Bridging the gap between college and career

POST FALLS - Employers realize something needs to be done when some prospective employees out of college are more proficient at texting than cursive.

"They may have to be yanked out of their world or there's going to be a bunch of cave people sitting around and grunting at each other," said Jennifer Johnson of Bailies Storage.

Johnson was among those who participated in Lewis-Clark State College-Coeur d'Alene's "Business of Listening" session on Wednesday at the Post Falls Chamber of Commerce aimed at better equipping graduates for the workforce.

LCSC representatives were all ears and about 20 from the business community offered input on what education can do to bridge the gap from college to career.

Johnson said bringing on today's workforce is a "transition."

"People come in totally not qualified for an interview," she said.

But she said hiring is a two-way street. And strengths of the younger generation need to be embraced as much as their social skills are criticized.

"There needs to be a bridge built between what they bring with them and what we are going out the other end with," she said. "Life is always about transitions."

Eric Keck, Post Falls city administrator, said real-world situations and applications need to be presented in every classroom, not just select ones. That, he said, may help bridge the gap between this country and others on a global scale.

"There needs to be a marriage between soft skills and technical skills," he said. "Not just teaching theory, but practicality as to how it can be applied."

Communication skills - or a lack thereof - is the root of the widening gap between college and career, Keck said.

"If they can't communicate effectively, they may be zero help to us," he said.

Pam Houser, Post Falls Chamber of Commerce CEO, said it may help if more business leaders spoke to classes on a fairly regular basis.

"It's amazing what kids don't know about our own community," Houser said. "I think there would be incredible value in hearing from local employers. It would take a lot organization, but it would be worth it."

Craig Hampton of the Idaho Department of Labor agreed.

"It's one thing for professors to tell them what they should do, but it's totally different to have a business representative come in," Hampton said.

Employers said the recession and job competition hasn't appeared to have prospective employees sharpen their social or communication skills, either.

Some suggested - as elementary as it sounds - to have a college class on job interviewing and social skills that prepares students for the workforce.

Mike Patrick, Press managing editor, said improved counseling programs may help point students in a better direction and ultimately help the job market.

"Some students pay a lot for tuition and come out of it with a degree without any sort of job prospect," Patrick said.

Rep. Frank Henderson, R-Post Falls, reminded the group that the workforce situation isn't all grim.

Local voters approved a levy for the Kootenai Technical Education Campus (KTEC), a professional-technical high school being built on the Rathdrum Prairie. And employers are reaching out to students in various ways.

"There's a lot of progress," he said. "Work from your strengths. We have excellent teachers and we're a strong community. Build from the good."

LCSC plans to hold other listening sessions in Coeur d'Alene and Sandpoint. Input from all of the sessions will be developed into a report next spring and presented to business faculty at area colleges and participants.

LCSC plans to let participants know what suggestions from the sessions can be implemented into the classroom.