Employer Toolkit
Job Profiling: Matching Skills to Jobs
Just ask any business leader: skill shortages are an expensive, time-wasting barrier to effective hiring and training. How can employers determine which individuals are the best fit for highly skilled positions, or which workers are the top candidates to receive job-specific training?
This is why nearly 75 percent of businesses use job profiling—the process of analyzing the skills needed for job tasks—in their recruiting and hiring practices, according to a recent study by Society for Human Resource Management and ACT. With job profiling:
- Employers can identify skills and skill levels current and prospective employees need in order to be successful on the job.
- Individuals can compare their skill levels to those needed for jobs.
- Trainers and trainees can make appropriate decisions about jobs, identify strengths, and set training goals.
Become an ACT WorkKeys Profiler
Key to building a stronger workforce is assessing capabilities of workers and potential workers, and if workforce skills are found to be lacking, to provide opportunities for growth. As a WorkKeys Profiler you will help employers identify the skills needed for their jobs and create an additional revenue stream for your organization. Depending upon the local market, profilers can usually cover the one-time training fee ($2100) and the annual software license fee ($1600) by conducting one to two profiles annually.
For a limited time, the training fee for the WorkKeys Profiling training program is discounted if there are no/few currently authorized Profilers in your area – at 50% off the regular price. WorkKeys Profiling training is a combination of distance learning activities and webcasts, and culminates with an onsite workshop – typically held at ACT’s corporate headquarters in Iowa City, Iowa. Contact ACT to determine if you are eligible for the discounted fee.
We will also come to YOU when pandemic conditions allow!
Did you know that you can save money on travel expenses by having the in-person workshop in your area? If at least 8 people in an area want to be trained as WorkKeys Profilers, ACT trainers will come to you, at no additional cost, for the in-person component of the Profile Training. Email jpanswers@act.org or call us at 319-337-1724.
Available Workshops
Virtual Session
The Virtual Simulation Workshop consists of a series of 2-hour webcasts scheduled over a 2-week period.
April 19-30, 2021 |
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Registration Deadline (Agreement and Payment Due Date) |
February 26, 2021 | |
5 Weeks of Scheduled Online Learning Begins One can begin the online learning portion of of the training earlier if agreements and payments are received and processed. | March 15, 2021 | |
Live Webcast Schedule (normally 1:00-3:00pm CT) | Webcast 1: | March 25, 2021 |
Webcast 2: | April 1, 2021 | |
Webcast 3: | April 15, 2021 | |
Attend Simulation Workshop | April 19-30, 2021 |

ACT, Inc. is recognized by SHRM to offer Professional Development Credits (PDCs) for the SHRM-CP* or SHRM-SCP*. ACT WorkKeys Profiling Training is valid for 13.0 PDCs for the SHRM-CP* or SHRM-SCP*. For more information about SHRM certification or recertification, please visit www.shrmcertification.org
Occupational Profiles By Industry Sector
ACT has aggregated national job profile Work Keys data by common occupations in high demand industry clusters.
This information should be used only as a guide.
- Accommodation and Food Services
- Administrative Support
- Agriculture
- Arts and Entertainment
- Construction
- Education
- Finance
- Government
- Health Care
- Information Systems
- Management
- Manufacturing
- Mining
- Professional Services
- Real Estate
- Retail
- Transportation and Warehousing
- Utilities
- Wholesale Trade

Verify A Certificate
If the individual has made their ACT WorkKeys NCRC information searchable for an employer, you may verify the level with ACT. To verify the ACT WorkKeys National Career Readiness Certificate (ACT WorkKeys NCRC) level of potential or current employees, enter the registration number here. The ACT WorkKeys NCRC registration number may be found on the front of the certificate as shown:

Browse the WorkKeys Applied Math, Graphic Literacy, and Workplace Documents required for more than 400 different jobs.
Occupational Skill Level Info
Browse the Occupational profiles to better understand the alignment between WorkKeys scores and occupational profiles.
Employer Directory
Find out which organizations are using ACT WorkKeys NCRC to pinpoint applicants with essential, verifiable workplace skills.
