Get Your Students Hired
I believe soft skills are very important and are often over looked by instructors. I teach my students as if each day is a job. I inform them at the beginning of the course why I expect them to be on time, prepared and have a good attitude. They are required to clock in and out at the beginning and end of class as well as for lunch. If they are more than ten minutes late, they have to makeup an hour. They can bring up their whole grade by the evaluation of their team work. The students will complain, of course, at the beginning; but I have had many students thank me for teaching them a good work ethic in addition to the course objectives.
Hi Pierre, Yes, I too have received too many emails from "hotmama@aol.com"! Not the best email address for a potential employee!
Susan Polick
I agree that soft skills and student professionalism are important.
I have recently begun to "teach" students the appropriate way to send and respond to emails (having received far too many inscrutable messages from students via email over the years).
I view this instruction as a key part of instilling a sense of professionalism in students. As a writing instructor, it also gives me an opportunity to talk about writing for different audiences.
Hi Stacey- Thanks for your post to the forum. Your expectations of your students in the Career Development class are essential. If they do not understand the necessity for those skills in our classrooms, how will they ever be successful in their careers? Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
Soft skills are essential to every career. I teach a Career Development class and I spend a lot of time talking with my students about their soft skills. Since my class is focused on providing the tools necessary to find a job I treat my class as if it was a proffesional job. I do not accept late work and I expect that everyone arrives on time and present themselves in a professional manner.
HI Gail - Is the Edu Tube a link to Warren Buffett's MBA series? Thanks for posting it! Susan
Good question! Then I would ask them
Why would they hire themselves? Warren Buffet gives a great presentation on www.EduTube.org to college students about buying stock in your classmates and what social skills are most valuable.
Just as important as the need to be able to properly fill out a job application, is the need to be able to successfully get through a job interview. I express to my students that all the mechanical ability and knowledge in the world wont help you if you cant get hired. Soft skills are definately over looked and under rated in my opinion.
Soft skill are a must, sometimes the hardest to teach due to people set in their ways. However, if strengthened, will go a long way. Always remember...Employers hire PEOPLE, not tools!
In some ways, I think these soft skills are even more important than the technical things I teach.
In my business, employers assume a new employee will eventually learn the technical stuff. They usually hire for the soft skills.
I agree with your summary, I try to to keep my students as close to real world scenerio's as possible.
I tell them that this is the field they are training for and they need to keep in mind and practice daily the disciplines associated with that field.
sometimes this approach works and gets students to think a little more about there overall objectives for that day and why there time and effort in class may serve them better later in there career.
This is what the manufacturers want in technicians; to be skilled techs with a profesional atitude towards their job.
Professionalism and soft skills are manditory where I work. Not only from myself and coworkers, but also from the students. They are graded on professionalism as part of their course, from communication, dress code, participation, attendance, behavoir, etc.
We try to have some prospective employers address each class at least once during their two tear programs. It really helps when they mention how important the soft skills are when they are making a hiring decision!
You are correct ! they may possess the skill but the soft skills will help them to shine
I ask the question, "Would you hire yourself" too my students, as well. Victorias think alike! lol
Victoria
I really liked your idea of asking your students whether they would hire themselves. A real moment of self-evaluation can yield some soul searching and hopefully -change.
I also agree on soft skills, by knowing the rules and their responsibilites in class. They are acountable. They themselves can critique their progress. One question I ask themselves. Would you hire yourself?