This is the first of a five part series

West Michigan Works is offering workshops designed to help you bring important employable skills to your job search or current workplace — skills West Michigan employers have identified as the ones they look for in an ideal candidate or employee.

WorkReady workshops measure how well you understand and use these nine important skills. Here’s how:

1. Take an assessment to measure your current understanding and use of the skills.

2. Attend workshops to increase your knowledge of skills flagged by the assessment.

3. Take a post-assessment to measure how your understanding of the skills may have changed.

4. Receive a certificate that tells employers that you are WORKReady.

How it helps

Employers involved in the workshop planning said the nine skills make up 77 percent of the hard-to-find skills in job seekers.

These workshops are designed to give you a jump start into a strong job search by rounding out your employable skills. They will help you understand how using these skills affect you, the people you work with, and the company you work for in a positive way.

Over the next few weeks, we will share nine essential skills.

First skill: Time management and punctuality

Good attendance at work is one of the top soft skills valued by employers. Showing up at work with a positive attitude proves that you are reliable and committed to your company’s success.

According to “Absenteeism: The Bottom-Line Killer,” a publication of workforce solution company, Circadian, unscheduled absenteeism costs roughly $3,600 per year for each hourly employee and $2,650 for each salaried employee,

Employees who show up to work on time and ready to work are viewed as trustworthy, organized and respectful. Being punctual includes meeting deadlines and completing tasks on time.

Staying focused while at work is a matter of creating good habits. Block off time for important work; communicate “No” assertively if you are unable to take on a project; make a “to-do” list of your tasks based on your prioritized goals.

Find a WORKReady workshop near you.