1. 21 st Century Work Skills: What do Employers Want? BRAD DAVIS-INSTRUCTOR/PROGRAM COORDINATOR BUSINESS DEPARTMENT, SRJC

2. What Employers Want— Research at Federal Level President George H.W. Bush Secretary’s Commission on Achieving Necessary Skills (SCANS) 1991 Identified foundation skills and workplace competencies needed by all workers

3. SCANS Results—Workplace Know-How 1.Resources 2.Interpersonal Skills 3.Information 4.Systems 5.Technology CompetenciesFoundation Skills 1.Basic Skills 2.Thinking Skills 3.Personal Qualities

4. Other Government Reform Efforts 1994  President Bill Clinton  Educate America Act  Goals 2000 and School-to-Work 2002  President George W. Bush  No Child Left Behind 2011  President Barack Obama  Redesign Elementary and Secondary Education Act  Help states implement college- and career- ready standards  Improve teacher preparation  And now…Community College for free?

5. Are they really ready to work? (2006) Consortium: The Conference Board, Corporate Voices for Working Families, the Partnership for 21st Century Skills and the Society for Human Resource Management Employers’ Perspectives on the Basic Knowledge and Applied Skills of New Entrants to the 21 st Century U.S. Workforce Surveyed 400 employers across U.S.

6. 21 st Century Skills Basic Knowledge/Skills English language (spoken) Writing (grammar, spelling, etc.) Reading comprehension Mathematics Science Government/Economics Humanities/Art Foreign Languages History/Geography Applied Skills Critical thinking/problem solving* Communication* Teamwork/collaboration* Professionalism/work ethic* Diversity Info Technology Application Leadership Creativity/innovation Lifelong learning Social responsibility *Most Important

7. Common Sense! Common Practice.

8. So What Does It All Mean?

10. What Employers Want-Sonoma/Bay Area BUSINESS DEPARTMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE & EMPLOYER PANELS IN BAY AREA COMMUNICATION! Teamwork/Collaboration “Just Do It” Self-Motivated/Governance Follow-through Value-Added Resourceful Creativity Basic Computer Skills Initiative Critical Thinking Curiosity “Clean” Social Media Presence

11. Why Didn’t You Hire Them? First Impressions—15 seconds Not Engaging Weak Handshake Not Enthusiastic Little Charisma Showcasing Skills Certificates Writing/Other Samples Image-Dress For Success (Student Business Club Clothes)

12. Why Didn’t You Hire Them? (Continued) Lack of Preparation for Interview Research the Company One-Way Dialogue during Interview Mismatch for job—focusing on wrong aspect Didn’t “Fit” Unaware of Group/Panel Interviews Unable to back up statements made on résumé Phone Etiquette

13. What can you do? Practice, practice, practice. Then practice more. Mock interviews BGN 111/112 courses at SRJC Network Associations Clubs Volunteer Career Center Resources #1—Be Open. Be Flexible.

14. Thank you and best of luck! QUESTIONS?