[POD] Declining by Degrees

Interesting list of skills (?) that CEOs are looking for from college graduates. -- Bill Vilberg

-----Original Message-----
From: Professional & Organization Development Network in Higher Education [mailto:POD@listserv.nd.edu] On Behalf Of Mike Theall
Sent: Friday, June 24, 2005 12:25 PM
To: POD@listserv.nd.edu
Subject: Re: [POD] Declining by Degrees

The interesting report (based on work by Peter Ewell) linked for us by Mike Chejlava raises a question.  [BV - See http://www.cic.org/publications/comm_resources/archives/August99_context.asp for the report.]

First, here are the main things CEOs want:

Problem solving. Business today is looking for "higher order applied problem solving skills." This translates into the ability to identify problems as well as solve them, and the skills to recover and move on when experiments fail. Ewell said business leaders want employees who are capable of "intellectual broken field running."

Enthusiasm for life-long learning. Because of the need for constant training and employee retooling, employees would like to see graduates who are invested in an enthusiasm for continual learning--not in the sense of developing an avocation, but in the sense of recognizing the importance of continual training as a job requirement in today's fast pace, competitive marketplace.

Responsibility. Employers want to hire graduates who come to them with a strong sense of responsibility for their actions in organizations and society.

Bridging cultures. Employers want employees who have the skills to bridge cultural differences. This is a different order of skill, Ewell argued, from simply understanding or having exposure to a diverse culture.

Communication skills. Even more important than the ability to write well is the need for employees to communicate and collaborate interpersonally, orally, and in teams.

Professionalism. Employers want employees who are inculcated with a well developed sense of professionalism on the job--or "sheer civility," as Ewell termed it.

OK.  I'll take these at face value and agree that that's what CEO's SAY they want.

Now here's the question:

Faced with college graduate employees who possess these skills and the chance to outsource jobs and reduce personnel costs by 50% even if the new hires don't possess all these skills, which CEOs would hold to their list of desired characteristics as unassailable retention criteria?
Recent history & trends answer that question.

If colleges could guarantee such graduates, would business commit to protecting them?

mike

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