Purpose: Young adults entering the workforce with limited exposure to the world of work may lack the soft skills needed to excel in the job environment. Common Ground’s Pathfinders-Vocational program seeks to instill and develop core soft skills in its participants, focusing on challenges in the job environment and effective workplace communication. Our facilitators stress healthy risk-taking as a means of facing and overcoming challenges in the workplace and professional development.

Accomplished Through: Pathfinders-Vocational programming utilizes both our traditional outdoor experiential education Pathfinders programming as well as interactive presentations and seminars. Each session is based around a vocational-related theme. While programs are adaptable to meet the needs of specific populations, some successful past themes are:

Building Effective Workplace Communication Skills
Good communication skills are imperative for high job performance and career management. The session seeks to foster a more positive work environment by developing skills such as clear communication with precise language and perception checking, listening, nonverbal communication, and decreasing defensiveness. Activities and presentations are interactive and experiential and utilize both indoor and outdoor spaces.

Interpersonal Problem Solving on the Job
Solving challenges in the workplace, such as interpersonal conflicts, issues of authority, and job-related stress and tension are key aspects of career success. The session seeks to foster a more positive work environment by developing interpersonal problem solving skills in the workplace, teaching stress management techniques, and boundary-setting awareness. All activities and presentations are interactive and experiential and utilize both indoor and outdoor spaces.

Audience: Pathfinders-Vocational is designed for vocational students entering the workplace. Common Ground launched its Pathfinders-Vocational program in 2006, partnering with the Lorain County Joint Vocational School. Common Ground is open to collaboration with other vocational schools and Occupational Work Experience (OWE) programs.