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News Smart Talk Are today's college graduates professional?
| Are today's college graduates professional? |
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| Monday, 16 November 2009 16:25 |
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York College survey finds many new graduates lack professionalism -- Radio Smart Talk -- Tuesday, November 17
One of the biggest factors an employer takes in account when deciding whether to hire an applicant is the job candidate's professionalism. Unfortunately, many applicants are not as professional as employers would like.
Those were the findings of a recent nationwide survey of human resources directors commissioned by York College's Center for Professional Excellence.
About a third of the respondents to the survey said professionalism among college graduates looking for entry-level positions has gotten worse over the past five years. Among the HR professionals' criticisms are that recent graduates find it difficult to accept personal responsibility and and to work independently.
Guests: Dr. David Polk, Professor of Behavioral Sciences, York College of PA and John Bartman, Vice President for Human Resources for Snyder's of Hanover.
LISTEN TO PROGRAM:
Comments (11)
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written by Rob , November 17, 2009, 08:39:49 AM Mastering your discipline is wonderful but it will make for lonely satisfaction and a poor living unless you can communicate its value to the uninitiated... and that’s done thru the common medium of language, written and verbal, this why you were required to take all those English courses and you asked why since “I can already talk English” Also before picking a major you ought to talk to those who are doing it, before you cross that bridge(at enormous expense)you might have a clue as to one, will you want to do it, and two what specific coursework are you in need of to be most useful at it. report abuse
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written by Rob , November 17, 2009, 08:45:14 AM Addendum, As for a common medium being language, that may go for attire as well, not every minute of your day perhaps, but when you are meeting with the uninitiated at last. report abuse
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written by Elizabeth , November 17, 2009, 09:06:32 AM Professionalism is life skill, learned from a young age. Being able to speak with our parents respectfully, while still being able to make our point.Having good language skills are enhances with our education but assertivness while remaining polite and respectfull starts at HOME. Once you are in school, the older you are the harder it is to change. If you are a spoiled brat at home, how can you be professional with your peers and superiors.I learned my negociation skills at home trying to win my parents to my wishes. Loosing more than winning, and learning along the way, how to. report abuse
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written by Elizabeth , November 17, 2009, 10:22:02 AM Hi To everyone at smart talk’ You guys do a great job and I am appalled at Ian Riddle’s comment, this morning. He surely represents a miniscule part of the listeners. You have taken my calls, from time to time and my colleagues at work(Operating Room),have commented about hearing me on your show and also agreeing what a great show you put together. Yesterday, Terry Gross had a journalist as a guest, interviewing him on his recent book. Josh kosman I believe? His topic is very relevant to today’s economy. Would you consider inviting an expert on the economy to discuss strategies to avoid the down fall Josh was eluding to report abuse
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written by LJ , November 17, 2009, 11:08:25 AM Yes, we see this all the time at our school. I work at a career school and the employers we work with have all indicated that the best way into a position with their company is not through technical prowess but through strong people skills and a sense of ethics and responsibility. It is very difficult to implant these characteristics when the influences in their lives to this point have been contrary. We are now reaping the rewards of the seeds we planted 10-15 years ago - texting, gaming, VOD and little or no true interpersonal social exposure. My students cannot sit through a 30 second conversation, much less a 50 minute class without checking their phones or texting someone. They walk out of class to make or receive calls. At break, students stand out on the patio or in the halls and chat into their little boxes and not to each other. We have policies regarding these activities but if we enforced them we would not have any students! This is way more than just a generation gap between The Platters and Led Zeppelin. This is, in the colloquial of the latter, a "communication Breakdown". To all the future employers of our students out there, we are doing our best. It's a tough climb but we are aware and moving forward --- slowly. LJ report abuse
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written by Rob , November 17, 2009, 11:14:30 AM This is for Mr. Riddle if that's your real name, I know "Radio Times" - it's great now but it wasn't as great back in 1987. Additionally, WHYY is all news, and of course has the resources of the Delaware compared to the Susquehanna Valley at its disposal. Be patient, you may find that you'll feel a larger spoke in a somewhat smaller wheel here and likewise with the station. When I came out here in 1993, "Fresh Air" wasn't even available and now "Smarttalk" is as well. PS btw I liked "Talk of the Nation" and National Press Club speeches as well. report abuse
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written by Russ , November 17, 2009, 11:50:05 PM I question why employers place such an emphasis on a bachelors degree while ignoring a person's life experiences. I am 53 years old and am currently attending PSU in an effort to obtain my BS in Interdisciplinary Humanities. My GPS is 3.9 and I am a member of the Alpha Sigma Lambda National Honor Society. I've spent 35 years as a very successful sales professional and supervisor. However, no employer will even consider me for a position because I do not currently have my BS. If employers are truly seeking people who are "professional" then why won't they consider, at least granting an interview, to a person who meets all of their criteria with the exception of having a BS? My knowledge and professionalism would be an asset to any company; if they would be willing to consider someone without a BS. Employers place far too great of an emphasis on job candidates who have degrees while overlooking the wealth of talent available that, for whatever reason, have no degree or a lowly Associate degree. report abuse
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written by Ian J. Riddle , November 18, 2009, 07:10:08 AM In response to "Rob"...as if a silly thing like that could actually be someones name...and the easily "appalled" Elizabeth (If my comments are your threshold for appalled then you must have a very difficult time in the modern world). Look, first off lighten the heck up!!! Life is short and that freaking staged interview was about as banal and vanilla as anything I've ever heard on radio. I'm sorry but that's my opinion. I have certainly appreciated and participated in Radio Smart Talk programs in the past, so it's not as if I'm smashing every effort that the station puts forth. If anything it's the removal of my comment that really worries me. Perhaps the audience of this comment feed just can't handle the explosive rawness of a dissenting opinion?!? Oh my! Hide the kids and get out the earmuffs. C'mon guys this is why everyone in Pittsburgh and Philly refers to Central Pa as Pennsyltucky! It's like some fear based conservative bible belt around here. People who don't agree with you aren't the boogie man...they are teachers who can either expand your point of view or strengthen and refine your existing position. Strap up your sensitvity boots, grow a sense of humor, avoid rigidly staged mock interviews that lack any sincerity, and put my original comment back up!!! Yours very truly and sincerely, Ian Joseph Riddle, Progress Ave. Harrisburg Pa. report abuse
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written by LJ , November 18, 2009, 07:44:33 AM Um, Riddle, the theme of this message board is supposed to be relative to graduates' unpreparedness for work after graduation. Your initial post had nothing to do with that idea and served only to complain about the show itself. That's why I gave it a -1. The topic may be flavorless and bland to you, but as someone close to this problem it is far from being so - it's a battle I fight every day, year in and year out. LJ report abuse
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written by Ian J. Riddle , November 18, 2009, 11:33:37 AM Um, LJ...the theme of this message board is comment on a RADIO PROGRAM. I am sure that preparedness and appropriate levels of professionalism from graduates are indeed issues of concern for many people in a variety of fields. Far be it from me to knock that. My original point was that when talking about it do we have to be so God awful rigid and boring? I'm not saying we have to make a hiphop concert out of hiring processes and analysis...but you give that topic to Marty Moss-Coane and I bet she puts on a show that is 100 times more listenable than that Sominex laced slog yesterday. Sorry guys. You usually do a really great job. report abuse
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