The Tribune

By IAN FERGUSON IN A few months our seniors will be leaving high school, with many of them seeking employment in our already-saturated job market. The question is: "Will many of them be equipped with the competencies and skills that are needed to acquire the job that they are seeking?" Most persons will agree that these students are, for the most part, unable to bring with them the skills and competencies required in the job arena. While we can, and do, encourage our students to pursue further tertiary level studies, we are aware that most of the 6,000 additional students leaving school this year are in search of a job. The Chamber Voice speaks to these students today with the message of what employers really want: * Productivity - Productivity is the quality of being productive or having the power to produce. The question is: "How will an employer measure productivity from a high school student? Employers in most cases measure productivity based on the GPA of the students and their involvement in extra-curricular activities. According to recent graduation statistics, fewer than 40 per cent of high school students in the Bahamas are graduating with a 2.0 average, which means that most of our students are leaving high school in FAILURE status. Your Grade Point Average should reflect that you are a disciplined individual, and that you are able to meet and attain the STANDARDS established in the work environment. In most cases, individuals who have a history of school failure also have a history of work failure. * Integrity - Perhaps this competence is one that severely challenges us. How do we motivate people to do the right thing when no one is watching them? Integrity is being honest, truthful and loyal in everything that you do. Having integrity in business is the same as personal integrity. If there is no personal integrity there will not be integrity in your work. Most persons are comfortable with working half their hours and receiving a full week's pay at the end of the week. This is not integrity but lack of trust and no values. Employers are seeking persons that are committed, honest and accountable in their work ethic, and show a sense of integrity. * Effective Communication Skills - Communicating effectively is another very important tool that employers embrace. This tool is so important because it can either cause businesses to win or lose clients. The success of a business depends heavily on how they communicate, not only with clients but also employees. Effective communication includes written and non-verbal skills. How we respond to clients, either in writing, verbal or non-verbal, will determine their relationship with the business. If you are having challenges speaking or writing Standard English, or engaging naturally, you may want to sharpen your communication and presentation skills. Effective Problem Solving Skills - Problem solving is working through a situation in order to arrive at a solution. Problem resolution is not always easy in our culture, as persons are sometimes unnecessarily confrontational. One of the critical problem solving sub-skills is the ability to listen effectively. Once you are able to listen and understand the problem, then it will not be difficult to come up with the solution. In all businesses there is some level of problem solving that has to be done because they are many changes that go on, and on a daily basis. Employers are seeking persons that are able to understand the problems presented, and have the ability to come up with a solution that will benefit the organisation. * Initiative - Initiative is going beyond the call of duty to do something that you are not asked to do. Organisations look for skills that go beyond the academic qualifications. If an employer is able to find a person that will take the initiative and go beyond the call of dutym this person may be considered a potential leader. The person who sits waiting for instructions, without proactively taking opportunities to get things done, will eventually become obsolete and of little value to the company. * Passion - We have grown accustomed to the 'get a good job' mind-set, which is seemingly pervasive in our society. So our children land a 'good one' and buckle down for years, demonstrating little or no zeal for the job. A good job is fine, but there should be a passion and a drive to work on a job that you enjoy, and which becomes natural to you. There is not only a drive and energy to work, but it becomes natural and enjoyable to do. It is important to consider your natural talents when looking for a job, and considering a career that will fit your skills and abilities. Many employers will be able to tell if you are working for just the pay or if you are truly passionate about your career. Teamwork - This is definitely one of the most crucial aspects of a business: Persons collaboratively working together to achieve a goal. A team-player is not one that will work in isolation and is concerned only about them, but achieving what is best for the business. Teamwork means that persons will cooperate as much as possible using their individual skills and abilities, and providing constructive feedback where necessary, despite any personal conflicts between each other. Employers look for persons with this quality and continue to foster environments that will create positive team-players. NB: About the author Ian R. Ferguson has a Master's Degree in Education from the University of Miami. During the course of his nearly 20 years in education, talent management and human resources, he has served both the public and private sector. He currently serves as manager of the Chamber Institute.