I attended the Northland Region Chamber of Commerce monthly luncheon today. Although the panel discussion was primarily about area business leaders making available job shadowing and mentoring opportunities for area youth, the results of a recent survey of Chamber business correlates to collegiate education.
First, however, let me address how the end benefit of higher education is critical in your college search. Exploring the campus Career Center and learning about how alumni are prospering in the workforce should be part of discussion with admission representatives and a stop on any campus tour. What will be the payoff when you finish your undergraduate degree? How will your educational training result in a successful career path? What does their Career Center do to assist you in a job search? What percentage of their graduates are employed in their desired career field within a certain amount of time?
The results of the Northland Chamber's survey about what employers are looking for in an employee specifically illustrates that a standout member of a team has more than specific tools of their career trade, but have also mastered "soft skills" while obtaining the undergraduate degree. Many of these desired traits cannot be learned in a lecture hall or in discussion with a faculty member. Rather, these characteristics are inherent and are developed with the maturity that a college education can foster.
NORTHLAND REGIONAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
NORTHLAND EMPLOYERS' TOP TEN EMPLOYABILITY NEEDS
adaptability
commitment
communication skills
cooperative team player
customer focus
dependability
honesty/integrity
initiative
innovation
quality-focused engagement
So, as you explore the opportunities available at the schools on your prospective list and as you complete your applications for admission, remember the bigger picture. How will that campus' curriculum and student activities assist you in becoming a contributing member of a business and of society...beyond the diploma and degree you earn.