Hard Work Skills

Hard work skills are functional and teachable skills that can help you become more independent with performing your jobs duties. Developing hard work skills is important in making you successful at work. Below are strategies and aids for learning more about hard work skills accommodations, strategies, and information for employers. There are tips for individuals who have trouble remembering things, difficulty with reading/writing, staying focused, and staying organized. The Cru Work Skills program is designed to help you practice strategies and develop work skills based on what you need and help you be successful at your job.

Strategies for Completing Tasks

• Ringing a customer up at a store or restaurant would be an important job for customer service. If you are having trouble focusing, break the task into simple/smaller steps. Use charts, pictures, lists, and colors. Example: Use of pictures/diagrams to help remember steps.
  - Ask the manager to schedule shift times that are less busy to minimize the chance of work error and being frustrated. This request is if you need more time to complete a task.
  - Repetition. Say instructions in your head or out loud before or during the task. This will help you remember what you are doing.

• Cleaning tasks can be completed at a restaurant/cafeteria, school, and recreation park.
  - Ask yourself questions to stay focused such as “What am I currently doing?”, “What was I doing before this?”, “What am I supposed to do next?
  - Use a stopwatch or timer to keep yourself focused and in line with what you are doing.
  - Follow a list of directions for cleaning tables, windows, etc. to help you remember the order of steps and how to do it.
  
• Restocking tasks can be completed at a store such as Walmart, Target, HEB, or a school cafeteria.
  - Ask yourself questions to stay focused such as “What am I currently doing?”, “What was I doing before this?”, “What am I supposed to do next?
  - Create a list/visuals of where items go to help you remember.
  - Make a verbal or written plan on how to restock items to help you remember.