A program used by school districts to determine if students are ready for careers after graduation has been embraced by Savannah River Nuclear Solutions (SRNS).
Called the WIN (What I Need) assessment, or the South Carolina Career Ready Test, it is administered to all eleventh-grade students. It measures students in four key areas employers believe are foundational for career readiness. Those are soft skills assessment, math assessment, reading assessment, and date assessment.
It can also be used by businesses, and SRNS has now integrated the program for some job applicants.
“It just gives them a leg up when it comes to leaving high school and starting a career with our company,” Angela Martin, Talent Acquisition Manager at SRNS, told ABD. “If they have WIN assessment and they have satisfactory scores, they can automatically be considered for some of our non-exempt roles, mechanic, maintenance, right out of high school. And that just strengthens our relationship with South Carolina school districts.”
In a news release announcing the introduction of WIN assessments, Sean Alford, SRNS Executive Vice President and Chief Administration Officer, said those will provide an additional submission option. That includes individuals who have previously created ACT WorkKeys assessments.
“Additionally, it offers high school students in South Carolina, who already take WIN assessments, an additional pathway. Graduates will be familiar with the scores required for employment and can identify areas for improvement. By aligning WIN with our employment opportunities, we create a mutually beneficial scenario for both job seekers and students,” he said.
Martin said SRNS adopting WIN assessments can demonstrate to parents their child doesn’t necessarily need a four-year college degree to have a successful career.
“There are opportunities to build careers in these non-exempt roles at the company without having to go to college,” she said. “Having a satisfactory score on a WIN Assessment, that’s already required, can get you in the door and get that much closer to building a career, a long-term career at Savannah River Nuclear Solutions. That’s a win-win-win. That’s a win-win for the community, win-win for the company, win-win for the school district.”
The news release quotes Kate Olin, Director of Accountability and Assessment for the Aiken County Public School District, saying the district is enthusiastic for the collaboration.
“This partnership with SRNS and the incorporation of the WIN Assessments demonstrate a strong commitment to preparing our students for the workforce. The alignment of the WIN assessment, in which all high school juniors in South Carolina participate, builds immediate connections to one of the largest employers in the Central Savannah River Area and provides students with a clear pathway to careers at SRS,” she said.
Martin said the program can give students a start at a career with good wages right out of high school. But it also opens the door to post-secondary education for anyone who wants to pursue higher education, with financial support.
“We have a tuition reimbursement program, and a lot of our nonexempt roles lead into first-line supervisor, and facility manager roles,” she said. “So, the more education you have, the better your chances are to land one of those spots. If you’re interested in leadership, we do have those opportunities. Another good thing is we have student loan assistance; that’s something that’s new, and we started offering that. There are so many ways that people can come out here and can change careers without even leaving the company.”
For more information about WIN Learning, including career readiness, visit https://www.winlearning.com/aboutwin or contact HRPolicy@srs.gov.
