I recently read a report by ManPower Group that stated more than 52% of employers said they were unable to find candidates with the right skills to fit the job openings they have. So let me get this straight, our national unemployment is hovering just above 9% (remember last month I told you that young people ages 18-24 had the highest unemployment rates, around 17%) and we can’t find the right candidates with the right skill set to fit the jobs we have? Something’s not right here! Even worse, employers stated that the two skills many job candidates lacked was communication and simply showing up to work on time. Really?? Showing up to work on time is a skill candidates are lacking?
What are employers looking for?
The types of skills that many employers seek beyond the general occupational or technical skills of a job are called “soft skills”. The top 5 soft skills many employers are looking for according to a survey conducted by NACE (National Association of Colleges and Employers) in November 2011, include ability to work in a team, verbal communication, the ability to make decisions and solve problems, the ability to obtain and process information, and the ability to plan, organize, and prioritize work.
Is there a solution?
I’m sure I’m not the only one who has a theory about why we are seeing candidates lacking in basic skills. I honestly think there are a variety of reasons why we are seeing this issue now. I won’t bore you with my “soap-box” like explanation of what’s causing the problem. We just need a solution. The fact is, for our workforce to be top-notch and globally competitive; we have to be willing to teach these basic skills to high school and college students if they don’t already have them. We have to hold people accountable rather than passing over problems. We need to mentor rather than complain.
Trust me; I know what you’re going to say. Why should we have to teach the skills that should be taught in school, or at home, or at the last job? Clearly there is a problem here and what we have been doing isn’t working. We assume that candidates will come to us ready to go. That’s clearly not the case based on the statistic above.
School and experiential learning should go hand in hand
Remember I’ve said this before…we’re all in this together. As a region, Northeast Indiana employers and schools must be willing to work together to create a firm partnership that allows students to get the kind of “real world” job experience necessary to gain the basic skills we know they will need to be successful. They need strong professionals to model after. Great experiences that can impress upon them the need to learn and become the kind of employee our companies need. Your success depends on them, whether now or in the future.
So what can you do to increase your chances of getting a candidate with the type of soft skills you’re looking for? Hire interns that you can teach and train. Get involved now in programs directed towards mentoring and teaching students the skills they need to be successful. Your reward? A skilled workforce helping you succeed!
