Q TIPS:
Quick and Quintessential Career & Job Tips
Job-hunting tips from the October 23, 2006 issue of
QuintZine.
According to a study by the National Association of Colleges and Employers, the skills most desired in
management-level employees are:
Oral communication skills
Interpersonal skills
Analytical skills
Teamwork skills
Flexibility
Computer skills
Proficiency in a field of study
Written communication skills
Leadership skills
Work experience
The Echo newsletter, published by Communispond,
points out that oral communication skills are more valued than actual subject-matter expertise. "Building these skills is a vital part
of every professional's development," The Echo notes.
Twenty percent of U.S. college students completing 4-year degrees have only basic quantitative literacy skills, meaning they are unable
to estimate if their car has enough gasoline to get to the next gas station or calculate the total cost of ordering two separate items from a menu,
according to a new national survey by the American Institutes for Research (AIR). The research also notes that more than 50 percent
of students at 4-year colleges do not score at the proficient level of literacy, which means that they lack the skills to perform tasks
such as comparing credit card offers with different interest rates or summarizing the arguments of newspaper editorials.
The Herman Trend Report has focused considerable attention on the growing shortage of qualified workers in the United States.
"Based on our interpretation of data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, we anticipated a shortage of 10 million
skilled laborers by 2010," the report states.
The Herman Group, Inc,. presented this case in its book, Impending Crisis: Too Many Jobs, Too Few People.
"While there have been some challenges to our forecast, many others now use our projections. Whether the actual
shortfall will be 8, 10, or 14 million, it is clear that employers find it increasingly difficult to hire and retain
the people they need," the newsletter reports.
The Trend Report further notes: "In 2004, in our 'Red Alert Paper,' we reported that the employment market was
shifting from a buyer's market to a seller's market. Now, employee turnover is increasing even faster, as talented
employees seek better job opportunities. The phenomenon is not limited to the United States or North America.
We see these conditions developing at an alarming pace in developed -- and some developing -- countries
around the world. This global shortage of skilled workers -- educated and trained to perform the work of today
and tomorrow -- will affect everyone. "
From "The Herman Trend Alert," by Roger Herman and Joyce Gioia,
Strategic Business Futurists. (800) 227-3566. The Herman Trend Alert is a trademark of
The Herman Group, Inc.
According to a study by the National Association of Colleges and Employers, the skills most desired in
management-level employees are:
