About this course

Basic Employability Skills for Trades Workers is a 1-hour course designed for entry-level and early-career trades workers—including pre-apprentices in construction, electrical, HVAC, plumbing, and related fields. The course builds the practical soft skills that employers consistently rank as most important: reliability, safety mindset, communication, teamwork, and basic problem-solving.

Aligned with the U.S. Department of Education Employability Skills Framework, the Illinois Essential Employability Skills Framework, and NCCER Basic Employability Skills (Module 00108), this course goes beyond theory. Learners walk away with four reusable checklists and job aids they can use on the job starting their very next shift. Through short video modules, facilitated discussion, scenario-based practice, and guided reflection, participants build confidence in the behaviors that get people hired, kept, and promoted on job sites.

By the end of this 60-minute session, learners will be able to:
  1. Describe the top employability expectations for trades workers—attendance, safety, teamwork, and clear communication—and explain why these behaviors matter as much as technical skill.
  2. Use at least two field-ready job aids (Daily Readiness Checklist and Toolbox Talk Communication Checklist) to guide their on-site behavior starting the next workday.
  3. Demonstrate basic conflict-resolution and constructive feedback skills through a short role play or scenario discussion.
  4. Apply a 4-step Field Problem-Solving Card to common on-site issues such as missing materials, unclear instructions, or scheduling confusion.

Subjects covered

Solar Heat Pumps Building Performance Health & Safety Utilities Electrical Other Technology Construction Workforce Development Safety & Compliance General Construction Jobsite Safety Safety Trade Skills

Learning Objectives

  • Identify at least 3 observable behaviors that signal reliability on a construction site.
  • Use a Daily Readiness Checklist before each shift.
  • Describe how employability skills directly support OSHA-aligned safety practices
  • Apply a "Stop–Think–Act" job aid when unsure how to proceed.
  • Use a Toolbox Talk Communication Checklist to contribute at a morning huddle.
  • Practice a 3-step approach for handling minor conflict or giving/receiving feedback.
  • Apply a 4-step Field Problem-Solving Card to a common on-site issue.

Course outline

7 modules
5 hours to complete
1. Kickoff & Expectations
Meet your instructor and other learners, share what makes someone great (or hard) to work with, and see how those real examples connect to “employability skills” on job sites. You’ll get a quick overview of the session, the tools you’ll walk away with, and how this course can help you keep work and move up.
2. Getting Started
3. Reliability on the Job
4. Safety, Communication & Morning Huddles
5. Conflict, Feedback & Problem-Solving
6. Practice, Reflect & Assess
7. Feedback and Additional Resources
This is our last module but you still have access to the all of course materials for 12 months (1 year), so keep working and you'll be able to complete the course at your own pace. After your year of access expires you can optionally extend access with a HeatSpring Membership. Enjoy the course and keep in touch!

Authors

Brittany Heller

HeatSpring

Brittany Heller has been in the solar industry in a variety of roles since January 2015. She began her solar career in residential sales in New Orleans. She then moved to Denver where she completed a Construction Fellowship with GRID Alternatives Colorado, building a wide portfolio of solar projects all benefiting income-qualified families. In April 2018, she began her...

J West

Principal, hph2tc

I want to help you and your company fix tough talent development and retention challenges with a creative mix of smart curriculum design, engaging content, and blended learning strategies that actually move the needle on workforce skills and brand value. I’m an experienced adult learning practitioner, manager, and public speaker who’s spent years making training...

Frequently asked questions

Full FAQ
How does this course work?
This course is delivered entirely online. Pre-order courses are available on launch date. This course is self-paced and you can set your own schedule to complete the materials. You can begin the lecture videos and other course materials as soon as you enroll. After successfully completing the course, you will be able to generate a certificate of completion.
How long do I have access to the materials?
Students can pre-order but will not be able to access the full course materials or earn a certificate of completion until the course is fully published. Once the course is published any students who have pre-ordered will then have access to the course materials for one year (365 days). After the one year of access expires, access can be extended by joining as a HeatSpring member. A single membership extends access to course materials for all past enrollments.
Will the instructor really answer my questions during this course?
Yes! This is an instructor-led online course. You can ask questions on the discussion board and get prompt answers from your instructor. It varies by instructor and by course but typically instructors check-in between daily and weekly to check quiz results or project work, review and respond to discussion board questions and read survey responses. Check the enrollment page for specific information about each instructor's check-in frequency.
Is there a certificate of completion?
Yes, when you complete this course you are eligible for a certificate of completion from HeatSpring. You can download your certificate as soon as you have completed all of the course requirements. Students can easily share their verified certificates on their LinkedIn profiles using our LinkedIn integration.
Can I register multiple people?
Yes, please visit our For Teams page to get a group discount.
How will I learn?
The course is designed as a focused 1‑hour online lesson suitable for integration into pre-apprenticeship, CORE, or safety orientation programs. Learners will:

Watch approximately 30 minutes of short, instructor-led video segments that model real construction job-site scenarios and connect them to employability frameworks and OSHA expectations.

Use downloadable tools (Daily Readiness Checklist, Stop–Think–Act card, Toolbox Talk Communication Checklist, Field Problem-Solving Card) during brief practice activities and reflection prompts.

Work through at least one realistic case example in each domain (reliability, safety, communication, problem-solving) to apply the checklists and job aids in context.
Who is this course for?
Entry-level or early-career trades workers (construction, electrical, HVAC, plumbing), including pre-apprentices. No prior experience required.
How long does the course take?
How long does the course take? Approximately 1 hour total: 30 minutes of video, 20 minutes of live discussion/activity, and 10 minutes of self-directed reflection.
What will I walk away with?
What will I walk away with? Four downloadable job aids (checklists and pocket cards) you can use on the job starting your next shift.
Is there a live component? 
Is there a live component? Yes. Two 10-minute live segments are scheduled for facilitated discussion and practice. Details are in the course modules.
What frameworks does this course align with?
What frameworks does this course align with? U.S. Department of Education Employability Skills Framework, Illinois Essential Employability Skills, and NCCER Basic Employability Skills (Module 00108).

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