makes you unique? What teens are in your network that you can share this information with? Share your notes and links with your friends!
Some of our BGCB Fellows say “Hello” from Zoom!
A detailed list of other helpful resources for youth and caregivers can be found here. It includes a full list of learning resources and activities, resources for food access, financial relief funds, neighborhood support and more.
In addition, the Suffolk County District Attorney’s office has released a comprehensive COVID-19 Resource Guide that provides a complete picture of all resources available to assist with getting through this very challenging time.
Keep up with all the latest “Club at Home” updates, including fun and interactive content for members to do at home, on our blog.
