Young technical wizards "lack other key skills

Citation

(2002), "Young technical wizards "lack other key skills", Journal of European Industrial Training, Vol. 26 No. 8. https://doi.org/10.1108/jeit.2002.00326hab.009

Young technical wizards "lack other key skills"

Young technical wizards "lack other key skills"

Today's graduates may be technical wizards, but many have only a basic grasp of the key interpersonal and analytical skills needed to succeed in the workplace.

While three quarters of employers admit that new graduates have good information technology (IT) skills, only 30 per cent are impressed by their ability to communicate, and barely a quarter rate most of their other basic skills, according to research by the UK Chartered Management Institute and the London College of Printing. Many managers feel the education system is largely at fault, with 47 per cent saying it fails to meet employers' needs for suitably qualified candidates.

New recruits fall down in particular when it comes to their team working (rated highly by only 25 per cent of managers), comprehension (23 per cent), presentation skills (23 per cent) and problem solving (20 per cent).

The research highlights the knock-on effects for businesses. Poor interpersonal skills, in particular, are having a major impact on young executives' performance in a range of workplace situations. Some 64 per cent of employers say it is reflected in poor levels of diplomacy, 50 per cent say in graduates' understanding of colleagues and customers, 45 per cent in terms of formal etiquette and 42 per cent in the way young executives handle business meetings.

Over three-quarters of employers say that encouraging work experience during the academic year can make a great difference to graduates' future employability. More than half (52 per cent) suggest provision of careers advice on communication skills and 45 per cent say provision of careers advice about workplace behaviour, by universities and colleges, can have a major impact.

Managers are clearly keen to influence the higher-education agenda, with 80 per cent saying they wish to be actively engaged. However, 71 per cent are overwhelmed by the current range of programmes, from work placements and mentoring of students to industry-branded curriculum material and direct sponsorship opportunities.

On a more positive note, managers have some faith in graduates' potential to meet organizations' needs in the long run, with many investing in extensive training programmes. Almost half of organizations (46 per cent) have a training programme that lasts a year or more, and a third (34 per cent) over 18 months.

Managers have realistic expectations about the length of time needed before their new recruits start to "earn their keep". Only one-third expect them to be contributing effectively within their first three months, 45 per cent expect them to be up to speed between six months and a year and one in ten organizations allow up to two years.

May Chapman, Chartered Management Institute chief executive, commented: "Finding young executives with the right skills is vital not only to the success of individual organizations, but also to overall national competitiveness."