Osborne Requiring GA Work Ready for Applicants

At Osborne Wood Products, we are always looking for ways to get involved with the local community. Whether it is through mentoring in the local school system or helping Boy Scouts with their projects, we make it a priority to be a visible force in the community. Recently, Osborne Wood Products has become aware of a new way to engage the local community, in realizing the importance of the Georgia Work Ready Test.

In 2006, the State of Georgia launched the Georgia Work Ready Program. The State of Georgia began offering the Work Ready Test as a way to certify job seekers, and let potential employers know that GA residents are certified to work. The test is a state-funded skills assessment. It tests four basic areas: reading, applied mathematics, locating information, and skills assessment. It is designed to help unemployment rates drop all across the state, by engaging the local community to rally around those who are either unemployed or looking for a new challenge in the job market; enabling them to accomplish their goals. The test, while lengthy, is not difficult.  The test is free, the results are immediate, and – once an individual is certified – the certification lasts for 5 years.

Communities who aggressively implement the Georgia Work Ready test commit to dropping unemployment rates, increasing high school graduation rates, and meeting GA Work Ready Community goals; all for the purpose of increasing economic growth and prosperity.

Companies all across the state are realizing the vast benefits of the Georgia Work Ready Test. These benefits include, but are certainly not limited to, community involvement; great resume enhancer for job seekers; employers can easily see that, regardless of education level, job seekers who are GA Work Ready certified are more prepared. In addition, the GA Work Ready advertises that:

“Companies implementing Work Ready make an investment of their employees’ time to develop strong job profiles. This initial investment can reap great rewards for years to come including:

·         Improved hiring procedures

·         Reduced turnover

·         Reduced training costs

·         Increased productivity and profitability

·         High employee morale”

After realizing the benefits of the Georgia Work Ready Test, we now require the Georgia Work Ready Test as part of the Osborne Wood Products, Inc. job application process. Any potential employees of Osborne Wood must now bring their Georgia Work Ready Test scores along with their completed application.

As the newest Osborne employee, I can speak from experience about the test.  Prior to applying to Osborne Wood Products, I had never heard of Georgia Work Ready. After taking the test, and then doing further research, I am a huge fan of the Georgia Work Ready Test! Georgia Work Ready is an easy and proactive way to say, “I have taken the initiative!” That is something that speaks volumes to employers. I firmly believe that anything an individual can do to better his or herself for the job market should be done. The Georgia Work Ready Test enables individuals to do just that. So, are you Work Ready?

For more information, go to: www.gaworkready.org.

This blog post is a Guest Post by Bethany, a recent Osborne employee.  Having recently taken the Georgia Work Ready test prior to her employment here, Bethany has some great perspective on the procedure and its benefits, so we thought it ideal to invite her to share this information with you.