Congratulations!
But are you worried about whether you’ve been prepared with the best skills for today’s world?
I’d be interested to know your thoughts on this…
Education is still relentlessly focused on preparing young people to pass exams. But the research seems clear; this approach ignores the skills that employers are now looking for, the skills that allow young people to effectively navigate rapid, constant change, the skills that encourage imagination, creativity, and innovation, and the skills that will develop an individual’s wellbeing and success.
There’s plenty of recent evidence…
This month, one company’s research showed that only one in five of their 1000 candidates during the last 12 months demonstrated the necessary soft skills – and the problem is growing.
Meanwhile Dr Anthony Seldon spoke out about his belief that state schools have much to learn from the private sector, which is far better at preparing students not just with good grades, but with “a grounding in soft skills.” He recognised that:
State schools are “the victim of forces
that compel them to focus on a narrow range of exam teaching”
Writing in HR Magazine, James Caan, building on his recent work with McDonalds and a host of major employers and business groups, said:
Not only will better recognition and promotion of soft skills benefit the UK economy, it will also make a significant difference to the businesses, careers and lives of young people.
He quotes the research findings, which include the fact that 75% of employers say there is already a soft skills gap in today’s workforce, and that economists predict by 2020 more than half a million UK workers will be significantly held back by a lack of these skills.
I’ve worked in the area of soft skills development for the last 15 years, from the time when they were seen by businesses as nice-to-have, fluffy add-ons – and were consequently never addressed. Things have changed! But while awareness has grown, the problems produced by a lack of soft skills are becoming ever more apparent and pressing…
Yet little – correction, nothing is being done at a government policy level
in any department.
This means we’re on our own.
Graduates are setting off into the world of work without the necessary skills.
And they may not even be aware of this – not until they try to find a job!
Does this situation bother you?
Let me know…
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