Business leaders claim that the generation of students entering the workplace lacks many critical "soft" skills like problem solving and critical thinking, abilities that contribute to an individual's and an organization's success. Explore Junior Achievement's new proposed model that links a foundation of recognized knowledge, skills and attitudes to measurable engagement and achievement activities. The application of this model can potentially lead to a student who is credentialed to be "workforce ready," fully prepared to contribute meaningfully upon entering a 21st century global workplace.
https://www.juniorachievement.org/documents/20009/0/Are+Students+Prepared+for+the+Workplace.pdf/c1b75524-016d-4bd1-b8aa-74395f51021a
BUSINESS SCHOOL MAKEOVER; A INDUSTRY PERSPECTIVEIJITE
Business schools across the United States and abroad are always on a catchup mode with the industry expectations. Why business schools are not front runners in training students for industry and consulting? Authors of this article discuss this topic by first setting the expectations from the industry and then how business schools can cope up with the evolving trends. Many authors ([1], [11], [13]) have identified the skill gaps in the industry and how business schools can work towards bridging the gap. There are research reports such as [13], that identified the misconception about the business schools expectations based on a survey of business school leaders globally (excluding China and USA). In the USA, even though business schools have strived hard to create an industry pro-environment in the class rooms, the gap continues to exist. The authors of this article address the industry needs first and explore potential solutions to address the skills gap
BUSINESS SCHOOL MAKEOVER; A INDUSTRY PERSPECTIVEIJITE
Business schools across the United States and abroad are always on a catchup mode with the industry expectations. Why business schools are not front runners in training students for industry and consulting?
Authors of this article discuss this topic by first setting the expectations from the industry and then how business schools can cope up with the evolving trends. Many authors ([1], [11], [13]) have identified the skill gaps in the industry and how business schools can work towards bridging the gap. There are research reports such as [13], that identified the misconception about the business schools expectations based on a survey of business school leaders globally (excluding China and USA). In the USA, even
though business schools have strived hard to create an industry pro-environment in the class rooms, the gap continues to exist. The authors of this article address the industry needs first and explore potential solutions to address the skills gap.
A Global Citizen Leader (GCL)
is a self and socially aware individual who is able to work courageously and collaboratively to take on complex, boundary-spanning challenges. A GCL is someone who can transform organizations—be they small family businesses, large global corporations, or emerging social enterprises—while transforming themselves. A GCL is a continual and agile learner who is able to step into new environments and empathize from multiple perspectives. A Global Citizens Leader (GCL) is someone who seeks to transform the world from a positive and collaborative mindset. A GCL acts as a representative of the global community—someone not confined by local paradigms –when developing solutions.
Future of Business Education - working documentRoss Wirth
Summary of issues facing business education including some analysis of criticisms from hiring managers, what it means to be a College of Business, and emerging trends.
The Boomer Leader Legacy (BLL) process is for HR experts and leaders who are succession planning for leadership continuity - as the boomers exit the workforce.
BUSINESS SCHOOL MAKEOVER; A INDUSTRY PERSPECTIVEIJITE
Business schools across the United States and abroad are always on a catchup mode with the industry expectations. Why business schools are not front runners in training students for industry and consulting? Authors of this article discuss this topic by first setting the expectations from the industry and then how business schools can cope up with the evolving trends. Many authors ([1], [11], [13]) have identified the skill gaps in the industry and how business schools can work towards bridging the gap. There are research reports such as [13], that identified the misconception about the business schools expectations based on a survey of business school leaders globally (excluding China and USA). In the USA, even though business schools have strived hard to create an industry pro-environment in the class rooms, the gap continues to exist. The authors of this article address the industry needs first and explore potential solutions to address the skills gap
BUSINESS SCHOOL MAKEOVER; A INDUSTRY PERSPECTIVEIJITE
Business schools across the United States and abroad are always on a catchup mode with the industry expectations. Why business schools are not front runners in training students for industry and consulting?
Authors of this article discuss this topic by first setting the expectations from the industry and then how business schools can cope up with the evolving trends. Many authors ([1], [11], [13]) have identified the skill gaps in the industry and how business schools can work towards bridging the gap. There are research reports such as [13], that identified the misconception about the business schools expectations based on a survey of business school leaders globally (excluding China and USA). In the USA, even
though business schools have strived hard to create an industry pro-environment in the class rooms, the gap continues to exist. The authors of this article address the industry needs first and explore potential solutions to address the skills gap.
A Global Citizen Leader (GCL)
is a self and socially aware individual who is able to work courageously and collaboratively to take on complex, boundary-spanning challenges. A GCL is someone who can transform organizations—be they small family businesses, large global corporations, or emerging social enterprises—while transforming themselves. A GCL is a continual and agile learner who is able to step into new environments and empathize from multiple perspectives. A Global Citizens Leader (GCL) is someone who seeks to transform the world from a positive and collaborative mindset. A GCL acts as a representative of the global community—someone not confined by local paradigms –when developing solutions.
Future of Business Education - working documentRoss Wirth
Summary of issues facing business education including some analysis of criticisms from hiring managers, what it means to be a College of Business, and emerging trends.
The Boomer Leader Legacy (BLL) process is for HR experts and leaders who are succession planning for leadership continuity - as the boomers exit the workforce.
Fostering Entrepreneurship and Building Entrepreneurial Self-Efficacy in Prim...Maurice Dawson
This paper focuses on the positives of introducing entrepreneurship education at the primary and secondary levels of education. Specifically, its central focus deals with building children’s entrepreneurial self-efficacy at a young age. Several benefits, of increasing self-efficacy at a young age, are outlined. Benefits, such as entrepreneurship training, not only train students but, it helps to prepare them for the new knowledge based economy. Further, entrepreneurship education should help increase the success and survival rates of women and minority entrepreneurs. Essential to this process, a new curriculum needs to be devised including its means of assessment. Lastly barriers to an entrepreneurship program are discussed; this includes financial, political and negative perceptions of entrepreneurship education.
Josh Bersin’s HR Predictions for 2014. Building a Strong Talent Pipeline for ...Sage HR
Employers will be challenged to attract, retain and develop people in 2014. Organizations will need bold, innovative talent and human resources strategies to compete for skills amidst a global economy recovery. As retention concerns mount, organizations will focus on building a passionate, highly-engaged workforce.
Josh Bersin will expand on these challenges and more in Predictions for 2014: Building a Strong Talent Pipeline for the Global Economic Recovery. Available now to Bersin WhatWorks® members and on a complimentary basis to non-members, this annual report provides a preview of business, training and talent management developments in 2014.
VISIT HR BLOG -> cake.hr/blog
A crisis of competence: The 'skills gap' and what it means for businessBill Sheridan, CAE
Many young professionals are unprepared to meet the challenges posed by a changing and complex world. The reason? The “skills gap.” There’s a chasm between the skills they need to succeed and those they actually possess. Bill Sheridan examines the skills you will need to succeed going forward … and how to get them.
Predicting potential - Assessing Cognitive Ability in RecruitmentGavin Lamb
Employees with strong cognitive ability are a competitive advantage to an organisation - particularly when they are in
roles that require quick learning, first-time problem solving, thinking ‘on your feet’ and dealing with ambiguity. People who
score well on cognitive ability tests are more likely to develop a greater knowledge of the job more quickly, make effective
decisions and successfully reason and strategise to solve problems. In fact, a landmark study reviewed 85 years of research and found that higher cognitive ability is linked with higher productivity and performance.
New Paradigm For Management Education Paper For National Conference At Vim V2.0Anand Joshi
Technology has made significant changes to the way we do business and the changes are more rapid for Gen-Y. The challenge is not only to prepare Gen-Y for management roles or entrepreneurship, but also to prepare them for the new ways of doing business.
This paper proposes a new paradigm for management education, especially for Generation Y to ensure an inclusive development and growth of individuals, teams, organizations and thus environment.
The Authors propose a new paradigm in Management Education with additional emphasis on Human Nature and Organizational or External Environment.
In today’s globally competitive economy, the
value of nurturing high performers has never
been greater. With the war for talent at an all
time high, savvy business leaders are saving
themselves valuable time, money and energy by
focusing on the development of internal talent,
rather than relying on recruitment alone.
By carving a clear career path for employees
with the potential to progress, organisations are
effectively securing their own futures. But how
many employers are actually providing the sort
of support, guidance and encouragement needed
by professionals on their journey to the top?
And what’s standing in the way of these
promising employees when it comes to
furthering their careers?
Perfect relations at delphique 2010 compendium on social media discussionAnkit Khanna
Perfect Relations Digital recently shared their inputs on social media trends at MDI.They were the knowledge partners in the event conducted by the management school
New Paradigm In Management Education V1.3Anand Joshi
Technology has made significant changes to the way we do business and the changes are more rapid for Generation Y. The challenge is not only to prepare Gen-Y for management roles or entrepreneurship, but also to prepare them for the new ways of doing business.
This paper proposes a new paradigm for management education, especially for Generation Y to ensure an inclusive development and growth of individuals, teams, organizations and thus environment.
The Authors propose a new paradigm in Management Education with additional emphasis on Human Nature and Organizational or External Environment.
Fostering Entrepreneurship and Building Entrepreneurial Self-Efficacy in Prim...Maurice Dawson
This paper focuses on the positives of introducing entrepreneurship education at the primary and secondary levels of education. Specifically, its central focus deals with building children’s entrepreneurial self-efficacy at a young age. Several benefits, of increasing self-efficacy at a young age, are outlined. Benefits, such as entrepreneurship training, not only train students but, it helps to prepare them for the new knowledge based economy. Further, entrepreneurship education should help increase the success and survival rates of women and minority entrepreneurs. Essential to this process, a new curriculum needs to be devised including its means of assessment. Lastly barriers to an entrepreneurship program are discussed; this includes financial, political and negative perceptions of entrepreneurship education.
Josh Bersin’s HR Predictions for 2014. Building a Strong Talent Pipeline for ...Sage HR
Employers will be challenged to attract, retain and develop people in 2014. Organizations will need bold, innovative talent and human resources strategies to compete for skills amidst a global economy recovery. As retention concerns mount, organizations will focus on building a passionate, highly-engaged workforce.
Josh Bersin will expand on these challenges and more in Predictions for 2014: Building a Strong Talent Pipeline for the Global Economic Recovery. Available now to Bersin WhatWorks® members and on a complimentary basis to non-members, this annual report provides a preview of business, training and talent management developments in 2014.
VISIT HR BLOG -> cake.hr/blog
A crisis of competence: The 'skills gap' and what it means for businessBill Sheridan, CAE
Many young professionals are unprepared to meet the challenges posed by a changing and complex world. The reason? The “skills gap.” There’s a chasm between the skills they need to succeed and those they actually possess. Bill Sheridan examines the skills you will need to succeed going forward … and how to get them.
Predicting potential - Assessing Cognitive Ability in RecruitmentGavin Lamb
Employees with strong cognitive ability are a competitive advantage to an organisation - particularly when they are in
roles that require quick learning, first-time problem solving, thinking ‘on your feet’ and dealing with ambiguity. People who
score well on cognitive ability tests are more likely to develop a greater knowledge of the job more quickly, make effective
decisions and successfully reason and strategise to solve problems. In fact, a landmark study reviewed 85 years of research and found that higher cognitive ability is linked with higher productivity and performance.
New Paradigm For Management Education Paper For National Conference At Vim V2.0Anand Joshi
Technology has made significant changes to the way we do business and the changes are more rapid for Gen-Y. The challenge is not only to prepare Gen-Y for management roles or entrepreneurship, but also to prepare them for the new ways of doing business.
This paper proposes a new paradigm for management education, especially for Generation Y to ensure an inclusive development and growth of individuals, teams, organizations and thus environment.
The Authors propose a new paradigm in Management Education with additional emphasis on Human Nature and Organizational or External Environment.
In today’s globally competitive economy, the
value of nurturing high performers has never
been greater. With the war for talent at an all
time high, savvy business leaders are saving
themselves valuable time, money and energy by
focusing on the development of internal talent,
rather than relying on recruitment alone.
By carving a clear career path for employees
with the potential to progress, organisations are
effectively securing their own futures. But how
many employers are actually providing the sort
of support, guidance and encouragement needed
by professionals on their journey to the top?
And what’s standing in the way of these
promising employees when it comes to
furthering their careers?
Perfect relations at delphique 2010 compendium on social media discussionAnkit Khanna
Perfect Relations Digital recently shared their inputs on social media trends at MDI.They were the knowledge partners in the event conducted by the management school
New Paradigm In Management Education V1.3Anand Joshi
Technology has made significant changes to the way we do business and the changes are more rapid for Generation Y. The challenge is not only to prepare Gen-Y for management roles or entrepreneurship, but also to prepare them for the new ways of doing business.
This paper proposes a new paradigm for management education, especially for Generation Y to ensure an inclusive development and growth of individuals, teams, organizations and thus environment.
The Authors propose a new paradigm in Management Education with additional emphasis on Human Nature and Organizational or External Environment.
Creating College Ready Students – Tips, Strategies, Examples and Services to ...SmarterServices Owen
Webinar discussing challenges of college student readiness, includes resources to combat the challenge and specific examples of what is working for other schools.
Module 5 Action Plan TemplateUse this template to assist you wit.docxgilpinleeanna
Module 5 Action Plan Template
Use this template to assist you with developing a plan for positive change. As you develop the plan, consider and reflect on the following questions:
· For each goal, who are the stakeholders? What is important for them to know?
· What feedback system will you use to keep stakeholders informed?
· How can the individuals who are assisting you best be used? What information can they provide to make the plan successful or more meaningful?
· What type of evaluation is most appropriate for each goal?
· What resources or training is needed? Who will do it?
· Who will perform the evaluation and how will it be reported?
Goal
(Consider Short & Long Term)
Action
(Training, Investigation, Pilot Study, Interviews, etc.)
Time
Frame
Stakeholders
Evaluation
(Formative, Summative, etc.)
5 Top Bot right left. 12 pt
You need to see this article then write a paper 2-3 page, in the essay, you need to talk about this article and “Over determination”.
Running head: EDUCATION 1
EDUCATION 3
Education
Name
Institution
The US education system has come under a lot of criticisms because of the gap that exists between the curriculum and the expectations of employers in the market (America Institutes for Research, 2013). As a business owner, I support an increased focus on professional and technical training. The current economy demands complex knowledge, which means the current workforce should be highly trained workers (America Institutes for Research, 2013). The demands of the current economy cannot be compared to what was required in the past. There is a necessity for change in the education system to ensure that the suitable graduates churned out every year. Document Set 2 shows that there are 3.3 million job opportunities in the United States. Most of these jobs go for over month without being filled. It is a confirmation that the problem is the gap between what is taught and what is needed in the market. The information has been obtained from White House Job Council, which is a government controlled site. The information is backed by extensive research.
Research has discredited the myth that there is a job shortage in the country. There are many industries that have created jobs that require individuals with the appropriate training and education. Therefore, the problem is the lack of a strong connection between what is taught in school and the economy. There is a need to increase focus on the current curriculum to ensure that students are taught what exists in the market. A collaboration between higher learning institutions and employers is necessary to ensure that new graduates possess skills relevant to the demands of the current economy.
Technology has become an essential part of many industries, which explains the increased demand for professional and technical skills (Edmonson, 2005). Change is necessary to ensure that increased focus is given to technic ...
Comparative research is one of the most common and commonly known forms of assessment. It can take the form of meta-studies, where JA looks at existing research and pulls similar data points to compare to the data JA collects on its students, volunteers, etc. This approach has been used to determine how effective the JA volunteer model is and how JA alumni compare to the general population in terms of educational attainment, median income, and business ownership.
The rising cost of college is spurring many young adults to re-evaluate their post-secondary education options. See what Millennials are saying about it.
https://www.juniorachievement.org/web/ja-usa/critical-issues
Taking it Digital: New Opportunities for Volunteer ServiceJunior A. Chiever
Junior Achievement, with the help of partners like Citi, is scaling volunteer engagement using technology and a blended learning approach. See what students and teachers have to say about this new model that supports the JA Education Gateway.
https://www.juniorachievement.org/web/ja-usa/critical-issues
Junior Achievement's 2015 Teens and Personal Finance Survey, sponsored by The Allstate Foundation, reveals a surprising disconnect between teens' and parents' views around paying for college and managing money.
https://www.juniorachievement.org/documents/20009/20652/2015+Teens+and+Personal+Finance+Survey
Everyone agrees that STEM plays an important role in the job market of today…and tomorrow. But what do teens think of STEM, and other career fields, and how does that perspective differ by gender? The 2017 Teens & Careers Survey by Junior Achievement and EY explores those issues, and more.
https://www.juniorachievement.org/documents/20009/20652/2017-teens-and-career-survey.pdf
Corporate Responsibility &Employee Volunteer ProgramsJunior A. Chiever
Employee Volunteer Programs (EVP) have become an integral part of many Corporate Responsibility (CR) initiatives. On the surface, it seems only natural to engage employees in a business's efforts to demonstrate its commitment to being a responsible corporate citizen. At the same time, effectively incorporating EVP into CR efforts is hardly an easy task. This dynamic creates an opportunity to further explore the reasons behind CR professionals taking on EVP efforts and gaining a better understanding of the challenges and opportunities presented by such combined undertakings.
Junior Achievement (JA) is one of the world's leading nonprofit economic education organizations. Our programs promote concepts related to financial literacy, work readiness, and entrepreneurship to more than 4.8 million students in grades K-12 each year. JA's programs are delivered by nearly a quarter-of-a-million volunteers, primarily through Employee Volunteer Programs. For this reason, we conducted the research presented in this document to gain a better understanding of how CR professionals use EVP programs.
https://www.juniorachievement.org/web/ja-usa/corporate-responsibility-employee-volunteer-programs
Exploring Career Paths in Cybersecurity for Technical CommunicatorsBen Woelk, CISSP, CPTC
Brief overview of career options in cybersecurity for technical communicators. Includes discussion of my career path, certification options, NICE and NIST resources.
Want to move your career forward? Looking to build your leadership skills while helping others learn, grow, and improve their skills? Seeking someone who can guide you in achieving these goals?
You can accomplish this through a mentoring partnership. Learn more about the PMISSC Mentoring Program, where you’ll discover the incredible benefits of becoming a mentor or mentee. This program is designed to foster professional growth, enhance skills, and build a strong network within the project management community. Whether you're looking to share your expertise or seeking guidance to advance your career, the PMI Mentoring Program offers valuable opportunities for personal and professional development.
Watch this to learn:
* Overview of the PMISSC Mentoring Program: Mission, vision, and objectives.
* Benefits for Volunteer Mentors: Professional development, networking, personal satisfaction, and recognition.
* Advantages for Mentees: Career advancement, skill development, networking, and confidence building.
* Program Structure and Expectations: Mentor-mentee matching process, program phases, and time commitment.
* Success Stories and Testimonials: Inspiring examples from past participants.
* How to Get Involved: Steps to participate and resources available for support throughout the program.
Learn how you can make a difference in the project management community and take the next step in your professional journey.
About Hector Del Castillo
Hector is VP of Professional Development at the PMI Silver Spring Chapter, and CEO of Bold PM. He's a mid-market growth product executive and changemaker. He works with mid-market product-driven software executives to solve their biggest growth problems. He scales product growth, optimizes ops and builds loyal customers. He has reduced customer churn 33%, and boosted sales 47% for clients. He makes a significant impact by building and launching world-changing AI-powered products. If you're looking for an engaging and inspiring speaker to spark creativity and innovation within your organization, set up an appointment to discuss your specific needs and identify a suitable topic to inspire your audience at your next corporate conference, symposium, executive summit, or planning retreat.
About PMI Silver Spring Chapter
We are a branch of the Project Management Institute. We offer a platform for project management professionals in Silver Spring, MD, and the DC/Baltimore metro area. Monthly meetings facilitate networking, knowledge sharing, and professional development. For event details, visit pmissc.org.
NIDM (National Institute Of Digital Marketing) Bangalore Is One Of The Leading & best Digital Marketing Institute In Bangalore, India And We Have Brand Value For The Quality Of Education Which We Provide.
www.nidmindia.com
New Explore Careers and College Majors 2024.pdfDr. Mary Askew
Explore Careers and College Majors is a new online, interactive, self-guided career, major and college planning system.
The career system works on all devices!
For more Information, go to https://bit.ly/3SW5w8W
1. New Tools for a New Generation
A JA Education Blueprint Initiative
Are Students Prepared
for the Workplace?
2. Acknowledgments
In December 2013, Junior Achievement USA®
convened a Summit on Work and Career Readiness in Atlanta,
Georgia, featuring recognized experts from nine different areas of specialization focused on the preparation
of America’s next-generation workforce. This paper presents, in part, key elements of the multi-day discussion.
We wish to extend our sincere appreciation to the Goizueta Foundation and the summit participants who
contributed their time, intellectual capital, and enthusiasm and whose contributions will positively impact
generations of students for years to come.
State Department of Education – Carol Barkley, Former Director, California Department of Education, Charter
School Division
Training, Strategy, and Support – M.C. Desrosiers, Former ASCD Chief Strategy Officer
Small Business Administration – Dr. Ruben Garcia, SBA Director of San Diego and President/CEO of the
Hispanic Education Foundation
Philanthropy – Dr. Gisele Huff, Executive Director of the Hume Foundation and Board Chair of the Christensen
Institute
Innovative Education Designer – Dr. Rick Ogston, President/CEO of Carpe Diem Schools
Business Representative/Entrepreneur – Mickey Revenaugh, Executive Vice President/Co-Founder of
Connections Learning, owned by Pearson, Inc.
K-12 School District Representative – Dr. Themistocles Sparangis, Chief Technology Officer, Los Angeles
Unified School District
Research/Evaluation – John Watson, Founder of Evergreen Education Research/Group, publisher of the highly
recognized annual “Keeping Pace” report outlining education reforms, trends, research, and initiatives
Junior Achievement participants:
Jack Harris, President, JA of Georgia (Summit Host)
Jack Kosakowski, President and CEO, JA USA
Buzzy Thibodeaux, Executive Vice President, JA USA
Lisa Gillis, M.A., Chief Academic Officer, JA USA (Report Sponsor)
Joe Thomas, Ph.D., Vice President of Evaluation and Research, JA USA
Matlea Parker, M.Ed., Vice President of Education, JA USA
Wendy Oliver, Ed.D., Manager of Evaluation and Research, JA USA
4. Executive Summary
Educators, businesses, and nonprofit education organizations have a timely opportunity to solve
a vexing problem facing American businesses: Graduating students are inadequately prepared
to participate in a meaningful way to their employers’ success because they lack basic skills
such as communication, problem solving, and critical thinking. Many students realize they are
struggling to acquire these “life” skills. They intuitively understand they need guidance, direction,
and help because they are wired to want to be meaningfully engaged when they enter the
workforce.
Under the auspices of Junior Achievement USA, education, business, career-development,
and research professionals have collaborated to develop a working model that describes how
educators from academic and nonprofit backgrounds could design, develop, and deliver a system
of training that credentials a student to be workforce ready. The model is flexible, dynamic, and
adaptable to different populations and work environments. Above all, the model is practical and
lends itself to measurement of progress against specific goals.
Junior Achievement USA is uniquely positioned to lead a discussion about workforce readiness.
We understand the needs of students—we talk to them every day! And we understand business
owners’ needs because they are our partners in delivering financial literacy, entrepreneurship,
and work-readiness programs to 4.4 million K-12 students in 100-plus markets in the United
States. The timing is right for a discussion about an innovative approach to work readiness, and
Junior Achievement USA is ready to play a part in a solution that makes a positive impact on the
next generation of students entering the workforce.
1
5. Introduction
Are America’s schools preparing our students
for work through established curriculum and
partnerships with the business community?
Is there an identifiable set of core knowledge,
skills, and attitudes that will ensure our
students are prepared to face the unfamiliar
challenges of the workplace? What does it
actually mean for a graduating high school
student to be “ready for the workplace”?
A growing body of literature identifies factors
that are necessary for a successful transition
from either secondary school or college into
gainful employment. However, American
businesses have indicated they believe only
half of high school students are equipped
with the most important workplace skills,
such as oral and written communication,
critical thinking, and problem solving.1
Hiring
professionals who regularly evaluate the
qualifications of new entrants (high school
and college graduates) into the workforce
have an even grimmer view: They believe
only 20 percent of young job hires are “very
qualified” for their new positions. Eighty
percent are “somewhat qualified,” “somewhat
unqualified,” or “very unqualified.” These
assessments paint a bleak picture of the
1 2006. Are They Really Ready to Work? Conference Board,
Inc., Partnership for 21st Century Skills, Corporate Voices
for Working Families, and Society for Human Resource
Management.
preparedness of our graduating students to be
successful contributors to the U.S. economy.2
This degradation in workplace readiness
comes at a crucial time, with the U.S.
economy losing an increasing number of
experienced professionals to retirement. The
skills and experience of these baby boomers
are not easily replaced, and there does not
seem to be the kind of training and mentoring
plans for their successors that eased the
transition of previous generations of workers.
To compensate, many employers are choosing
to hire workers from outside of America
who can immediately meet their business
needs. This significantly disadvantages U.S.
youths as they compete with a prepared and
increasingly competitive global workforce.
Leaders in business and education recognize
the ramifications of such outsourcing, and
progress is being made to align secondary
school curricula with the needs of American
businesses. Interestingly, three-quarters of
employers who responded to a Conference
Board survey3
agreed that “K-12 schools
should be responsible for providing basic
knowledge and applied skills” for new
workers. Educators appear willing to take up
that mantle of responsibility. However, is more
of the same education the right solution, or
does there need to be a better definition of
“work readiness” before a systematic and
more effective solution is proposed?
2 2006. Are They Really Ready to Work? Conference Board,
Inc. et al.
3 2006. Are They Really Ready to Work? Conference Board,
Inc. et al.
2
This degradation in workplace
readiness comes at a crucial time,
with the U.S. economy losing an
increasing number of experienced
professionals to retirement.
7. 4
future than the job-specific skills often taught
in narrowly focused work-preparedness
programs. Possessing these broader, enduring
skills would allow students to be work-,
career-, and life-ready, prepared for the
constantly changing circumstances they will
surely encounter across all areas of their lives.
The summit participants also concluded
that in the absence of our education system
solving this issue through changes in school-
delivered curricula, it remains incumbent
upon extracurricular organizations to provide
students with such life-skills training.
Research suggests that these foundational
skills are most effectively taught through
experiential and mastery-based learning,
the types of learning experiences that Junior
Achievement excels in providing. As a result,
summit participants expressed strong support
for JA USA to initiate and lead an important
discussion about the role of nonprofit
educational organizations and the business
community in preparing students for life
after school.
That discussion, summit participants agreed,
should result in:
• defining a new model that describes
life readiness;
• developing innovative and relevant
courseware that conveys this new
model; and
• delivering creative new content that
excites and captures the imagination
of students who are seeking
guidance as they enter a constantly
changing global society.
The Emerging
Population
of Workers
So, what characterizes this population of
students who will soon enter the workplace?
Members of the so-called “Generation Z”
(or “Gen Z”) were born in the mid-1990s
to mid-2000s. They are not the Millennials
(“Generation Y”) who have been entering
the workforce for the past 14 years and who
already have shaped our culture in ways that
required social scientists to invent a new
vocabulary.
This latest generation has yet to leave such
a mark on our culture. But it surely will—for
better or worse. The members of Gen Z have
experienced in their short lives a revolution in
instant communication and information, which
has helped to shape these “digital natives”
to expect instant access to almost every
other resource in their spheres of experience:
access to jobs, to wealth, to people. But these
unrealistic expectations are often in conflict
with the way the “real world” works, and
their discovery of this frequently leads to
disappointment and cynicism.
And, yet, there also are positive psychological
characteristics that define Gen Z. They
are realistic about the world because
they have grown up in troubling times as
witnesses to school violence, long Middle
Eastern wars, and a crippling recession
in which many of them saw their parents
unexpectedly lose their jobs with devastating
8. results. They live in a world of dwindling
resources, stagnant income growth, soaring
education costs, and reduced opportunities
in the traditional industries that have fed
and clothed American families for decades.
Consequently, they are pragmatic and
resilient, willing to openly and honestly
confront issues and solve problems.
Can these conflicting characteristics of Gen Z
be resolved into a new generation prepared in
novel ways for the challenges they will face
in a changing workplace? In a word, yes.
Growing up with instant access to information,
members of Gen Z have learned the value of
a knowledge society. They understand the
power of using information and knowledge to
potentially change the world around them—
and to better their own lives at the same
time. This perspective makes this generation
ready for a new model of work preparedness.
Their ability to understand and be realistic
about the need for a set of foundational skills
can make them successful competitors in a
global economy. They are informed, eager,
and willing to try new things. Business leaders
recognize the resource this new generation
represents, and they, too, are ready to
embrace new education models to tap the
capabilities of these young Americans.
What Is “Work
Readiness”?
Reviewing the prevailing definitions of
work and career readiness underscores the
uncertainty that any one set of skills and
abilities can predict success for entry-level
employees. Direct comparisons between
and among these definitions are difficult
because of the inconsistent vernacular used
by businesses and organizations to describe
success factors among young employees.
Still, a listing of some organizations and
their particular take on work readiness is
instructive.
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9. 6
ACT
ACT is probably best known for its college admissions and placement test, which is administered
to graduating high school students every year. What is less well known is that the organization
provides more than one hundred other services for education and workforce development. One
of those services, called National Career Readiness Certificate PLUS, is an assessment of non-
cognitive—or “soft”—skills that help employers assess the work readiness of job candidates. This
assessment focuses on specific characteristics or traits that are presumably measurable and which
are considered important by employers for predicting success in the workplace.
U.S. Department of Labor
The Labor Department, in its Essential Skills to Getting a Job, a publication of the Office of Disability
Employment Policy, asserts there are certain skills “key to the success of young workers in the 21st
Century workplace” and which correlate to soft skills that are attractive to employers hiring new
workers.
Labor Department: Essential Job Skills
ACT: Essential Soft Skills
Domain Characteristics/Traits
Work Discipline Productivity • Dependability
Teamwork Tolerance • Communication • Attitude
Customer Service Orientation Interpersonal Skills • Perseverance
Managerial Potential Persuasion • Enthusiasm • Problem Solving
• Professionalism or Work Ethic
• Oral and Written Communication
• Teamwork and Collaboration Skills
• Critical-Thinking Skills
• Problem-Solving Skills
• Professionalism
• Communication Skills
• Teamwork
• Critical-Thinking Skills
• Problem-Solving Skills
• Networking
• Enthusiasm
Employers Are Looking For:
Competencies Key to Success:
10. 7
National Institute for Literacy
This federal agency has created a set of literacy standards called Equipped for the Future (EFF)
Content Standards: What Adults Need to Know and Be Able to Do in the 21st Century. The EFF
Standards define adult literacy requirements in the context of roles and responsibilities. The
standards are particularly relevant to workers because they have been crafted without regard to the
educational levels of adults. The standards assume that all adults—workers, parents, and family and
community members—require mastery of these knowledge and skills standards to carry out their
responsibilities at home, in the workplace, and in their respective communities.
The EFF Standards are categorized in the following skills wheel.
21ST CENTURY
SKILLS
Read with
Understanding
Convey
Ideas in
Writing Speak So
Others Can
Understand
Listen
Actively
Observe
Critically
Use Math to
Solve Problems and
Communicate
Solve Problems and
Make Decisions
Plan
Cooperate
With
Others
Advocate
and
Influence
Resolve Conflict
and Negotiate
Guide Others
Take Responsibility
for Learning
Reflect and
Evaluate
Learn Through
Research
Use
Information and
Communication
Technology
Adapted from a similar graphic at the Skills for the 21st Century website:
http://skillsfor21stcentury.wordpress.com/2010/03/23/eff-skills-wheel/
Literacy Institute: Essential Skills We All Need
11. 8
Clearly, among these organizations there is significant consensus about some of the specific
skills that are important for predicting success among entry-level workers. However, what is
glaringly obvious is that there is a lack of consensus about the inclusion of all the proposed skills
within any single, definable domain. That lack of agreement precludes a conclusive dialogue
among business leaders and educators about the development of a standard curriculum for
preparing students for work.
A number of definitions of “work readiness” also have been suggested in educational
publications and by business organizations that categorize associated skills in terms of
“cognitive” (reading for information and problem solving, for example) and “noncognitive”
(job performance and adaptability, for example). In fact, JA offers an implicit definition of what
constitutes work and career readiness in the context of describing the impact of its various
programs. JA contends that critical thinking, interpersonal communication, problem solving,
collaboration, and teamwork, for example, all constitute skills that are required of any workforce,
current or future.
An Alternative to Defining “Work Readiness”
The summit participants acknowledged the multitude of work-readiness descriptions and
intentionally chose not to craft yet another definition, concluding that it would be a fool’s errand
to predict the specific needs of the future workplace. And, they believed, creating yet another
definition of work readiness would constrain the development of an innovative, adaptable
curriculum that would address the needs of students no matter what generation they were born
into in the 21st century.
Rather, summit participants endorsed the basic elements of JA’s implicit definition by noting
its well-known tagline, “Empowering young people to own their economic success.” The word
“economic” derives from the Greek oikonomia, (oikos, “house,” and nomos, “custom” or “law”),
which together translate into the “rules of the house.” How appropriate a tagline, they concluded,
because the work-readiness knowledge and skills that should be taught must be adaptable
to meet the ever-changing focus of new generations. The “rules of the house” today are not
the same rules of previous generations. And it is impossible to say with any certainty what the
rules will be for future generations. Such lack of certainty supports the idea that focusing on the
enduring message that youths must take responsibility for their own economic success is exactly
the right prescription for future generations.
Is there utility in not defining a term? The summit participants think so. They believe that
describing work readiness in terms of a construct of interest could be much more powerful. They
propose that work readiness could best be illustrated by harnessing the experiences of people
12. who already successfully contribute their skills in the workforce, from the boardrooms to the
factory floor. Specifically, they suggest capturing the life stories of successful workers and vividly
presenting the attitudes, behaviors, and learning opportunities that contributed significantly to
their success.
While such life stories could—and should— be drawn from all types of workers and
entrepreneurs young and old, male and female, Junior Achievement already has deep resources
from which to draw: It currently has a cadre of more than 200,000 volunteers who deliver JA
programs to students. Many of these volunteers have created their own successful businesses,
excelled in the corporate landscape, or simply shone in their chosen career. Tapping the depth
and breadth of their experiences could jumpstart this new model of work readiness.
Summit participants anticipate that these work-life scenarios will not be confined to the current
American workplace, since the enduring traits of good workers transcend time, occupation, and
location. Any new attempt at describing work readiness, they insist, must take into consideration
that new workers will be part of a global marketplace that transcends geographical boundaries.
New Tools for a New Generation
How do we guide future generations to “own” their success? What tools or skills can we provide
them? What education or training is appropriate? The consensus of the summit participants is
to introduce educators, employers, and emerging workers to a three-fold system of training that
should be delivered concurrently:
1. Identify and develop a recognized set of “foundation” skills;
2. Teach students to learn for themselves; and
3. Adopt a hierarchical model of work-readiness preparation that is both practical and
measurable.
True empowerment is having the ability to manage one’s life, no matter what the current world
looks like. And that is the framework that should be used to prepare our emerging generations
for global, futuristic “readiness.”
1. Identifying the KSA Fundamentals
As described above, summit participants agree that a construct of interest and set
of descriptions in the form of life narratives—rather than simple definitions of work
readiness—may be the tool that allows the teaching of work readiness to transcend
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True empowerment is having the ability to manage one’s life, no matter
what the current world looks like.
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the specific and the mundane. Through focused, well-told narratives, delivered in
formats embraced by Gen Z, students would discover the knowledge, skills, and
attitudes that underlie the performance of all successful workers, no matter their age
or experience. This approach would build on a framework consistent with real-life
experiences of successful workers. And it would represent an exciting departure from
tiresome, non-generalizable, static definitions that quickly become outdated. However,
any comprehensive definition scheme should also include fundamental skills such as
mathematics and reading competencies, which are essential elements for any work-
preparation model.
2. Teaching Students to Learn for Themselves
We are moving quickly into a “digital” future, one that will require our students to be
connected to information and to each other in networks that we can barely imagine.
What we do imagine we couch in metaphors and colorful language to aid in describing
this exciting, new digital world, such as “world-spanning information fabric.” Whatever
the shape or form of future information networks, one thing is certain: Our students
will be left behind unless they learn to teach themselves how to use the tools to stay
connected and integrated.
Learning for oneself is a common theme in educational circles today—synonymous
with the concepts of lifelong learning and autonomous learning, and it is universally
understood to encompass the self-motivated, voluntary, and ongoing pursuit of
knowledge. Thus, a system that teaches students to “own their own success” must
include teaching them to participate intentionally and aggressively in the knowledge
economy. If we are to subscribe to the idea that the best way to predict one’s future
is to invent it, our emerging students must learn how to learn for themselves. They
also must be resilient, flexible, and able to reinvent themselves to respond to a rapidly
changing work environment.
3. Adopting a New Model of Work Readiness
A useful model of work readiness should be practical and measurable. It should be
practical in that it must be adaptable to different academic situations and social
environments while providing a general architecture for concrete steps and activities
that should be taken. It should be measurable so that accountability can be assigned
for specific actions and progress can be quantified against stated goals. A three-fold
system of training is presented on the following page that addresses each of the
proposed elements of recommended preparation.
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1
2
3 New Model
Teach Student
to Learn
KSA
Fundamentals
WORK
READY
KSA ACQUISITION
EXPLORATION & UNDERSTANDING
AWARENESS
Achievement
ACCESS
BELIEFS
SKILLS
LIFE NARRATIVES
KNOWLEDGE
SKILLS
ATTITUDES
EngagementInterest
JA Three-Fold System of Work-Readiness Training
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The model depicts graphically the following ideas and philosophy:
• KSA fundamental information would provide the base for student preparation for the
workforce. This information would be presented in the form of life narratives that
explore the enduring knowledge, skills, and attitudes of successful workers.
• To learn for themselves, students would require: (a) access to mentors and workers
who provide real-life information and guidance about job content and requirements;
(b) a shift in their belief systems to understand and accept their personal role and
responsibility to own their preparation; and (c) a curriculum that translates the life
narratives into specific skills.
• Students would transition through three distinct levels of events once they commit to
a path of preparation. Beginning with an acknowledgment that there is a gap in their
current skill set (awareness), students would begin a set of activities that focus on the
need to close their skills gap (exploration & understanding). That would lead to active
learning and transfer of knowledge, skills, and attitudes (KSA acquisition).
This system would lend itself naturally to three measurement touch points: interest,
engagement, and achievement. Metrics could easily be developed that quantify students’
levels of investment in each of the three elements of the training system while measuring their
progress against specific objectives tied to knowledge acquisition and skills achievement.
The system could be developed into a robust road map or set of diagnostics and interventions
that guide students through a comprehensive workforce-readiness program. The system
would not attempt to identify what motivations students may or may not have but rather would
presume that a student entering the process is already motivated and goal-oriented. However,
the system would be sufficiently well-articulated to provide a backdrop against which to study
the three factors that are understood to constitute motivation: values, beliefs, and desires.
Taken together, these three components—identifying the fundamentals; teaching students to
learn for themselves; and adopting a new model of instilling work-readiness skills—constitute
a comprehensive system of training that would be both practical and manageable, while
simultaneously lending itself to accountability and measurement.
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Junior Achievement USA
provides hope. It can leverage its
organizational infrastructure to
connect students to meaningful,
life-changing learning opportunities
A Conclusion:
Hope and
Anticipation
American employers are deeply concerned
about the deficit of foundational workplace
skills in the emerging workforce. At the same
time, many of our
youths are finding it
difficult to transition
from school into the
workplace because
they are unprepared
for the challenges
they face in an
unfamiliar environment. As a result, they
are unable to contribute at their potential.
This trend will continue as long as nonprofit
education organizations and the business
community fail to explore more creative ways
to partner with education to focus on effective
work-readiness strategies.
Junior Achievement USA, however, provides
hope. It is in a unique position as the world’s
largest nonprofit organization dedicated to
providing young people with the knowledge
and skills they need to own their economic
success, plan for their future, and make
smart academic and economic choices. It can
leverage its organizational infrastructure to
connect students to meaningful, life-changing
learning opportunities
that better prepare
them to be competitive
in the 21st century
global marketplace and
beyond.
Consider: Junior Achievement USA’s programs
are delivered by more than 200,000 corporate
and community volunteers who provide
relevant, hands-on experiences that foster
work readiness, entrepreneurship, and
financial literacy skills. Its programs use
experiential, mastery-based learning
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strategies that inspire students to dream
big and attain their potential. Today, JA USA
reaches 4.4 million K-12 students in 115
markets across the United States and an
additional 5.8 million students in 120 other
countries worldwide, for a total of 10.2 million
students around the globe.
This is an exciting time for Junior
Achievement USA, as it reinvents itself
through its JA Education Blueprint. The
blueprint proposes to introduce innovative,
transformational programs that will re-engage
American students, expand our relationships
with our corporate partners, and equip our
students with the life skills that will prepare
them to own their own economic success.
By leading the national discussion about work
readiness through the convening of the 2013
Summit on Work and Career Readiness,
JA USA is poised to lead the development of
a new, relevant model of instruction that truly
prepares young workers for the challenges of
their time in history.