Skills USA Study Guide general knowledge
SkillsUSA Career Essentials Framework
The SkillsUSA Framework provides a common language for students to articulate what they gain from SkillsUSA,
assists in assessing skill development, and helps create a vision for SkillsUSA programs. All people who are current
or potential employees need the skills listed within the SkillsUSA Framework.
The Three Components of the SkillsUSA Framework
The SkillsUSA Framework is made up of three elements:
1. Personal Skills.
2. Workplace Skills.
3. Technical Skills Grounded in Academics.
All skills in the Framework work together.
Key Essential Elements and Concepts
Essential Element
Description/Examples
Integrity
Exhibited when an employee reports wrong-doing after making a mistake at work.
Found under an element of the SkillsUSA Framework.
Work Ethic
Described as doing high-quality, ethical work in an efficient way. Consistency
and dependability are both components of Work Ethic. Demonstrating dedication
(e.g., performing well in a job and changing jobs less frequently) is a characteristic
of a good work ethic. Being self-disciplined, honest, and trustworthy are
characteristics demonstrated by a good work ethic. Found under an element of the
SkillsUSA Framework.
Professionalism
May be exhibited by attire, personal grooming, and speech. Found under an
element of the SkillsUSA Framework.
Responsibility
Taking responsibility is reflected by specific statements in the Framework. Found
under an element of the SkillsUSA Framework.
Adaptability/Flexibility
Demonstrated when an individual is able to “bounce back” from a challenging
experience. Found under an element of the SkillsUSA Framework. Seeking advice
from a manager on how to improve for the next evaluation demonstrates this skill.
Self-Motivation
Taking initiative is a characteristic of Self-Motivation. Found under an element of
the SkillsUSA Framework.
Communication Skills
Examples include being able to give accurate and concise reports, follow oral
directions or instructions, speak distinctly, and give clear instructions or directions.
Found under the Workplace Skills component of the SkillsUSA Framework.
Planning, Organizing
and Management
A team might use this element when preparing a group presentation or a
community service project. Found under the Workplace Skills component.
Service Orientation
An Essential Element within the Workplace Skills component of the SkillsUSA
Framework.
Technical Skills
Using photo editing software is an example of a job-specific skill for a
photographer. All employees need to operate some sort of technology.
Career Essentials
Credential
The industry-validated credential available through SkillsUSA that demonstrates
proficiency in the skills listed within the SkillsUSA Framework is the Career
Essentials Credential.
Employability
Development
The premier employability skills development program within SkillsUSA’s
curriculum offerings is the Career Essentials: Experiences.
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General Employability Skills
Definitions and Concepts
• Ethics: Conduct or attitudes toward work or a philosophy dealing with rules of right or proper conduct.
• Customer Service: Provided when you consistently meet or exceed your customer’s expectations.
• Shadowing: Observing someone you respect doing their job.
• Resume’: A document that many employers use to identify worker applicants’ qualifications for employment.
• Perseverance: Demonstrated by a worker who continues difficult tasks until they are completed.
• Portfolio: A collection of work representing education, self-development, and career information about you.
• Compromise: A settlement of differences between opposing sides in which each makes concessions.
• Time Management: The process of directing and controlling activities with regard to use of time.
• Cultural Diversity: The mixing and blending of many people of different cultures who are involved in a similar
activity or setting.
• Entrepreneur: A person who organizes, operates, and assumes the risk for a business venture.
• Communication: A process that includes a sender and a receiver each giving feedback to the other.
• Listening: Active and critical are two varieties of this skill. The term "Loud" is LEAST likely to be identified as a
characteristic of effective communication.
• Organization Chart: The diagram or chart that shows how a company or business is organized.
• Self-confidence: The quality or state of being certain in oneself and in one’s powers and abilities. It is a skill an
individual has who believes in and respects himself or herself.
• Priority: An item or task that requires immediate action.
• Reliability: A worker who can be counted on to complete assigned tasks without constant supervision.
• Brainstorming: The sudden unrestrained offering of ideas by all members of a group to seek solutions to
problems.
• Role Model: A person of quality character whom others try to emulate.
• Professional Development: The process of improving your capabilities through access to education and training
opportunities in the workplace, through an outside organization, or by watching others.
• Survey: A study to evaluate something in detail using a set of questions aimed to a specific group of people.
• Honest: Defined as free of deceit and untruthfulness; sincere.
Job and Goal Details
• When completing the past employment section on a job application, jobs should be listed beginning with your
current or most recent job.
• An external customer is the person getting their car repaired at an auto shop.
• Employers seek workers who contribute to the community; therefore, volunteer experience is important to
feature in a LinkedIn profile.
• A long-term goal describes plans for retirement.
• The components of a Goal Statement are: What is going to happen? When will it happen? How will it happen?.
• If you set a goal for yourself, your next step to reach that goal would be to establish a plan for achieving the
goal.• In an effective team, each person contributes their best.
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Meetings / Parliamentary Procedure
• Agenda: The written list of the business that will take place during a meeting and should always be prepared and
provided to participants.
• If you have an idea you want the group to consider in a formal business meeting, you would use a Main Motion.
• To make a motion, you must state it by saying “I move that…”.
• The person who is allowed to speak first when debating a motion is the maker of the motion.
• Members of a committee are responsible for treating others with respect, and expressing their ideas or opinions.
• According to basic parliamentary procedure, every member has the right to express their ideas or opinions.
• In a business meeting, one person can be considered the presiding officer at one time.
• The minutes of a meeting are a record of business transacted.
• NOT a parliamentary procedure rule: The decision of the minority of members must be followed.
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SkillsUSA Knowledge
Emblem, Colors, and Mission
• The image that contains multiple symbols that each represent characteristics of the SkillsUSA organization is
known as the SkillsUSA Emblem. There are Five symbols included within the SkillsUSA emblem.
• The orbital circles represent technology.
• The gear is representative of the industrial society.
• The hands represent the individual.
• The official SkillsUSA colors are red, white, blue, and gold.
• The color blue represents the common union of the states and chapters.
• Silver is NOT an official color of SkillsUSA.
• The sword is NOT an icon included within the SkillsUSA emblem.
• The Mission of SkillsUSA is: “SkillsUSA empowers its members to become world-class workers, leaders and
responsible American citizens. SkillsUSA improves the quality of our nation’s future skilled workforce through the
development of Framework skills that include personal, workplace and technical skills grounded in academics.”.
Founding, Creed, and Motto
• SkillsUSA is an example of a CTSO (Career & Technical Student Organization).
• When SkillsUSA was founded in 1965, the organization was originally named Vocational Industrial Clubs of
America.
• Fourteen states were represented at the meeting in 1965.
• The SkillsUSA Motto is Preparing for Leadership in the World of Work.
• There are Six points to the SkillsUSA Creed.
• "To honor and respect my vocation in such a way as to bring repute to myself” is part of the SkillsUSA Creed.
• "I believe in the dignity of work” is one component of the SkillsUSA Pledge.
• Ardent practice is demonstrated when a person of character makes every effort, in spite of setbacks or personal
loss, as mentioned in the SkillsUSA pledge.
• Leadership as defined by SkillsUSA contains four “pillars”: Compassion, Stability, Trust, Hope.
Programs and Officers
• The whole school membership program within SkillsUSA's membership affiliation programs is the TPP, which
stands for Total Participation Plan.
• The SkillsUSA program that allows chapters to document their quality activities and achievements and be
recognized on the state and national level is the Chapter Excellence Program.
• The component of the SkillsUSA Program of Work that focuses on volunteer work is Community Service.
• A volunteer is someone who provides services to others without expecting anything in return.
• The Secretary is most likely responsible for recording minutes at each meeting and providing them for review at
the next meeting. The Secretary may also chair the Membership committee.• The Vice-President is most likely responsible for providing a year-end report on the chapter’s accomplishments.
• The Parliamentarian must be able to gain the confidence of others, since he or she may be called on to settle
controversial issues.
• The Public Relations committee would most likely be chaired by the chapter reporter.
• How many national officers may be elected to serve SkillsUSA annually? Fifteen.
Official Attire
• Appropriate times to wear SkillsUSA official attire include during meetings and at national or state
conferences.
• A Solid red tie or scarf is NOT a component of SkillsUSA official attire.
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Safety (Intro to OSHA)
Worker Rights and Responsibilities
• OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) was established to assure that workers have the right to a
safe workplace, and that it is the employer’s responsibility to provide safe and healthy workplaces.
• OSHA’s Mission is to save lives, prevent injuries, and protect the health of America’s workers.
• Where no specific standards apply to a workplace situation, employers must follow the General Duty Clause.
• The right of workers to seek safety and health on the job without fear of punishment is spelled out in Section 11
(c) of the OSH Act.
• You have the right to raise a safety or health concern or report a work-related injury or illness without being
retaliated against.
• If you have been retaliated against for exercising your health and safety rights, you have 30 days to contact OSHA
to file a complaint.
• The employer is responsible for providing and paying for Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
• Workers have the right to review the OSHA 300 Log and OSHA 300A Summary.
• You have the right to examine and copy exposure and Medical records.
• You have the right to complain or request a hazard Correction from your employer.
• When you see a safety hazard, the first thing you should do is inform the Supervisor or manager.
Reporting and Inspections
• A FAT/CAT Report shows information on workplace fatalities and catastrophes.
• If a fatality occurs in the workplace, the employer must report it to OSHA within 8 hours.
• OSHA standards appear in the Code of Federal Regulations and are then broken down into parts.
• The three parts of an OSHA inspection are an opening conference, a Walkthrough, and a closing conference.
• During an OSHA Inspection, workers have the right to talk privately with the inspector.
• When an inspection is conducted in your workplace, you have the right to have a worker representative
accompany an inspector, find out about inspection results, and object to the Date set for a violation to be corrected.
• Workplace safety and health resources include the Supervisor or manager, co-workers, and labels and warning
signs.
• The OSHA website is a resource OUTSIDE of the workplace.
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Safety (Electricity)
• The term for a voltage being present that can cause an electrical current is Energized (also called live or hot).
• Your skin will act as a Good conductor if it is moist or wet.
• Three requirements for current to flow through a conductor are: a source of electrical current, something to
transport the current, and something that causes Current to flow through a conductor.
• A person can become part of an electrical Circuit, which can lead to a shock.• The severity of an electric shock depends on the amount of current, the current’s path, the length of time in the
circuit, and the current’s Frequency.
• An electric shock happens when electric Current enters the body at one point and leaves through another.
• Electric burns result when the skin touches hot surfaces of overheated electric conductors, conduits, or other
energized equipment.
• Oxygen tanks can explode if the gas is ignited because oxygen is Flammable.
• A safety procedure that protects workers is Lockout/Tagout.
• A GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter) senses the current flowing, tripping the circuit, and cutting off the
electricity.
• Grounding a tool or electrical system means intentionally creating a low-resistance path that connects to the
earth.
• A three-prong grounding plug with the third prong Broken-off is not safe to use.
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Safety (Bloodborne Pathogens)
• Bloodborne pathogens are infectious microorganisms carried by Blood that can cause disease in humans.
• Three bloodborne pathogens to which US healthcare workers are most likely to be exposed are HIV, Hepatitis B
virus, and Hepatitis C virus.
• Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) disables the body’s immune system until it is no longer capable of Fighting
infection.
• Universal precautions treat All human blood and other potentially infectious material for bloodborne pathogens.
• You can become infected through injection, skin abrasion, sexual contact, and exposure to Mucous membranes
of an infected person.
• The Needlestick Safety and Prevention Act requires employers to eliminate or minimize exposure to
Contaminated sharps.
• Devices that isolate or remove the bloodborne pathogens hazard from the workplace are known as Engineering
Controls.
• Sharps disposal containers must be located As close as possible to the area where sharps will be used.
• The first thing you should do if you are accidentally stuck with a used needle is Wash with soap and water.
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Safety (Ergonomics)
• Ergonomics is the science of adjusting environments, tasks, or procedures to fit you, the worker.
• Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs) are injuries or illnesses that affect your muscles, tendons, nerves, joints,
ligaments, cartilage, and nervous system.
• Failure to use Proper ergonomic practices could result in disorders such as cumulative trauma disorders, repetitive
motion injuries, and repetitive stress injuries.
• Failure to use proper ergonomic practices can affect almost Every part of your body.
• Personal risk factors for ergonomic hazards include Body size, medical condition, physical condition.
• Good posture places the least amount of Stress on your muscles and joints.
• To achieve a Neutral posture, you should allow your arms to hang comfortably.
• Safe posture includes keeping the natural S-curve in your back.
• Static, awkward positions are two of the most common types of unsafe postures that place a person at risk for
injury.
• An effective Lifting technique involves bending at your knees, keeping your back straight, and lifting with your
legs.
• A worker standing on their feet throughout the day who experiences cramping should walk around occasionally to
increase the Circulation in their legs.
• Taking Short breaks from physical tasks can help your body recover.
• Adjusting the height of your work table may help relieve Wrist pain.
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Safety (Hazard Communications)• The Hazard Communication Standard is commonly known as the “Right-to-Know” Law. This law gives you the
right to know every chemical hazard that you may be exposed to at work.
• Chemical manufacturers, importers, & distributors are required to provide standardized hazard information in the
formats of Safety Data Sheets and labels.
• A Pictogram is an element that provides a visual alert to users of the chemical hazards to which they may be
exposed.
• Inhalation is a route of entry chemicals could use to enter through the body’s airways.
• An Acute exposure is a short term or brief exposure that may create an immediate health hazard.
• A Chronic exposure is a repeated or prolonged exposure that may bring about slowly developing systems.
• The "Right-to-Know” law requires your employer to have a written hazardous communication program including a
list of all hazardous chemicals, a SDS for each, a warning label, and a Training plan to communicate hazard
information to all employees.
• Safety Data Sheets must be completely legible, printed in English, and Updated when new information is
available.
• Warning labels on containers holding hazardous chemicals must contain the name, address, and phone number of
the Manufacturer.
• Employees must be Trained before starting a new assignment or whenever a new physical or health hazard is
introduced into the work area.
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Safety (PPE)
• Personal Protective Equipment, or PPE, is designed to protect you from injuries to your head, face, eyes, ears,
hands, feet, respiratory tract and body.
• Regular glasses, bifocals, or sunglasses do not provide the same protection as Safety glasses.
• Potential hazards to your head include electrical shock, falling objects, and Low hanging beams.
• Class C hard hats do not protect you from electrical shock.
• You should adjust the Suspension system to make your hard hat fit properly.
• Earplugs and earmuffs are the most common types of hearing protection devices.
• Earrings, eyeglasses, and Hair could prevent earmuffs from providing good protection.
• A Scarf is not an approved piece of personal protective equipment.
• You should not wear Gloves around powered rotating equipment.
• Padded cloth gloves protect hands from Sharp edges and rough surfaces.
• Vinyl or neoprene gloves protect hands from Hazardous chemicals.
• Heat resistance gloves protect hands from Heat and flames.
• Footwear can help to protect the skin, soles, and toes of your feet.
• Reinforced sole boots have Metal reinforcement to protect the bottom of your foot from penetration.
• Rubber boots protect you from chemicals and provide extra traction on slippery floors.
• There are Four levels of full body protective clothing.
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Safety (Walking Working Surfaces)
• The most common causes of serious work-related injuries and deaths are Falls.
• To protect yourself from falls, you should use fall protection equipment, use ladders safely, and Obtain adequate
training.
• Keeping floors Clean and dry, and using non-slip material on floors can reduce fall hazards.
• You should keep your Hands free from carrying tools or other materials when climbing a ladder.
• It is unsafe to climb an Unsecured ladder even if it has slip-resistant feet.
• A Rope descent system is a suspension system that allows a worker to descend in a controlled manner and, as
needed, to stop at any point to perform work.
• A Floor opening is defined as an opening in the floor, platform or pavement that measures 12 inches or more, and
through which persons may fall.
• A Guardrail is a barrier along the open sides of stairways and platforms that prevents falling.• Employers have Flexibility in choosing a fall protection system they believe will work best in a situation.
• When Wire rope guardrails are used, they must be flagged with highly visible materials at least every six feet.
• The Mid rail is secured to a guardrail’s vertical posts and must be installed when walls aren’t at least 21 inches
high and withstand at least 150 lbs. of force.
• When working on a suspended scaffold 10 feet or higher above the working surface, or in a bucket truck or aerial
lift, the safety device to wear is a Personal fall arrest system.