Do you judge an item by its’ packaging when it arrives in the mail or sits on the table at a birthday party? We have all done that at one time or another. Do you also judge teens by their packaging? I consider clothing, language, communication style, social media posts, grades, extracurricular activities and even teen relationships to be “packaging”.
Let me give you a few examples of unsuccessful packaging.
• A young man enters his class 15 minutes late and heads straight to the back of the room.
• A young lady shouts profanities to her boyfriend while riding public transportation and talking on her cell phone.
• A teen on a job interview is asked why he wants to work at that establishment and responds “because I didn’t get the other job I wanted.”
• A teen who is afraid of dogs volunteers at the local animal shelter because “it looks good on her resume”.
These examples may seem extreme but honestly they are not. In my Packaged For Success Program I teach teens how to build a professional portfolio based on their strengths, skills, and abilities and how to put their best foot forward in all areas of their lives. So…let me show you what looks like when these same teens are Packaged For Success.
• A young man enters his class 5 minutes early and sits in the front of the room.
• A young lady sends (non sexual, non aggressive) text messages to her boyfriend while riding public transportation.
• A teen on a job interview is asked why he wants to work at that establishment and responds “I have researched your mission and it closely matches my interests and skills.”
• A teen who is afraid of dogs volunteers at the local homeless shelter because she was once homeless and not because “it looks good on her resume”.
Whether applying to college, applying for a scholarship, applying for a job or volunteer position, or starting a business a teen must be able to showcase their strengths, skills, and experiences. A portfolio is a visual tool that gives employers, recruiters, and scouts a complete picture of who the teen is – their abilities, experiences, education, achievements and potential. In a competitive marketplace, a professional portfolio allows a teen to positively stand out in the crowd. We ensure that our teens are organized, prepared, and PACKAGED FOR SUCCESS™ Portfolio Development Program