The transition from school into the work world can be a daunting proposition for many young people. How do I conduct myself in an interview? How do I write a resume? How should I dress?

Working under the philosophy that it is better to do something proactively to help young people improve their employability rather than complaining about their lack of skills later – the Bermuda Employers' Council (BEC) is helping CedarBridge Academy students answer these questions.

At an awards ceremony held Friday at the high school 21 students were granted certificates for completing the BEC's pilot programme called WorkReady.

The three-month programme, now just wrapping up its second year, is designed to prepare young Bermudians for employment. Through a series of one-day courses like 'Putting the Customer in Service', 'Corporate Image Development', 'Dynamic Communications' and 'Impressive Superior Management' students are taught the dos and don'ts of employment and job-seeking.

"For sometime the Bermuda Employers' Council has been concerned that our young people have been entering the workforce lacking some of the basic skills necessary for the transition into the world of work," said Patrice Hayward, one of the programme's teachers. "As a result we have developed this pilot programme called WorkReady which focuses on areas not taught in school but important at work."

Mrs. Hayward, a graduate of the Connecticut School of Broadcasting in Atlanta as well as an author and playwright, joined the programme earlier this year. Her previous experience in employability training includes customer service training to more than 600 tradesmen under the National Training Board's certification programme.

Kathy Ann Paynter, director of Member Services for the BEC said she was pleased with the results of the programme and impressed with the participants' development.

"We are quite pleased with the programme," said Ms Paynter. "We found it necessary to develop the course after hearing that some local companies were not interesting in hiring summer students because they felt as if they were just babysitting. If our children are not taught to be employable they won't be – hence the creation of this programme.

"Interestingly we have even seen some of the students' parents benefiting from WorkReady. With the current economic climate many people have been made redundant or lost their jobs and are now, once again, going through the whole process of finding a new job. Some of these parents have been taking advice from the students on interview etiquette and other skills that they may have never been taught or had to use themselves." And the WorkReady programme does more than teach students how to just acquire a job, it taught them how to keep one.

Courses such as 'Putting the Customer in Service' covers important aspects of business protocol like defusing irate customers, cultivating a positive attitude, telephone tactics and body language. The 'Corporate Image Development' class teaches students about developing and projecting an appropriate corporate image, maintaining integrity and work ethic.

The course also touches on important but often overlooked aspects of employment. The 'Keeping Stress in Check' section of the programme addresses the importance of maintaining a positive workplace attitude. Keeping stress at bay so that it is not projected on customers or affecting one's work performance was emphasised by Mrs. Hayward. According to Mrs. Hayward being reliable, organised, having one's priorities in check and "sorting it out" are key to adapting and developing a mature professional, business attitude.

Workplace ethics like respecting one's personal work space and the space of others, adhering to a professional environment, holding a professional conversation and keeping personal conversations personal can make all the difference in how one is viewed in a professional environment.

Also, how one presents themselves in social situations outside of work was covered in the "After Eight" section of the course. Professional socialising, after hours networking, entertaining clients while remaining professional, social etiquette and acceptable behaviour can all make the difference in an employee's successful career.

All of the students who received their certificates on Friday praised the WorkReady programme for preparing them for the work world.

"The programme has helped me to find alternative career options," said Vernon Harrison, Head Boy of CedarBridge. "I recommend this programme to all schools in the senior levels to prepare them for the work world. It showed me the proper way to dress, deal with customers and create a good resume."

Shalae Matthews said she gained helpful hands-on experience through the programme.

"We had a lot of experience with people in the work world, we had discussions with real business people and really learnt what we need to do to be successful," she said.

"My favourite parts of the programme were the role playing, the class discussions and attending the AGM," said deputy head girl Lela Sujani. "These all helped me get a better understanding of what is expected in the workplace. It enabled me to prepare for college and provided me with tips and skills for the future."

Martin Law, executive director of the BEC said he is pleased with the programme's outcome.

"The whole purpose of the programme is to actually do something rather than complain young people coming into the work force unprepared," he said. "Universally our sponsors have been extremely impressed with WorkReady, they realise that it can work and make it difference but just requires a little effort. To see all of this and all these young people here makes me feel pretty good."