[VIDEO] What Are Soft Skills? A Simple Definition

Duncan Nugget #144:
Soft skills are personal abilities that help you perform better and interact better with other people.

This is part 1 of a 3-part power point video series. In this video I give you a simple definition of soft skills—one that works well with teens and young adults. Time: 6min 18sec 

Up next (both will be available on Monday; links will not work until then.):

Part 2: What Are The Most Important Soft Skills To Master? (8:55)

Part 3: How Can You Use Soft Skills To Build Your Competitive Advantage?  (11:24)

A List of Soft Skills and Related Terms

Related article: Q & A: What Are Soft Skills and Why All the Fuss?

For more great resources and training visit Soft Skills for STEM

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[VIDEO] Al Duncan Delivers Soft Skills Training For Summer Work Program

CHATTANOOGA, TN (WDEF-TV) – It was graduation day for a hundred young people who took part in a Summer Work program. That would be notable in itself..but these teens were considered “at-risk”. It was a life changing experience for some…

Original article here: “At Risk” Youth Rewarded After Six Week Program

Youth Summit Featuring Al Duncan Draws Hundreds

WESTCHESTER COUNTY, N.Y. — Several hundred young people ages 16 to 24 from throughout the region turned out for the 2014 Westchester County Youth Workforce Summit.

The free event, in its third year, was held at the Crowne Plaza in White Plains on April 16 and featured an array of distinguished guests, including featured speaker Al Duncan, an award-winning youth advocate, publisher, and an internationally recognized motivational speaker who provided insightful tips on landing the right job and advancing one’s career.

“Your circumstances – good or bad – do not determine your outcome,” Duncan told the crowd. “Your choices do.”

Read the entire article:
Youth Summit in White Plains Draws Hundreds | White Plains, NY Patch

Interview Question: What Did You Do When You…?

What did you do when you…?

This behavior-based interview question is a variation of the “tell me about a time when…” You could be asked this type of question during an interview for college, grad school, an internship, or a job. Here’s the key to giving a solid answer.

Tell a story and be specific.

Seriously. Be specific.

A vague answer to this type of question will cost you a lot of points. In order to ell a story that focuses on your strengths and provides relevant you might want to use the STAR method. Check out this article to get some great tips on how to use the STAR method and tell compelling stories.

More examples of this type question:

What did you do when you…?

1. Did your best but things still didn’t turn out right.

2. Had to work with a difficult person.

3. Failed to complete a project on time.

4. Had too much to do and not enough time to do it.

5. Had to come up with a creative solution to a tough problem.

6. Were frustrated at school or work.

7. Had to deal with a difficult customer.

8. Fell short of your boss’s (or teacher’s) expectations.

9. Were managing or leading a group of people and had to keep them motivated.

10. Easily accomplished a task and exceeded everyone’s expectations.

Youth Advocate Delivers Closing Keynote Address At United Nations Event

ATLANTA, GA The 7th Annual Atlanta Committee on Teaching about the United Nations (CTAUN) was held in March of 2014 at Georgia State University’s College of Education. Conference attendees discussed models for implementing and promoting positive youth programs that empower and educate through a call to action.

Youth Advocate, Publisher Challenges Fifth-Graders To Make Good Choices

From the Times and Democrat: 

February 22, 2014 12:00 pm  •  By DIONNE GLEATON, T&D Staff Writer

Nearly 1,300 fifth-graders were recently offered some nuggets, but not of the chicken variety. These nuggets were given to inspire them to improve their character to become better people.

The fifth-graders converged at Claflin University’s Jonas T. Kennedy Health and Physical Education Center for the Orangeburg County Community of Character Initiative’s 12th annual Outstanding Character Recognition Program on Jan. 24.

Al Duncan Keynotes the 2014 Michigan Career Education Conference

“The response to his keynote was so positive that we had more attendees go to Al’s breakout session following his keynote than have ever before.” —Alicia Frye, Senior Coordinator of Camps and Conferences, Ferris State University

2014 Keynote Speakers | Michigan Career Education Conference