Optimizing Hard Skills and Soft Skills as Preparation for Work Readiness in SMK YMIK West Jakarta Students

Abstract

This community service activity focuses on improving the work readiness of 12th-grade students by strengthening hard and soft skills that are relevant to industry needs. The background of this activity is the existing gap between the competencies of vocational high school graduates and the demands of the job market, both in terms of technical skills and non-technical abilities like communication, work ethics, and teamwork. This program is carried out through several methods, including technical skills training according to the field of expertise, soft skills development workshops (communication, leadership, problem solving, and adaptability), job interview simulations, as well as guidance in preparing CV and portfolios. In addition, participants are also given insights into industry work culture and strategies for facing the recruitment process. The expected outcome of this activity is to improve students' overall competence, both in technical skills and personality, so that they are more confident and ready to compete in the workforce. With the optimization of both hard and soft skills, vocational school graduates are expected to become professional, adaptive workers with high competitiveness.