Vocational training programs focus on technical and practical skills. They also serve another important function. Soft skills—the behaviors, thinking models, and self-management patterns that individuals employ when working alone or with others—are just as influential on students’ later career successes.
High school graduates who go on to higher education do not always have the technical or soft skills necessary to succeed in the workforce. Between having focused on theory and not having work experience, students have few chances to challenge themselves and develop their work ethic. In a 2019 survey, 90 percent of responding recruiters said a lack of skills was the main reason entry-level hires lost their jobs.
Since vocational training programs include hands-on work experience and practicums about real-world scenarios, students can develop their soft skills as they complete their educations. Well-structured vocational programs can help high school students cultivate the following soft skills that will support their growth throughout their later education and careers:
1. Interpersonal Communication
Nearly all roles require employees to intake, process, and transmit information. Students with well-developed communication skills can clearly share ideas and collaborate with their colleagues and clients. Communication skills are both expressive and receptive. This means being adept at listening to and understanding others as well as clearly expressing your own thoughts.
Emotional intelligence is another layer of communication skills that enable people to communicate respectfully. This helps avoid workplace conflicts and improves the company culture. Clear communication has a host of benefits, including a more productive work environment, fewer delays, and better team rapport.
Vocational schools put students in realistic scenarios where they must interact with each other using written and verbal communication methods to complete projects. Students can obtain immediate feedback from their internship supervisors, and they work alongside adults who can model effective communication styles. In some vocational programs, students may have projects that focus specifically on communication, such as drafting a business plan or giving a public speech. These opportunities also help students become better communicators.
2. Time Management
Although traditional high school offers opportunities for students to develop time management skills, it is not representative of the “real world.” When students without work experience enter the workforce, they may have difficulty prioritizing and maintaining their own schedules, especially without the follow-ups and reminders previously given by their teachers.
Vocational training programs that incorporate on-the-job training encourage students to adhere to the expectations of the workplace and manage their time appropriately. This includes meeting deadlines, staying focused on tasks, and creating a feasible schedule.
Students in vocational training programs must also juggle their workplace obligations alongside their coursework. This scenario is much more representative of time management challenges in the real world. However, students still have the support system of their instructors and counselors. Some courses may also focus explicitly on time management strategies, such as strategic planning, managing procrastination, and ranking tasks by importance and urgency.
3. Problem-Solving
Problem-solving is one of the most sought-after traits in new employees. In layman’s terms, problem-solving is the ability to think critically, analyze a situation, and use one’s creativity to craft innovative solutions.
Open-ended projects are effective ways to promote critical thinking. Rather than having students master material from standardized tests, they may be given a case study or scenario that reflects a common problem within their industry. Vocational students can then use the tools at their disposal to come up with a viable solution.
Other applications of problem-solving include creating new designs and reverse engineering products and identifying errors.
4. Collaboration
Most work is performed in partnership with others. Unfortunately, poor collaboration skills are common, and they cause disharmony and disruption in the workplace.
Vocational programs help students develop essential cooperation and conflict-resolution skills by participating in team projects. These assignments replicate real-world conditions, in which students may hold various positions within their teams. Specific soft skill programs may spend some portion of the curriculum on teambuilding skills. Students learn to negotiate, set boundaries, and make compromises.
5. Leadership
Although some leadership traits seem intrinsic, everyone has the potential to lead. Vocational training programs help promote leadership by offering opportunities to serve in leadership roles.
For example, students may be selected as project manager for a specific assignment. In this way, students gain experience with important skills such as delegation, motivating others, and decision-making. Students can take the confidence they reap from these experiences and transfer them into their future workplaces.
6. Adaptability
Adaptability is often listed as a 21-st century skill since technological innovations can rapidly change an industry’s landscape. Students who demonstrate adaptability have flexible and responsive reactions to changes and can persevere in the face of obstacles.
Since some work environments are more tumultuous than academic classrooms, students can build their resilience and agility during their on-the-job sessions. In this way, vocational schools give students an advantage over others without work experience.