The greatest challenge we face in the next ten years is the challenge of making sure we have a qualified workforce able to meet the demands of living in a global economy. To do this we will need to expand the capacity of our workforce development and educational system to meet the training needs of business and industry. In order to assess the…

The purpose of this study was to determine the extent to which allied health care providers considered the Secretary's Commission on Achieving Necessary Skills (SCANS, 1991) and competencies as those that are necessary for entry level employment in the allied health care industry. The extent that allied health care supervisors and managers…

Many of the graduates majoring in Finance and Marketing will secure entry-level positions in sales, often beginning careers dedicated to the sale of financial products; yet, perceptions of this career vary significantly, dependent on a student's area of study. The purpose of this study is to compare and contrast the perceptions of Finance majors…

The United States faces a skills shortage that goes beyond academic and technical skills. Employers report entry-level workers lack the necessary "soft" skills, also referred to as workplace readiness skills, needed for success in the workforce; thus, calling on educational institutions to make improvements in high school curriculum in…

Although there is an extensive review of the literature about the skills/competencies and knowledge areas needed for success as an entry-level student affairs professional (Hyman, 1988; Kinser, 1993; Lovell & Kosten, 2000; Ostroth, 1981; Waple, 2006), no such study or studies have been conducted regarding how graduates of College Student Personnel…

Discusses a survey of users of microcomputer business applications to determine competencies needed by entry- and second-level employees in marketing occupations. Includes a list of competencies in seven classifications. (JOW)

Nurses need critical thinking to make sound clinical judgments. Identifying critical thinking dispositions during employee orientation can help individualize orientation programs that nurture critical thinking in clinical practice. (SK)

Just as American business and industry need workers with higher skills to compete in a global economy, workers need higher skills to get ahead. This convergence presents an opportunity for states to work with their community colleges and other key partners to help business and industry compete and entry-level workers advance to higher-paying jobs.…

The transition to management is one of the most difficult challenges first-time managers face--almost half fail. First-time managers may experience disorienting dilemmas that trigger transformative learning. HRD (human resource development) practitioners can assist in reducing the failure rate of first-time managers when they better understand the…

Due to the declining state of the current economy, a greater demand is being placed on student affairs professionals to provide evidence of the success of their programs, their impact on student learning and development and overall contributions to the undergraduate learning experience. It is a growing imperative that student affairs professionals…

In the next decade, the military will rely on aggressive marketing to battle the nation's businesses as both search for the best entry-level employees. (Author)

Responses from 38 of 184 retailing graduates, 24 of 111 recruiters in the apparel field, 58 of 200 retail merchandising educators, and 45 of 47 current students found that differences in their ratings of the importance of 53 competencies for entry workers centered on three factors: merchandising, leadership, and monitoring. (SK)

Recent nursing graduates (n=46) rated stresses and challenges in clinical practice. Stressors included not feeling competent/confident, making mistakes due to increased workload, and encountering new situations. Challenges included applying knowledge to practice and acquiring new skills. Most emotions were positive but anxiety was frequent. Ways…

Two pilot studies tested a postgraduate internship model to prepare entry-level nurses with the support of clinical preceptors. Elements included preceptor training and a core competence assessment tool. The second pilot resulted in improvements in transition to practice and satisfaction with preceptors. (Contains 15 references.) (SK)