June 19th, 2008 03:58pm
Larry Messing
A comment you hear from many in this community is that our youth are not getting the proper training for the jobs that they want, thus we end up with a weak hiring pool.
There are a number of ideas of the root causes of this problem ranging from bad parenting to the lack of support in schools and everything in between. In the meantime, we continue to suffer from students simply not being prepared.
As I have recently been getting ready to send one of mine off to college in a year, it has occurred to me that, perhaps, one of the big reasons our youth have this issue is because their future is so big. What is a next step? It’s like trying to get from Rockford to Anchorage without knowing which way to pull out of your driveway.
We need to work with our youth to let them know what that NEXT step is. It’ll be different for everyone. Is it getting an idea of what kinds of careers appeal to you? Is it learning how to compare schools? Or is it just doing everything in your power to ensure you are in school each and every day.
The next step is the big one. You’re not going to get any further without that one. The final destination is almost impossible to see with each step blocking the view. Like dominoes, as each one falls, the pathway becomes clearer.
June 12th, 2008 09:59pm
Larry Messing
I think the Human Service Department’s program summer job program for teens is a huge step towards preparing our youth for the world of work (zhttp://www.rrstar.com/homepage/x513606232/Rockfords-human-services-department-has-jobs-for-teens).
By teaching them the skills now, they will be ready for full time work when they complete their education. What do you think? Do you remember your first job?
June 12th, 2008 10:14am
Larry Messing
Our first submission for What it Takes comes from Megan Nilson, who is a Administrative Assistant/Five Star Coordinator at Jack Wolf Chrysler Jeep.
Title: Administrative Assistant/ Five Star Coordinator
Description: My job contiunally changes. Duties include answering and
directing all incoming calls as well greeting customers and directing them
to the appropriate department. Through out my years of employement I hav
been allowed the flexability to create an excel based sales and service
customer follow up program. I designed and implemented follow-up postcards
for the sales and service department resulting in a higher percentage of
repeat customers. My job also includes scheduling all five start classes
for the entire dealership. I also have created a monthly news letter
distributed to over 130 employees to promote empoyee unity and team
spirit.
Skills: The skills required to be successful in the administrative field
include the ability to successfully multi-task and priorities duties.
This is a position that requires strong organizational and personal
skills.
Advice: Advice for others seeking to enter this field would be to
continue to take computer classes to keep you up to date on the latest
programs and internet abilities. Learn how to manage your time
effectively.
Thanks to Megan for providing her information. Remember, we are looking for input from others who are willing to share their jobs and what it took to get them there. This is a great resource to our youth who are looking for a map to get from where they are to where they want to be. Submissions can be made at http://rockford.ja.org.
May 29th, 2008 04:48pm
Mya Wilke
Seeing teenagers in caps and gowns near the Metro Center today made me wonder about the paths that area high school graduates are taking. I have talked to quite a few high school students in Junior Achievement with high ambitions: they want to be nurse practitioners, famous authors, business owners, professional athletes . . I am thrilled that the students have goals that inspire them. However, some of these same students have difficulty staying in school, following directions, fulfilling committments, or being respectful to others.Â
Whether a high school grad plans on joining the military, starting a business, or pursuing a medical career, their success depends in part on this question:
Are their actions aligned with their aspirations?
To help your student succeed, talk to him or her about the following:
-The skills that your student has or will need to pursue their goal.
- The connection between academic achievement and economic success.
- What does your student truly enjoy doing? What do they not like doing?
- The quality of life that your student prefers:Â what kind of schedule, income, and location do they hope to have?
- The customs and behaviour that are used in the work world.
These are all themes from the “Economics for Success” and “Success Skills” curriculums that Junior Achievement has for middle and high school students. Encouraging students to pursue their goals is so important, but you are doing them a diservice if you don’t help them understand the risks, challenges, and realities of their goals. This doesn’t mean that you should discourage your student; it means that if your student wants to be a professional baseball player, ask him if he has the grades for a college sports scholarship.
May 22nd, 2008 04:10pm
Larry Messing
In Tuesday’s Register Star, there was a great article talking about East High School students working with the city and other groups to plant trees around their campus. I’ll bet there were several students that came out of that experience with a little more interest in careers in forestry or plants.
It’s amazing how much hands on learning can influence the lives of our youth. I majored in journalism in college after having an experience with TV news when I was a grade schooler. What influenced you to do the job you do today?
May 15th, 2008 11:16am
Larry Messing
Tuesday I spent some time at the Go Global or Get Left Behind conference at NIU-Rockford Center. Along with me I brought two high school students from Auburn and Guilford who won this year’s Rockford in 20 essay competition.
After talking to them and listening to the conference, it made me realize how vital Rockford’s role is in the global market and how many of our youth are more prepared than we think to succeed in the global economy.
Do you think our youth are ready?
May 6th, 2008 03:09pm
Larry Messing
Recently, I have been hard at work preparing my son (and my wife and I) for his going off to college. As a junior, he is deep in the midst of taking the big step, although right now he thinks it is light-years away, which means I am doing much of the initial work.
As I began to register on a website which provides resources for students looking to enter college, I came across an interesting option you could sign up for:
“Receive information regarding college and scholarship-related products and services, such as student loans, test preparation, essay help, credit cards, and discount textbooks”
It made me think. Are credit cards considered as college or scholarship-related products or services? So does this mean that our high school junior and seniors are getting pushed for credit cards before they even enter the hallowed halls of their university?
First, a few tidbits of information:
-More than 48% obtained their first credit card prior to entering college
-By the Sophomore year of college, more than 55% of students possess one or more credit cards in their own name
-Students are more than three times as likely as adults to be at least 90 days delinquent on their credit card payments
I agree that a credit card can often be helpful for a college student looking for ways to purchase $200 biology text books, but we must provide them with the tools needed to use this credit wisely. Otherwise, textbooks and emergency food will be competing for socializing and “emergency” beer.
Teach your kids now. Let them know these skills before the big need and want decisions are in front of them. The first day after college is hard enough without a mountain of debt greeting you at the start.
May 6th, 2008 01:17pm
Larry Messing
I thought this was rather interesting:
More than half of all teens surveyed (54 percent) believe they are “extremely likely” or “very likely” to have their ideal job one day according to a Junior Achievement survey conducted by Harris Interactive, which polled teens nationwide. Such optimism among teens is relatively uniform across gender and age bands but is down significantly from a similar poll in 2000 conducted by Junior Achievement.
Achieving self-awareness of one’s noble purpose and vocational calling is a right of passage that, increasingly, teens look to their schools to help them develop. Where do they expect to learn the skills needed for their future careers? According to the survey, nearly half (47 percent) selected a traditional source—”classroom education.” Coming in a distant second was “on the job training” (24 percent).
“Results of this poll demonstrate how critical it is to get work-readiness programs into our schools,” said Sean C. Rush, president and chief executive officer of JA Worldwide. “Junior Achievement helps prepare students for success in a global economy and bridges the gap between what they learn in school and what happens in the world of work.”
Junior Achievement has three work-readiness programs, which are invited into classrooms by educators and taught by business people and other volunteers from the local community. JA Careers with a Purposeâ„¢ helps teens answer the age-old question, “What do I want to be when I grow up?” In addition to providing students with information about specific career paths, program activities teach students the skills associated with understanding the world of work such as enhancing personal awareness of vocational interests, skills, and values; recognizing the importance of ethics in career and life decisions; and exploring careers in high-growth, in-demand industries such as healthcare.
With the help of a $250,000 grant from the HCA Foundation, Junior Achievement is reaching middle grades and high school students in their classrooms. “We’re inspiring students to align their skills and interests with a career calling,” said John Steele, Senior VP of Human Resources at HCA. “JA Careers with a Purpose can help our young people be successful in their work and in their lives. This is an investment in the future workforce.”
The survey was administered online in December 2007 by Harris Interactive on behalf of Junior Achievement and included responses from 626 teens, ages 13 to 18.
What do you think?
May 1st, 2008 02:20pm
Larry Messing
Our community must have a strong hiring pool in order to remain strong. Our youth must have the knowledge necessary to reach the future of their dreams.
Can you help solve both?
Whether you are a carpenter or chiropractor, fisherman or farmer, mayor or mechanic, each comes with required training which is integral to success.
Visit our website at http://rockford.ja.org and click on the “Share Your Job” link and tell us what it takes to be successful at your job! We are looking for ALL jobs so don’t be shy. We will share them here in the future.
April 28th, 2008 04:50pm
Larry Messing
Last Thursday, Junior Achievement held our Rockford Area Business Hall of Fame. It was a great opportunity to honor Jon Lundin and Dave Rydell for their many contributions to the community.
In particular, many attendees were blown away by the essays read by the winners of the Rockford in 20 contest. Students were able to let community leaders know where they saw Rockford in 20 years. A great opportunity to see that our youth are ready to be our future leaders and become future members of the Rockford Area Business Hall of Fame.
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