Lecture
5
What Do Employers Want?
When students complete their school work, they typically look for
employment. The idea is that secondary school, institute, or university
prepares us for the world of work. This is true to a certain extent.
In school, we learn knowledge, skills, and values that we can apply
throughout life. But no matter how good our schooling is, there is
always more to learn. In a rapidly changing world, learning how to
learn may be the most important skill of all.
A few years ago, a study titled “The Assessment of American
Education” was conducted. Among the issues considered in this
study was the question of what qualities employers think are the
most important in prospective workers. In other words, if you were
seeking employment at a particular business, what skills do you need
in order to succeed? The findings of the study are interesting. They
show that employers are looking for seven capabilities. In this lecture
we will examine each of those capabilities.
Competence
in the basic skills of reading, writing, and mathematics. This comes as no surprise. If you are to succeed in the world of
work, you must have the skills of literacy and an ability to do basic
mathematics.
Listening
and oral communication skills. This includes the ability
to lead as well as to follow, to listen and to speak when it is necessary.
Following instructions, remembering what needs to be done are basic.
In businesses where employees interact with the public, this includes
listening to customers, treating them with respect, and attempting
to help them meet their needs.
Adaptability
and creative responses to obstacles. Employers want
workers who are flexible, who are able to handle the unexpected,
and who are able to think for themselves when the boss is not around.
Good workers are good problem solvers who don’t always have
to be told exactly what to do.
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Self-management,
confidence, motivation, and goals. Employers are
looking for people who have goals in life, who want to succeed. They
are looking for workers who are cheerful, optimistic, and self-motivated.
They want people working for them who are productive and who can
be trusted.
Group
skills, cooperation, teamwork. Employers want people who
feel a need to work with others, to collaborate, to be part of a
team effort. Employers do not want workers who wish to keep to themselves
and who have no desire to share with others. Successful businesses
are businesses where teamwork prevails.
Organization,
desire to contribute, leadership. Business leaders
are looking for employees who want to make their business successful.
They want workers who truly desire to contribute to the organization.
They do not want people who are interested only in meeting their
own selfish goals. Good leaders are good team players, and successful
business people know this.
Learning
on the job, learning how to learn. Good business leaders
know that no one can learn everything they need to know in school.
Lifelong learning is the key. The most desirable workers are those
who continue to study, to seek out new training, to show a desire
to keep on learning throughout their lives. The world changes rapidly.
New technologies take the place of old ones. Those who are willing
to continue to learn will be the most productive people.
Summary:
You can see from the list of characteristics found above that many of these
skills are not taught at school. They should be. Teachers should emphasize
them in their classes. You can also see that technical competence in the
form of basic skills is very important. But you can also see that far more
is needed. These are the skills that you need to practice and that you need
to share with others if a better, more moral, more productive world of work
is to be achieved.
Questions to Discuss with Others:
- What could schools do to make sure that these qualities are
learned by young people?
- If you could choose three of the skills to work on, which
ones would they be?
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