My Employability (Work Readiness) Activities

Illinois workNet® My Activities were developed to align with the Department of Labor (DOL) work readiness goals for the ARRA Summer Youth Employment Program 2009 & 2010. The pre/post-assessments, activities, and worksite evaluation were approved by DOL. Once the program ended, a webinar was held to collect feedback from workforce partners who participated in the program. The purpose of the program was to collect feedback transitioning the use of the SYEP activities to align with case management activities for youth and adult. 

Webinar Topic: Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) Transition to Case Management Activities
Webinar Date/Time: September 21 & 28, 2010
Webinar Materials: Archived Webinar (41:14 minutes) Webinar Materials: Background and Goals PowerPoint (PDF) , SYEP to Case Management Activities (PDF) , Process Flow: Registered Customers (PDF) , Process Flow: Universal Customers (PDF)

Phase I of the transition process provides access to:

• All of the SYEP activities;
• An optional pre-assessment;
• A post-assessment with unlimited attempts and a successful completion score of 70%; and
• A certificate of completion upon successfully completing the post-assessment.

Phase II enhances the overall process by:

• Sharing information back and forth between Illinois workNet and IWDS;
• Identifying the need for additional activity topics;
• Identifying the need for activities written specifically for youth, adult, or dislocated workers; and
• Identifying a process for recommending activities based on IWDS service level/activities.

Surveys, webinars, and forums will be used to collect information from the field to develop the activities.

These were originally developed for youth and those who have little work or no work experience.  They were originally written at a 3rd grade reading level. The activities are designed to help individuals identify their career interests, explore careers, find training, and find jobs.

They are recommended to be used with the following customers:

• Youth;
• Adults with little work experience; and
• Adults who are changing careers and developing new skills.

Purpose: To provide guidance to help customers reach their training and employment goals. 

Activities are presented in a recommended order, but they can be completed in any order.

The activities can be printed or accessed wherever they can access the Internet. Activity responses can be saved the customer's Illinois workNet account. Illinois workNet partners can view saved activity responses and assessment results through customer groups.


There are three basic components to each activity.
1.  Each activity links to Illinois workNet resources and provides comment boxes for responses and notes. The links open in a new window so the customer can explore without losing their place in the activity.
2.  The review section provides question/answer links to help prepare for the post-assessments.
3.  Mark the activity complete. Each customer can self-identify when they have completed an activity.  Once in an activity, click previous, home, or next to navigate to a different activity.
Activities are available to all Illinois workNet account holders.

Once the customer is logged into their account, the activities are available on the individuals pathway (Activities tab ).

I. Option 1: Instructor-Led Approach (Workshops/Classroom)
With this approach, the activities are completed by customers during an instructor-led session in a computer lab.

Supply List: Folders, sharpened pencils, and printed activities.

Event Set-up Checklist:
The activity is set up to be facilitated by a program staff member in a computer lab with Internet access. The activities require access to http://www.illinoisworknet.com/ in a computer lab that meets the portal’s system requirements. Ahead of the session, default each computer to http://www.illinoisworknet.com.

Assign only one customer per computer.

The instructor computer needs to be online, connected to a projector and equipped with speakers.

Use the customer group "group invitation" tool to add customers to your customer group. Project the instructions for accepting the invitation on the screen or print out the business card size instruction handouts in advance.

Project to a screen or blank wall that can be viewed by everyone.

The instructor should play the videos for everyone to see and hear. Test one of the videos from the instructor station to ensure it plays and to pre-adjust the sound level.

The activities can be completed and saved online. The activities also use a printer friendly format that can be used to print worksheets. II. Option 2: Self-guided Approach
To complete this activity customers need access to a computer that meets the portal’s technical requirements . They may use a home computer. If they do not have access to a home computer, customers can use Illinois workNet to find locations that offer public access computers by clicking on the Find a Location Near You search located on the Individuals home page. Customers can complete the all activities online.

Use the customer group "group invitation" tool to add customers to your customer group. Include the passcode instructions for accepting the invitation in the Illinois workNet Self-Guided Instructions handout.

Click here to view a customizable instruction sheet (MS Word). Customize this document with your program contact information and distribute to customers during orientation when using a self-guided approach.

I. Access My Activities.

Customers log into their Illinois workNet Individuals account and click on the activities tab.
Customers that already have an Illinois workNet account can log into their account to start their activities.
If they forgot their password, use the first option to recover their password using the link on the login page.

If they still have trouble, put them into a customer group and look up their username, date of birth, and answer to secret question. They can use this information to recover their password.

If they do not have an account, they will need to set up an Individuals account. When they are added to a group using the invitation process, they will be prompted to set up an account if they do not already have one.  Once customers have a My Illinois workNet account, they can be added to a group.

II. Complete the Illinois workNet Pre-Assessment/Study Guide (optional).

• Pre-Assessment/Study Guide Notes:
• Consists of 54 multiple choice questions.
• The pre-assessment consists of questions that will help them prepare for the workplace skill assessments within Illinois workNet (i.e., Career Development, Observational, Worksite Evaluation, NOCTI 21st Century Skills).
• Once complete, results are provided with the correct answer and guidance to skill enhancement resources within Illinois workNet.
• The pre-assessment is marked as complete (in the My Employability Activities Home) once it has been taken one time, but customers will be able to view the assessment results and guidance.

III. Complete the Illinois workNet My Activities. Check the box at the end of the activity to show the activity is complete.

• My Activity Notes:
• The activities are written at a 3rd grade level or below based upon the Flesch Reading Ease and Flesh-Kincaid Grade Level .
• They can be completed/saved online or printed in a printer friendly format. Once printed (view using print preview), additional instructions are displayed to guide a person to the information in Illinois workNet.
• Review questions are included at the end of each activity. Complete the review to help prepare for the post-assessment.
• Activities are available in Spanish using the language translator in Illinois workNet.
• Customers can only save their activity and assessment information in their Illinois workNet account.
• Activities are marked incomplete (in the My Employability Activities Home) until the account holder checks the box to indicate it is complete
• A listing of activities is available in the Quick Links section on this page.

IV. Review saved activity responses, career interest survey results, and pre/post assessment score through customer groups.

• Viewing Results Notes:
• Customer must be added to your customer group.
• Illinois workNet account holders will be able to access the My Employability Activities Home even if they are not in a customer group.
• In the customer group, the Customer Summary link includes saved activity responses and pre/post assessment scores.
• In the customer group, View Interests includes career interest survey results. If the link is not visible, the customer has not saved an interest profile in the account.
• Send email/messages to those in the customer group. Be sure your contact information in your workforce professional account is your correct work contact information. This information is included when emails/messages are sent via customer groups.

V. Complete My Activities Career Development Assessment (Post-Assessment).

• Career Development Assessment Notes:
• Consists of 2 multiple choice questions that cover job preparation, finding jobs, finding training, and money management. These topics may not be covered by the other workplace skill assessments within Illinois workNet.
• This assessment is completed by the customer.
• The passing score for the post-assessment is 70%.
• The post-assessment can be taken an unlimited number of times.
• The post-assessment is marked as complete (in the My Employability Activities Home) once it has been successfully completed.
• Career Development Assessment (with answers) is available in the Quick Links section below.
• Successfully passing the Career Development Assessment allows the customer to print a certificate of completion.

My Activities Self-Guided Instructions (MS Word) - Customize this document with your program contact information and distribute during orientation when using a self-guided approach.

Pre-Assessment/Study Guide is included in the Work Readiness Program Guide(PDF )

Workplace Skills Resources Background and Skills Wheel

My Employability Activities: Developed for individuals with minimal work experience.
My Activity: Set Up Your Email and Update Your Illinois workNet Account
My Activity: Identify Your Skills
My Activity: Introduction to Job Search Preparation & Resume Writing
My Activity: Introduction to Exploring Careers and Training
My Activity: Find a Training Program
My Activity: Introduction to Interviewing for a Job
My Activity: Introduction to Workplace (Soft) Skills
My Activity: Introduction to Job Searching & Applying for a Job
My Activity: Use Networking
My Activity: Manage Your Money

Skills Checklists - use this document when preparing a resume or for an interview. Includes lists of job/technical skills  (what have you done), transferable skills , and self-management skills (what are you like). Provided by WorkNet DuPage, an Illinois workNet Center.