Employers Want Students with “Soft Skills”
Are today’s high school and college graduates prepared for the work demands of their prospective employers?
According to Dr. Jason Wingard, President of Temple University in Philadelphia, not unless they have the “Soft Skills” increasingly required by today’s businesses.
What are “Soft Skills”? And what are “Hard Skills,” which are traditionally considered the skills required by employers?
Wingard describes Hard Skills as “technical knowledge acquired through training including database management, programming languages, interface design, mobile development, statistical analysis, and Search Engine Optimization and Search Engine Marketing. For the past 10 years, the widening skills gap in the workforce has dominated discussion about the lack of Hard readiness for the future of work.
“However,” Wingard continues, “a recent survey reveals that, today, 92% of hiring managers value Soft Skills over Hard Skills, and 89% of those managers attribute “bad hires” to specific Soft deficiencies. Further, 91% of organizations report needing more employees with Soft competencies in order to remain competitive.”
Susan Boardman, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) Academy Internships and Partnerships Leader in the Downingtown Area School District, a top-rated, public school district located in Downingtown, Pa., lists seven key Soft Skills:
1.???Relationship Building (e.g., Networking, Resume Basics, Interviewing)
2.???Problem Solving (Overcoming Obstacles)
3.???Critical Thinking
4.???Communication (e.g., Listening Skills, Presentation Skills, Communications Styles)
5.???Adaptability
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6.???Creativity
7.???Collaboration
Wingard says, “Post COVID, up to 40% of jobs in the future will require Soft Skills attributes and demonstration. What implications does this trend have for management development and training? How will universities and skill-certification providers adapt to the increased demand?”
Malvern Bank recently became a sponsor and corporate partner with The Downingtown Area School District’s STEM Academy to respond to this challenge. This has included the Bank helping fund seven “Soft Skills” workshops. According to Boardman, “The Academy is designed to help students be ’career aware’ prior to graduation. In partnership with businesses, corporations, parents and students, we have identified five critical areas of academia that will promote student growth through inquiry and project-based learning. These five ‘Pathways’ are an opportunity for students to explore, create, and innovate in a 21st Century STEM program.”
Each student chooses a Pathways class during their junior/senior year, selecting from the following choices:
In addition to the Pathways program, students participate in a Career Fair during the spring of their junior year, culminating in a 21-hour summer Career Exploration with STEM partner companies. Companies have the flexibility of developing their own program to showcase careers in their areas of business. Activities have included everything from speakers, hands-on activities, “speed networking”, tours of the facilities, LinkedIn workshops, HR presentations on resume writing, working on a group project and presenting back to the sponsoring company team, and interacting with company college interns. Programs are developed by each organization with guidance, if needed, from Boardman. Students complete the program and receive credit after writing and turning in a portfolio of their career exploration experience to the STEM Academy Coordinator.
Malvern Bank is proud to support The Downingtown School District’s STEM Academy. Our sponsorship is in keeping with the purpose of the Bank’s Independent School Division and, more broadly, the Bank’s mission of helping our neighbors build prosperous communities as their trusted financial partner. Malvern seeks to forge lasting relationships with our clients through teamwork, respect, and integrity.
As the Director of Malvern Bank’s Independent School Division, I have the privilege of getting to know and help some of southeastern Pennsylvania’s top secondary schools. If your school is in need of a financial partner, a Bank that can guide you through a much-needed capital project or other financial challenges, Malvern Bank can help. Please contact me, and we’ll discuss the best financing tool for your school’s specific needs.