Essential Skills

In today’s New York Times, Nicholas Kristoff shared some advice to students.  “Four Secrets to Success” begins with “Take a class in economics and in statistics,” because they are tools for the rigorous analysis of problems. “Education isn’t about filling a bucket but about gaining a tool kit” he says, reminiscent of the quote attributed to William Butler Yeats, “Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.”

  His other advice is “Connect to a cause larger than yourself,” “Make Out (choose a life partner wisely)” and “Escape your comfort zone.”

 I plan to send this article to my granddaughter, who needs to choose a major next semester. She is enrolled in the business school at her university, but has not yet made a decision about an area of specialization other than ruling out one possibility based on a course she didn’t like. It is a big decision to make with few business courses and no relevant job experience.

I would like to assure her (and her parents) that it is not as important as the stress it is generating, because any major pursued diligently will provide the skills  employers are seeking. These are “soft skills,” or what I heard Tom Perez refer to as  “essential skills” when he was Secretary of Labor. According to a poll conducted for Cengage earlier this year, the skills employers value most are “listening, attention to detail and attentiveness, effective communication, critical thinking, interpersonal skills and active learning/learning new skills.” Another report highlighted “leadership, organization, time management and collaboration.” The major will be less important that her ability to present herself and convince a potential employer that she will add value to a team.  

 I’m not sure she will believe me, but if she works hard, gains experience, and builds relationships with faculty who guide her, she will make her way successfully, even if the path is not a straight line.