We've reported it on the air at KQV Radio, and I have written about it several times on this blog. The job market is simply better for two year, specific degree graduates than it is for a lot of four year degree holders. This trend was projected by The University of Pittsburgh's Institute of Politics in 2006. The Department of Labor projects the trend to continue over the next 10 years. So two year graduates, particularly those in the medical and accounting fields, should be doing quite well in the job market, right? Wrong.
Duquesne University recently hosted an employer round table for HR representatives and recruiters from the Pittsburgh region. These included professionals from the medical, energy, political, non-profit and education sectors. One member of the group asked what type of two year graduates might be attractive to employers in the Marcellus Shale Industry. This began a lengthy discussion about hiring two year or certificate-based grads versus bringing in and training people from other areas such as four-year schools, Veterans programs or even off the street!
The chief complaint from the recruiters may very well illustrate the difference between a two-year and a four-year graduate. All those in attendance who had visited vocational schools with the intent to hire graduates basically said that the students had definitely obtained the vocational skills, but had developed little to no soft skills necessary for getting along in the workplace. Examples included inappropriate dress during interviews, fowl language in and around the workplace, and an inability to get to work on time or at all.
Stephanie DeMaro, Regional Job & Internship Developer at Penn State University, appeared as a guest on Career Talk in May of 2012. When asked why a student would choose to go to school for four years instead of two, she replied, "Students can get to work quicker with a two-year degree, but they do not receive the well-rounded educational experience received by those those who attend a four-year institution." A year and a half later, a group of recruiters sits around Duquesne University talking about the under-developed people skills of those students who have attended community college, a two-year business school or a trade school.
Participants from the round table discussions plan to meet again in October to further address the issue. The group hopes to launch an educational support program that might allow local recruiters to work directly with the local business schools via those schools' career services departments. The goal would be to help career services better prepare students for workplace environment and culture.
