Tuesday, January 27, 2015

Why an English major ROCKS

http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/grade-point/wp/2015/01/26/why-are-so-many-college-students-failing-to-gain-job-skills-before-graduation

Employers (says the Washington Post) are dissatisfied with new graduates. When they are presented with a complex task in which they have to create their own solutions, new grads belly-flop. No step-by-step instructions, and they are lost.

But isn't that what an English major teaches? Thinking on your feet; oral and written communication skills; awareness of the diversity of American and global cultures; ethical reasoning skills. Vocational majors give employers less of what they want: "There is... too much emphasis these days on picking a practical field of study, which is why business is the most popular undergraduate major. But employers need people who are broadly educated and have practical skills."

Just to be clear, you can't just study Shakespeare or Toni Morrison, even if you get straight A's, and walk into a high-powered job. Get out there and begin proving and developing your executive competencies: 

"[S]tudents who dedicate time and effort to their major or an outside-the-classroom activity, secure multiple internships during their four years, and take on leadership roles are more likely to possess the skills needed for the workforce than students who drift through college."

Thanks and a tip o' the Twitter hat to Jeff Selingo and the Washington Post!

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