The Pope Center for Higher Education Policy’s website carries an interesting piece about skills employers are looking for, written by Champion Mitchell, a member of the UNC Board of Governors.
As one who has employed thousands of people, I can tell you that what employers look for has changed over time. Forty years ago when I graduated with an A.B. in English, employers were looking for someone with a baccalaureate degree who was apparently intelligent, well-spoken and interviewed well. The employer expected to train the new employee in the basics of the new job. Some academic or practical experience in job-related disciplines was a plus, but not essential.
Today an employer at a minimum wants job-related skills or training, plus critical thinking and communication abilities. In many cases, employers will not be satisfied with even this combination and want to see some actual experience in the field.
The reason for the change is twofold. First, in an increasingly competitive business environment, employers cannot afford lengthy, non-productive training periods. Second, they can find plenty of people looking for jobs who meet their heightened criteria. The rise in “unpaid internships,” something unheard of a decade ago, is a direct result of these heightened employer requirements. So if we are to prepare our students for the maximum opportunities we must train them in job-related skills and knowledge, as well as critical thinking and communication ability—all three are important.