University Graduates Lack Basic Skills for the Marketplace
This article was written by Clay Staires, Tulsa Leadership Trainer, Motivational Speaker & Founder of Tulsa’s #1 Leadership Program, The Leadership Initiative.
I just got this email from a friend. It’s from a blog by Tim Elmore on leading the next generation.
Here’s what he had to say (with a lot of my comments thrown in)…
First, there actually are job openings in America. Lots of them! As the economy gets back on its feet, the U.S. is seeing hundreds of thousands of jobs available for graduates to grab them.
Here’s the sobering part. Almost half of the employers surveyed failed to fill those vacancies last year because many university graduates lack basic communication and leadership skills! According to the Association of Graduate Recruiters, the number has climbed since 2005. Further, many positions weren’t taken because young adults said those jobs were “beneath them.” They didn’t want to start at the bottom of the career ladder. ARE YOU KIDDING ME????
Are They Ready?
All of this begs the question: How are our schools preparing grads for the marketplace?
More and more employers are telling me that these kids don’t fit for three reasons:
1. They didn’t study in a field that is marketable. (decision based on what looks “fun” rather that what’s “useful”)
2. They don’t want to take a job below their perceived value. (motivation based on “self-ness” and over estimated value of their worth to the organization)
3. They don’t have basic soft skills in emotional intelligence or leadership. (They thought a degree was to goal instead of personal development!)
Want to make sure you’re growing in these three areas? Click here
As we each are making decisions about what we’ll be doing this next summer, I want to remind you of the VALUE of being in The Furnace or being on the Summer Leadership Team at Shepherd’s Fold Ranch!
EDUCATION is very important, but without the accompanied practical EXPERIENCE your knowledge will lack CONTEXT! You’ll “know” but you’ll struggle to “apply with any meaning”!
And new EXPERIENCES can be really cool, but without DIRECTION and EVALUATION the experience will lack personal MEANING and any significant GROWTH! Again, you’ll be able to say, “That was cool”, but you will struggle to understand what to do with it!
A summer spent in The Furnace at Shepherd’s Fold Ranch WILL PREPARE YOU FOR YOUR FUTURE IN THE MARKETPLACE!! I GUARANTEE IT!! The Furnace is one of only a handful of programs I have discovered NATIONWIDE that combines all three of these aspects… QUALITY EDUCATION, MEANINGFUL EXPERIENCES and PERSONAL EVALUATION!
Growing in the “basic soft skills in emotional intelligence or leadership” is the very purpose of The Furnace!
Are you getting this?? EMPLOYERS ARE TELLING US THAT THERE IS A GREAT LACK OF GRADUATES THAT HAVE THE ABILITY TO BE MARKETABLE, THAT DESIRE TO SERVE OTHERS, AND THAT HAVE THE CAPACITY TO WORK WITH OTHERS AND LEAD!!!
I’m not the one saying this… The people that are hiring you are saying this!! They are calling out for people that are prepared! THE FURNACE AT SHEPHERD’S FOLD IS ALL ABOUT preparing leaders to Impact our Culture in the areas of Business, Education, Government, Family, Church, Media and Arts & Entertainment! If you want to be great… learn to serve others and get along with people!!
TO LEAD IS TO SERVE! There’s nothing like the practical act of serving others to shape and form you into a valued employee, a mature disciple and an effective leader!
COME JOIN US IN SUMMER 2012! The time spent at SFR will give you a strong competitive edge in your future job search in the marketplace!
PLEASE FORWARD THIS INFORMATION ON TO OTHER COLLEGE STUDENTS (OR PARENTS OF STUDENTS) YOU KNOW THAT DESIRE TO GAIN A COMPETITIVE EDGE IN TODAYS MARKETPLACE!
Check out the video link on The Furnace At Shepherd’s Fold! This is our culture!!
