Читать книгу Paying For College For Dummies - Eric Tyson - Страница 24

In generations past, employers advertised job openings and applicants submitted paper-based resumes usually by mailing it (through the US Postal Service, that is). My how times have changed! Today, the hiring process is dramatically different as job openings are generally posted online which makes it easy for hundreds (or even thousands) of applicants to quickly and efficiently apply for a desired job. That creates a different type of sorting problem for employers which is why the vast majority of them utilize applicant tracking systems to screen resumes and manage the hiring process. To do well with those systems, job applicants should understand how to match desired keywords in their resume from the job description. It can also help to have a personal contact or recommendation at an employer an applicant desires to work for. Networking with alums of your college can help and that can be part of the “value” that is derived by graduating from a particular college.

According to CompTIA, an information technology industry association, the most significant technology skill gaps are in areas like artificial intelligence, automation, integration of apps, data and platforms, cloud infrastructure and apps, digital business transformation, cybersecurity, software or app development, and data management and data analytics.

Ryan Craig notes that increasing numbers of students who recognize the disconnect between impractical course offerings that don’t connect to real world jobs are double majoring. They are doings so as a way of hedging their risks and hopefully increasing their future employment chances and options.

What does Craig see that employers are looking for? “Most experts agree that a combination of technical skills and soft skills is the sweet spot in the labor market…By soft or noncognitive skills, I’m referring to fundamental capabilities such as teamwork, communication, organization, creativity, adaptability, and punctuality. In a LinkedIn study of hiring managers, 59 percent said soft skills were difficult to find and this skill gap was limiting their productivity.”

So, what are employers doing about this unhappiness? Several things according to Craig:

 Refraining at times from hiring. Higher skill jobs may go unfilled.

 Degree inflation. Requiring master’s degrees when a bachelors would do before or requiring a college degree when only a high school diploma was previously required.

 Experience inflation. Requiring more work experience.

 Jettisoning degree requirements. Some employers (e.g. Google, IBM) have removed degree requirements from some entry level positions or evaluate candidates regardless of whether they have particular degrees. Some employers are instead looking for micro-credentials from providers like Credly or e-Portfolios from Portfolium.

As you and your teenager evaluate colleges (and other post-high school options), it’s well worth keeping in mind the total package of what employers are looking for. Remember the soft skills that employers say they are looking for — teamwork, communication, organization, creativity, adaptability, and punctuality, and so on. Consider how well potential colleges and other programs hone those attributes in your son or daughter.