Kids@Work

Happy "Take Your Son or Daughter to Work" day!

Surprising Hiring Practices

How do you think a corporate recruiter finds people to fill positions? Are you envisioning a stack of resumes? A job fair? Most people assume that hiring managers select from a pool of people who are actually looking for a new job. However, companies are realizing that the best pool of candidates is already working. They may even be working in an entirely different field! Check out this NYTimes article about modern recruiting practices. San Franciso State management guru, Dr. John Sullivan contributes to the article. Sullivan has the best quote: "The first rule of recruiting is that the best people already have jobs they like... It's amazing that so many companies still use job fairs to recruit talent. Who goes to job fairs? People without jobs! All you get are worthless résumés and lots of germs." What's the alternative? According to this article: walking the aisles of chain stores and restaurants, buying merchandise, ordering meals nad keeping an eye out for stand-out employees is the best way to find true talent. Read more...

Discrimination or Standard Operating Procedure

Most of the HCPI blog postings have focused on tools to help build people's awareness of career resources. However, being aware of one's interests, strengths and aptitudes is clearly not enough to achieve "career success." All too often, other factors stand in our way. One of the most perverse barriers is that of racism. Pitt's Lu-in Wang has recently published, "Discrimination by Default: How Racism Becomes Routine." This book explores people's subtle, discriminatory behaviors. Here's a good post-gazette teaser about the book. This is such an important topic, but many people are afraid to engage in the conversation. Another great read on the topic: "White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack." (Thanks to one of my students for making me aware of this article!) In this article, Peggy McIntosh identifies the daily effects of white privilege. For example, one can arrange to be in the company of people of his/her own race most of the time, one can avoid spending time with people he/she has been trained to mistrust, one can be pretty sure of renting or owning a home in an affordable area, one can go shopping without being followed or harassed. The list is long and disturbing but sometimes discomfort leads to the most important conversations.

Smart Policy Workforce Blog

Yay! Some workforce blogging company out here in cyberland. Check out: http://wf-swpa.blogspot.com/. You can count on CED for thoughtful analysis of workforce issues.

Grey Matters

Although your own retirement may seem like a far off fantasy world, I've got news for you -- you'd better start thinking about how mass retirements could impact your future. Is your business (or organization) prepared for the aging of its workforce? (If you're in mining, coal, utilities, primary metals or ground transportation business; you'd better start thinking about it!) Understanding the implications of population dynamics is also essential for economic and workforce development professionals. For those investing in our region's economic competitiveness, retirements could seriously change the way they do business. Key questions to consider: Are there particular industries that will be particularly hard hit by retirements? Are businesses planning for a workforce shortage? Are employers restructuring their businesses to address future brain drain? Will this spell opportunity for younger workers or attempts to retain older employees? Finally, does the aging of our population present unique opportunities for economic development? So many questions... And now for some answers (or at least better questions)...The Carnegie Mellon University's Center for Economic Development has conducted a study on behalf of the Three Rivers Workforce Investment Board, "Managing the Changing Workforce in Southwestern Pennsylvania: A Closer Look at Issues Related to Our Region's Aging Workforce." This report explores the issue and examines how changing demographics may shape the future of the region. Read the report here. The Institute of Politics will conduct a series of events to promote dialogue and action on this topic. Our first event is a forum on June 23rd, "The Aging of the Workforce: Crisis or Opportunity." To receive an invite to the event, please contact me at vkl1@pitt.edu.

Best Jobs List

Money magazine has issued a list of the "best jobs." The ranking is based on growth, pay, stress level and other factors. Top five, in order: software engineer, college professor, financial adviser, human resources manager, and physician assistant. Whoever made the list obviously wasn't in the midst of grading papers. Read more...

Career Exploration Vacation

Summer doesn’t just mean pool parties and sleeping late. Encourage the young people you know to use their break from school to explore career options. Below are places to check out for expanding career vision and personal growth, both locally and globally. Camp Invention Camp Invention is a weeklong summer enrichment day program offered in local communities for children entering first through sixth grades. This exciting program invites children to let their imaginations run wild through teamwork, creative problem solving, and inventive thinking. Engineering and Technology Exploring Academy Westmoreland County Community College Career Prep Program and the Boy Scouts of America have partnered to bring a three day exploration cap to the Westmoreland County Community College Youngwood Campus for students who will be enrolled in grades 8-11 during the 2006-2007 school year. Contact Paula Rendine at 724-925-4268 or rendinep@wcc-pa.edu for more information and a registration packet. Manufacturing Career Exploration Program The Manufacturing Career Exploration Program will engage participating youth in activities that will demonstrate the diverse, high skill careers that exist in the manufacturing industry and provide participants with the opportunity to develop and demonstrate personal skills in communication, teamwork and problem solving. Summer in the City- Explore, Experiment, Experience, Point Park University From engineering to movie producing, students in middle in high school can explore a number of careers through Point Park’s Summer in the City programs. Women In Engineering MTM ’06 Camp- Penn State University High school girls who are entering 9th through 12th grades are eligible. Applicants should like science and math and should have the desire to learn more about engineering. YWCA of Westmoreland County Camps include Robo Labs and Creating a Video/Public Service Announcement. Council on International Educational Exchange Go abroad or share your home and your lifestyle with a CIEE international high school student. Rotary Youth Exchange Rotary Youth Exchange provides thousands of young people with the opportunity to meet people from other lands and to experience their cultures. Youth for Understanding Youth For Understanding (YFU) is a non-profit educational organization which offers opportunities for young people around the world to spend a summer, semester or year with a host family in another culture. Many opportunities are free or very low cost. And for the grown ups who are thinking about career exploration, check out Vocation Vacations. Special thanks to Anne McCafferty, Michelle DeLuca, and Terri Campbell for providing career exploration vacation information.

More Educated, but Still Losing Top Talent

The Education Policy and Leadership Center and The Learning Alliance for Higher Education at the University of Pennsylvania have released a report, "A Rising Tide: The Current State of Higher Education in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania." The report boasts greater educational attainment in the commonwealth. Nonetheless, the gap between populations (by race and geography) persists. Another troubling finding -- Although Pennsylvania's colleges and universities are producing more technically skilled graduates (13,000 in 2004), a significant part of the growth was due to enrollment of out-of-state students. These students have less attachment to Pennsylvania and often return home or relocate where the best jobs are available. In short, we're exporting our most highly valued talent. Shame on us. Read the summary here: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/06108/682922-298.stm Big long report, here: http://www.thelearningalliance.info/

Rendell & O'Connor Recognize Human Capital Investments

Congratulations to the 2005-2006 People Do Matter award winners! The winners were announced at a highly-anticipated and sold out award ceremony on Wed., April 5, 2006. Pennsylvania Governor Edward Rendell delivered the event keynote and joined Pittsburgh mayor, Bob O'Connor and other regional leaders to recognize the achievements of the region's best companies. Be sure to give a special shout out to this year's winners: The Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland, Pittsburgh Branch was recognized for increasing employee retention, building relationships and adaptive skills, and becoming an employer of choice through the creation of the "Welcome and Succeed Program." Kennametal won top honors in the Learning and Development category for overcoming changing market dynamics and new competitive challenges through the "Customer Acquisition Process" -- a learning and development strategy that built a stronger sales culture. Finally, the Human Resources Collaborative was recognized for building an innovative shared service model that both saved money and improved human resource services. Thanks to the many individuals and organizations that contributed to the event's success. Download a program book with detailed descriptions of all of this year's finalists.

Going Places

Very cool career exploration site from, of all things, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. Who knew CPAs knew how to create career exploration games?

http://www.startheregoplaces.com

Discovering Drop Outs

This month's TIME magazine covers the hidden problem of high school drop out rates. While there's great debate about the numbers, many researchers believe that 33% of public high school graduates will drop out. The numbers are much worse for Latinos and African Americans who experience dropout rates approaching 50%. In some states, legislators are taking action. Credit recovery programs and alternative environments are popular solutions. Disincentives are also being used (e.g., taking away driving or work permit priviledges.) It's good to see mainstream coverage of this awful problem. High school dropouts fare horribly in today's economy. Employers want to see a diploma. Completing high school not only tells the employer that you have certain skills, it says that you're committed to completing something. The TIME story is interesting, but the really good stuff is in a related report by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, "The Silent Epidemic." Check out these factoids: Why do students drop out? * 47 percent of dropouts said classes weren't interesting * 43 percent had missed too many days of school and couldn't catch up * 38 percent said they had too much freedom and not enough rules in life * 35 percent said they quit because they were failing in school * 32 percent said they had to get a job and make money What are dropouts' experiences in high school? * 88 percent had passing grades, and 70 percent said they could have graduated if they had tried * 69 percent were not motivated to work hard; 66 percent would have worked harder if more had been demanded of them How do dropouts feel about their decision? * 81 percent said they now believe graduating from high school is important to success in life * 74 percent said if they were able to relive the experience, they would have stayed in school * 47 percent agreed it was hard to find a good job without a diploma What might have kept dropouts in school? * 81 percent called for more "real-world" learning opportunities * 75 percent wanted smaller classes with more individual instruction * 71 percent favored better communication between parents and schools and more involvement from parents I know I'm completely biased, but I think these kids are starving for career education and work experience programs. TIME article available here (if you subscribe): http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1181646,00.html Additional info available in a Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation report, "The Silent Epidemic" http://www.gatesfoundation.org/Education/TransformingHighSchools/RelatedInfo/SilentEpidemic.htm

Good Economic News

As reported in the Christian Science Monitor, the latest US economic numbers show that businesses aren't just growing, they're growing good jobs. http://csmonitor.com/2006/0411/p01s02-usec.html

How Much Do You Need?

It's hard to discuss job salaries with kids when they have little understanding of basic monthly living expenses. (Truth be told, grown ups aren't much better.) David Mosey at Keys2Work recommended this online activity. It's fun, give it a try. http://www.learnmoreindiana.org/@students/students_ms/money/RealWorld.cgi