tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-138568332011-04-21T22:21:55.820-04:00The Human Capital Policy Initiative is a workforce development communications initiative housed at the University of Pittsburgh Institute of Politics.Vanessa Lundnoreply@blogger.comBlogger1001100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13856833.post-9902152714143374062007-05-25T14:56:00.000-04:002007-05-25T14:58:58.906-04:00

This will be my last posting for the HCPI blog. HCPI is concluding and I'm off to new adventures in the Pacific Northwest. If you have questions about HCPI, please contact the Institute of Politics at 412-624-1837.

Vanessa Lundnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13856833.post-53449781184169382462007-04-04T13:27:00.000-04:002007-04-04T13:34:30.751-04:00

The Tribune-Review ran a story about a few great places to work in SWPA. The theme is that these companies offer benefits that are very pro-employee. The reporter refers to the practices as "perks." I don't agree. To me, perks implies that this is above and beyond standard business practices. This is no longer the case. In order to remain competitive, many companies must differentiate

Vanessa Lundnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13856833.post-27079236884680583982007-03-26T17:54:00.000-04:002007-03-26T18:03:35.126-04:00

According to the 2006 Gen Next Survey from the Pew Research Center, Generation Y wants to get rich (81 percent) and famous (51 percent). Their Generation X predecessors, by comparison, place less importance on these goals, with 62 percent seeking riches and just 29 percent seeking fame.

Vanessa Lundnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13856833.post-24831655304652473682007-03-25T10:31:00.000-04:002007-03-25T10:42:00.026-04:00

Philadelphia is plagued by troubling workforce statistics. Only 20 percent of Philadelphians have a college degree, ranking us 92nd out of the 100 largest U.S. cities. Moreover, the city also ranks poorly with regards to workforce participation (96th out of 100 largest US cities.) Mayoral candidate, Chaka Fattah has released an "Opportunity Agenda" aimed at coordinating efforts to increase the

Vanessa Lundnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13856833.post-72127214773542263092007-03-19T15:40:00.000-04:002007-03-19T15:49:43.417-04:00

Boston College has released a report about policies to promote the labor force participation of older people. The report is quite candid about the cost disadvantages of older workers and cautious about policy recommendations. The potential recommendations are: a. raise social security's earliest eligibility age b. exempt older workers from social security payroll tax once they reach earliest

Vanessa Lundnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13856833.post-40276165841999202322007-03-15T18:17:00.000-04:002007-03-16T14:28:10.202-04:00

Dan Pink (author of "A Whole New Mind") spoke with educational leaders at today's Regional Arts Education Day. Pink's presentation style and storytelling was exceptional and his message was well received by the crowd. After all, arts educators are pretty happy to hear that competing in the global economy will require the very skills and competencies that they help foster! The incredibly good

Vanessa Lundnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13856833.post-21747075597968294812007-03-15T18:08:00.000-04:002007-03-15T18:10:59.763-04:00

In contrast to the uber cool workplace mentioned in the previous post, here's a little song about the average office environment... the cubicle.

Vanessa Lundnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13856833.post-87297251651920384082007-03-15T17:33:00.000-04:002007-03-15T17:51:54.781-04:00

Take a look at the picture. Is it.. a. An opera house b. A tourist center c. An auto factory d. All of the above Read more... More great pictures here

Vanessa Lundnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13856833.post-32868036465107399302007-03-13T21:56:00.000-04:002007-03-13T21:59:54.561-04:00

Isn't it nice to see something positive in the news about teenagers? Today's teens are buying books at the fastest rate in decades and the teen publishing industry is booming. Read more...

Vanessa Lundnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13856833.post-81961958820241074932007-03-12T17:10:00.000-04:002007-03-12T17:14:47.665-04:00

Pittsburgh Magazine had a great article on summer camps. Many camps have a "career exploration" element. Here are some of the local camps mentioned in the article and a few others that might be of interest. Camp/Grade/Host/Timeframe/Price/Contact Info Animation Video Production/14-17 year olds/Pittsburgh Filmmakers/Aug 20-24/$255/www.pittsburgharts.org/ 412-361-0455Architect/9 to 12th

Vanessa Lundnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13856833.post-42043733632073783702007-03-12T15:43:00.000-04:002007-03-12T16:00:33.876-04:00

Although this report was conducted for St. Louis, the benchmarking data sheds some light on Pittsburgh's situation, relative to comparable areas. (Kudos to the East West Gateway Council of Governments for a very thorough report!) A lot of our usual depressing trends are continuing. (We don't attract people from other countries or have many babies.) But there is also some good news. Our

Vanessa Lundnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13856833.post-48039795504831260612007-03-12T13:09:00.000-04:002007-03-12T13:22:11.071-04:00

The New York Times has published an entertaining article about dogs in the workplace. Apparently, this practice is on the rise and creating some interesting challenges for management. (What do you do when your office neighbors find drool in the elevator offensive?) While some messy situations that may arise (ha ha), many firms are finding that the benefits outweigh the costs. Bringing Fido to

Vanessa Lundnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13856833.post-33558443606439324122007-03-11T14:18:00.000-04:002007-03-11T14:25:25.195-04:00

Check out this animated cartoon.

Vanessa Lundnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13856833.post-88791082916402444382007-03-01T12:01:00.000-05:002007-03-01T12:20:44.959-05:00

Check out this Philadelphia Daily News story about the need to provide jobs in the inner city. The article prompted me to take a closer look at the Philadelphia Chamber's work in this area. One piece of the workforce development puzzle is providing early, meaningful work experiences. As a result, the chamber has made a commitment to provide A LOT of internships. While I get nervous about

Vanessa Lundnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13856833.post-59188560240250534542007-02-27T11:10:00.000-05:002007-02-27T11:18:00.468-05:00

According to the Census Bureau (as reported by the NY Times), more Americans ages 75 and older have been leaving the South than moving there. Apparently, the trend is largely due to seniors' desire to be near family. Guess what city is mentioned in the article? Pittsburgh! No wonder we need more health care workers.

Vanessa Lundnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13856833.post-80724550633042939762007-02-27T10:53:00.000-05:002007-02-27T11:05:36.886-05:00

Back in January, the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) held a panel discussion focused on "Preparing for the Next Generation." While AIAA was speaking to the future aerospace workforce, their comments accurately summarize the broader challenge. "Preparing the future aerospace workforce will involve a complex mix of effectively communicating to students and their

Vanessa Lundnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13856833.post-75428123046037746792007-02-26T17:39:00.000-05:002007-02-26T17:46:35.357-05:00

The following sentence was printed in a daily newspaper. Fill in the blank: "A growing economy, revitalized with innovative biotechnology startups and alternative energy ventures, holds the key to ___________’s future." Did you say Pennsylvania or SWPA? Not exactly. This was in a Cleveland paper. My first thought was, "do either Pittsburgh or Cleveland have a shot?" Then, I had a much better

Vanessa Lundnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13856833.post-89257152889921776942007-02-25T22:26:00.000-05:002007-02-25T22:31:17.810-05:00

For the second year running, no U.S. city has made the list of the world’s top Intelligent Communities of 2007, as selected by global think tank Intelligent Community Forum. Who's got the smarts? Dundee, Scotland, United Kingdom; Gangnam District,; Seoul, South Korea; Issy-les-Moulineaux, France; Ottawa-Gatineau, Ontario-Quebec, Canada; Sunderland, Tyne & Wear, United Kingdom; Tallinn, Estonia;

Vanessa Lundnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13856833.post-75119004567958368572007-02-25T08:28:00.000-05:002007-02-25T22:19:30.194-05:00

NPR ran a story this morning on alternatives to college. Their story sounded like a HCPI/Ken Gray presentation. Let me repeat, NPR suggested there might be alternatives to college! Also, check out this website set up by a proud blue collar worker -- bluecollarandproudofit.com

Vanessa Lundnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13856833.post-22387917457520847452007-02-23T22:56:00.000-05:002007-02-25T22:19:57.223-05:00

Some lucky Baltimore workers are getting paid to live near their workplace. "Live near work" incentive programs can be a great redevelopment tool. I noticed these in London.. particularly for health care and other emergency service workers. I believe Philadelphia had a similar initiative around Penn. My planner friends are very familiar with these types of programs. But I think they are less

Vanessa Lundnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13856833.post-51864555695446558942007-02-22T00:07:00.000-05:002007-02-22T00:12:17.701-05:00

The New York Times has a nice article about changes at Job Corps. I was a little worried when I read about their focus on increasing educational attainment. (I'm not anti-education... I just want to see it connected to employment!) I'm happy to see that their focus is, appropriately, on ensuring strong economic prospects. I'd love to see this article dig deeper. If our country truly made a

Vanessa Lundnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13856833.post-35469444912294454552007-02-19T19:26:00.000-05:002007-02-19T19:40:02.699-05:00

I'm half way through "Now Discover Your Strengths" -- Marcus Buckingham's latest book. (Buckingham is a Gallup pollster who has authorized, "First, Break All the Rules.") A clever colleague recommended the book. (Thanks MK!) It's very interesting. First of all, I can't tell you how refreshing it is to have some test tell me that I actually have a few strengths. I'm so completely focused on

Vanessa Lundnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13856833.post-72664745270784197442007-02-19T18:56:00.000-05:002007-02-19T19:19:48.307-05:00

A few weeks ago, I spoke at a MetLife panel put together by the Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council. It was a wonderful experience. My fellow panelists and the moderator were amazing. The audience was lively, thoughtful and engaged. It was probably my favorite speaking engagement, ever. How can't you get excited when you talk about inspiring learning and creativity through the arts? Apparently

Vanessa Lundnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13856833.post-51365715216514031982007-02-19T18:33:00.000-05:002007-02-19T19:25:21.202-05:00

Sadly, the HCPI blog has been woefully neglected over the last few months. I'll spare you the excuses and move on to meaningful content... First, I should recognize my colleagues at the Three Rivers Workforce Investment Board and Carnegie Mellon's Center for Economic Development. We recently presented the "Managing an Aging Workforce" report and information-sharing process at the Local

Vanessa Lundnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13856833.post-1158156854993205062006-09-13T10:02:00.000-04:002006-10-22T00:36:59.450-04:00

Wyoming is recruiting workers from Michigan in the hopes of addressing labor shortages and growing the economy and population. It's good to see an article that discusses the allure of rural living. So much "talent attraction" seems to stereotype a desireable locale as a city with loft apartments. Let's face it, a lot of people want more peaceful environment. And some actually like winter!

Vanessa Lundnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13856833.post-1156893403727572572006-08-29T19:02:00.000-04:002006-08-29T19:17:01.083-04:00

Five years ago Pittsburgh received some particularly bad economic news -- US Airways announced that it planned to lay off a significant number of workers. Politicians and community leaders scrambled to respond and promises for worker assistance were made. So what happened to the former US Airways workers? In a few weeks, the Institute of Politics will release a "Case in Point" publication

Vanessa Lundnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13856833.post-1155072005854298722006-08-08T17:16:00.000-04:002006-08-08T17:34:38.313-04:00

A large auditorium is filled with high school students. They're beginning a week of healthcare career exploration activities. They shout out the names of the healthcare professions they know. “Doctor!” “Nurse!” “Dentist!” The lights dim and the students see picture of an emergency room. Text appears above the people in the picture, identifying their job and regional labor statistics. “

Vanessa Lundnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13856833.post-1154352643360645572006-07-31T09:17:00.000-04:002006-07-31T09:39:25.533-04:00

I'm a sucker for a good story. Maybe that's why I absolutely love the Maryland Business Roundtable's career exploration website: http://www.bewhatiwanttobe.com/index.php You can read about people in a variety of jobs and industries. The site tells you what they do, why they pursued their career and profiles a "day in the life." They also explain how certain classes helped prepare them for

Vanessa Lundnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13856833.post-1153312816645001612006-07-19T08:39:00.000-04:002006-07-19T08:40:16.656-04:00

I've been cruising the Internet, checking out career research websites. Here's a brief list of sites I like.. Select Resources Career Planning 1. www.onetcenter.org/tools.html 2. www.princetonreview.com/cte/quiz 3. www.paworkstats.state.pa.us/default.asp 4. www.bls.gov/k12/html/edu_over.htm 5. www.keys2work.org 6.

Vanessa Lundnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13856833.post-1152136614307563912006-07-05T17:41:00.000-04:002006-07-05T17:56:54.320-04:00

I've noticed some increased attention to the fact that the US lags behind other countries in producing a critical mass of engineers and scientists. (Although, there's an interesting counterpoint in the Cleveland Plain Dealer.) Jut when I thought it was safe... I read about yet another international talent dilemna -- the best of the best are being recruited to work elsewhere. (In a global

Vanessa Lundnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13856833.post-1152127661411961522006-07-05T15:20:00.000-04:002006-07-05T15:42:48.410-04:00

Despite all of the adult fretting about teenagers' work ethic, teens are eager to join the workforce. A recent Boys and Girls Club survey asked teens what they would like to see done differently for teens in the US. Thirty-nine percent stated that they want more youth jobs! Moreover, many teens believe that a good job is a key component of the American dream. Read more...

Vanessa Lundnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13856833.post-1151429662864119112006-06-27T13:26:00.000-04:002006-07-03T14:36:04.546-04:00

Last Friday, the Institute of Politics (in partnership with the Three Rivers WIB) hosted a forum on the aging SWPA workforce. Nearly 150 business leaders, elected officials, social service agencies and foundation program officers gathered to better understand the challenges and opportunities created by our demographics. The speakers were outstanding. I won't mention them all here. I hope to

Vanessa Lundnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13856833.post-1150494573207547072006-06-16T17:22:00.000-04:002006-06-16T18:01:23.256-04:00

I just started reading a report from ETS about High School Reform and Work and found this sobering statistic. According to research from the National Association of Manufacturers, the most common reason why companies reject applicants as hourly production workers is a lack of basic employability skills such as attendance, timeliness, work ethic, etc. (Sixty-nine percent of respondents chose

Vanessa Lundnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13856833.post-1150492839967841982006-06-16T17:13:00.000-04:002006-06-16T17:20:40.060-04:00

Check out this Newsweek article about education reform in North Carolina. You'll see some interesting comments from N.C. Governor, Michael Easley. According to Easley, the current education model needs to be reconsidered. The flawed model was designed to send a few to college and to let others drop out or graduate with minimal skills. This doesn't fly if you want to be a global economic

Vanessa Lundnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13856833.post-1148686568971991732006-05-26T19:14:00.000-04:002006-05-26T19:36:08.986-04:00

I can't believe we need to remind people that it's probably poor form to "secretly" blog the place you're trying to get an internship or job. But we do. Read this NYTimes article. Employer/Lawyer: "From a legal perspective, it is generally accepted that companies have the right to impose controls on their employees' use of computers and other equipment used for communication... As for content

Vanessa Lundnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13856833.post-1148478005935809942006-05-24T09:34:00.000-04:002006-05-24T09:40:05.946-04:00

Yet another major newspaper is running story about hiring career counselors. The spin: Boomers can afford to hire a counselor to get the kid off the couch and into the workplace. The article also mentions a good job search site (getthejob.com). Read the NYTimes Article...

Vanessa Lundnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13856833.post-1148475821021086462006-05-24T08:52:00.000-04:002007-01-20T02:56:15.906-05:00

Immigration is once again a very hot topic in the news. It's nice to finally see an article that expands the discussion beyond the low wage job debate. In fact, today's NYTimes discusses the proposed US Senate immigration bill. This bill eliminates the cap on immigrant nurses, opening our doors wide open to much needed trained nurses. Will unlimited foreign nurse recruitment solve the US

Vanessa Lundnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13856833.post-1147899436865832632006-05-17T16:52:00.000-04:002006-05-17T16:57:16.886-04:00

In preparation for our June 23rd forum focused on the aging regional workforce, I've been knee deep in reports about the potential impact of retiring baby boomers. There's a lot of speculation about what this rather influential cohort is going to do to the economy. The Aging Workforce News blog has helped me keep track of the most recent reports and events on the topic. Check it out...

Vanessa Lundnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13856833.post-1146867389376270342006-05-05T18:10:00.000-04:002006-05-05T18:16:29.396-04:00

Check out, "Career Plans by Age 12: Maybe in Florida." The title sounds scary, but the concept is right on track.

Vanessa Lundnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13856833.post-1146672272589147132006-05-03T11:57:00.000-04:002006-05-03T12:04:32.603-04:00

On Wednesday, May 10th, Enrico's Tazza D'Oro Cafe, the Union Project, the Urban League of Pittsburgh and the University of Pittsburgh Human Capital Policy Initiative will welcome Mark Roosevelt, Superintendent of Pittsburgh Public Schools to a community forum focused on the future of our schools. Please note that the date for this event recently changed. The forum will be held on

Vanessa Lundnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13856833.post-1146668768229842532006-05-03T10:03:00.000-04:002006-05-03T11:14:01.026-04:00

Now I understand the critical career planning article I mentioned in an earlier post. Apparently, the April 25th Washington Post included a piece about the rise in career counseling services for kids. The article highlights efforts by the Boys and Girls Club, College Recruiter and others. The story mentions some positive and negative points of career planning. However, it is an overwhelmingly

Vanessa Lundnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13856833.post-1146491236202490762006-05-01T09:35:00.000-04:002006-05-03T10:37:33.246-04:00

Today, the Post-Gazette ran a Washington Post article that slams career planning for kids. The author's argument is that kids should have a chance to explore, not get stressed out about having the right internship or identifying the perfect job. "Young people should be allowed to explore their interests for the sake of exploring their interests, not to get a head start in the working world

Vanessa Lundnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13856833.post-1146162703431760292006-04-27T14:25:00.000-04:002006-04-27T14:31:43.446-04:00

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

Vanessa Lundnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13856833.post-1146159346072894382006-04-27T13:22:00.000-04:002006-04-27T13:35:46.086-04:00

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

Vanessa Lundnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13856833.post-1145984216637200832006-04-25T12:28:00.000-04:002006-04-25T12:56:56.666-04:00

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:

Vanessa Lundnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13856833.post-1145570909027506852006-04-20T18:04:00.000-04:002006-04-20T18:08:29.026-04:00

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.

Vanessa Lundnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13856833.post-1145569931147313492006-04-20T17:19:00.000-04:002006-04-20T17:59:02.160-04:00

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

Vanessa Lundnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13856833.post-1145414749091514872006-04-18T22:39:00.000-04:002006-04-18T22:45:49.133-04:00

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...

Vanessa Lundnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13856833.post-1145391458142956392006-04-18T16:01:00.000-04:002006-04-18T16:17:38.163-04:00

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

Vanessa Lundnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13856833.post-1145376384593598132006-04-18T11:39:00.000-04:002006-04-18T12:06:24.640-04:00

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

Vanessa Lundnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13856833.post-1145291313053716952006-04-17T12:13:00.000-04:002006-04-17T12:28:33.066-04:00

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

Vanessa Lundnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13856833.post-1144794924692216162006-04-11T18:27:00.000-04:002006-04-11T18:35:24.703-04:00

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

Vanessa Lundnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13856833.post-1144770270042660592006-04-11T11:40:00.000-04:002006-04-11T18:55:41.540-04:00

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

Vanessa Lundnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13856833.post-1144767843983462392006-04-11T11:02:00.000-04:002006-04-11T11:04:03.996-04:00

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

Vanessa Lundnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13856833.post-1144185390007665782006-04-04T17:14:00.000-04:002006-04-04T17:16:30.020-04:00

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

Vanessa Lundnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13856833.post-1143822781349540522006-03-31T11:07:00.000-05:002006-03-31T11:33:01.366-05:00

Ok... here's a question for you. A kid comes up to you and says, "I want to be a teacher. Will I be able to get a job?" What do you say? In the past year, I've heard confusing information about the market for primary and secondary school teachers in Pennsylvania. Our elementary, middle and high schools have many teachers who are nearing retirement age. But is that a problem when you live in

Vanessa Lundnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13856833.post-1143741765881613192006-03-30T12:57:00.000-05:002006-03-30T13:05:11.393-05:00

Please consider joining me at the Mon Valley Education Consortium's "Designing Our Destiny" event on Friday, April 28th at the Pittsburgh Marriott City Center from 5:30-7:30 pm. The event highlights the Consortium's student career exploration program, "The Future is Mine." This celebration will give you the chance to see how students learn about the world of work. I think you'll be impressed

Vanessa Lundnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13856833.post-1143666975905094312006-03-29T16:14:00.000-05:002006-03-29T16:16:15.920-05:00

Skill development via video game. Interesting. http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/14.04/learn.html

Vanessa Lundnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13856833.post-1143489829516893872006-03-27T14:55:00.000-05:002006-03-28T14:44:33.270-05:00

There's a new book on my reading list, "The Disposable American: Layoffs and Their Consequences" by Louis Uchitelle. The NYTimes had a thought provoking article about the topic in yestersday's paper. The sad story is that despite our best efforts to retrain laid off workers, sometimes it's nearly impossible to find new careers with comparable benefits and wages. While there are many good points

Vanessa Lundnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13856833.post-1143217527188881242006-03-24T11:20:00.000-05:002006-03-24T11:25:27.203-05:00

Today I came across two interesting articles about women and higher education. The first story was published in the NYTimes. An admissions officer shares her frustration with the unintended consequences of women's liberation -- women’s increased interest (and achievement) is creating a much higher university standard for women than for men. Apparently campuses are concerned with preserving “

Vanessa Lundnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13856833.post-1142957515479940562006-03-21T11:06:00.000-05:002006-03-21T11:11:55.493-05:00

Kids aren't the only ones looking for career guidance. As baby boomers hit retirement ages, many are opting to stay in the workforce. For those seeking a retirement job, AARP has a few suggestions: http://www.aarp.org/bulletin/yourlife/0905_sidebar_2.html

Vanessa Lundnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13856833.post-1142291843818592482006-03-13T18:08:00.000-05:002006-03-13T18:20:32.133-05:00

I came across this list of old fashioned job titles and thought they were worth sharing. (I like to use this as a trivia game when presenting to student audiences.) Do you know what these people did for a living? Town husband, tinkerer, ratoner, streaker, skinker, loblolly boy, honeydipper, hello girl, bookman? A town husband was employed by the parish to collect money from fathers of

Vanessa Lundnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13856833.post-1141061792850805002006-02-27T12:23:00.000-05:002006-02-27T12:54:32.376-05:00

If you ever doubted the brutality of the labor market, take a look at articles in yesterday’s New York Times or today’s Christian Science Monitor. Yesterday the Times reported on the changing job promise at Caterpillar. While employees once saw generous wages and benefits in exchange for their long term job tenure and commitment to the organization, the younger workforce has a strikingly

Vanessa Lundnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13856833.post-1140559834406173262006-02-21T17:01:00.000-05:002006-02-21T17:10:34.406-05:00

It was great to see so many HCPI speakers at our reception on February 16th. Your energy and enthusiasm continues to inspire me!

Vanessa Lundnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13856833.post-1140559047331994602006-02-21T16:25:00.000-05:002006-02-21T16:57:27.343-05:00

The Washington Post recently explored the secrets of college graduation success. For once, there's good news -- a recent study by the US Department of Labor shows that more students are obtaining their college degree (66% of the students tracked completed their degree -- up from 60% in the previous study.) The study also reported that students taking more intensive classes are more likely to

Vanessa Lundnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13856833.post-1139325210897410482006-02-07T09:58:00.000-05:002006-02-07T10:15:38.466-05:00

Do traditional economic measures work in a knowledge economy? This Business Week article argues that they do not. In fact, many knowledge building investments are simply not measured. For example, in the olden days companies spent a lot of money to train people. (You had to fly people to a training facility, hire instructors, pay overhead, etc.) Now you can take classes online. "At IBM, the

Vanessa Lundnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13856833.post-1139003991938501862006-02-03T16:43:00.000-05:002006-02-03T17:01:07.866-05:00

This special issue of IEEE Spectrum tells you all about the coolest engineering jobs. I have to say -- they're way cool. Martin Cooper uses lasers to restore priceless works of art. Grant Imahara builds that weird stuff you see on the Discovery Channel show -- MythBusters. And this guy tracks wild animals. The core message -- do something you love, be tenacious and

Vanessa Lundnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13856833.post-1138738662120384342006-01-31T15:10:00.000-05:002006-01-31T15:22:33.400-05:00

Today I stumbled across an MDRC school reform evaluation that explores the relationship between student engagement and perceived academic competence on achievement in reading and mathematics. The findings suggest that engagement in school and students’ perception of their own academic competence influence achievement in mathematics. So remember those cool teachers you had who acted like you

Vanessa Lundnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13856833.post-1138114971952442962006-01-24T09:48:00.000-05:002006-01-24T10:20:10.006-05:00

Penn researcher, Angela Lee Duckworth tells us that intellectual superstars aren't successful just because they're smart -- it's because they've got "grit" or persistence. In a study of West Point freshman cadets, Duckworth found that grit predicted successful completion of their summer training program. Grit beat out high school class rank, SAT scores, athletic achievement, community

Vanessa Lundnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13856833.post-1138046163763024492006-01-23T14:52:00.000-05:002006-01-24T13:33:56.466-05:00

This Sunday, Jon Delano aired a segment about the "People Do Matter" initiative. People Do Matter recognizes companies for outstanding accomplishments in human resources, training and organizational development. View the video clip here... Learn more about PDM (nominate an organization!) here...

Vanessa Lundnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13856833.post-1138026195737643582006-01-23T09:20:00.000-05:002006-01-23T09:23:15.746-05:00

"How can you have a successful school-to-work program if there's not enough room in the curriculum for kids to earn any real technical certification?" Jay Matthews poses this and other tough questions for Chris Peters, who coordinates Advancement via Individual Determination, at Cajon High School in San Bernadino, Calif. Read more here...

Vanessa Lundnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13856833.post-1137811331400584082006-01-20T21:37:00.000-05:002006-01-20T21:42:11.413-05:00

Usually I try to post information about career education and workforce development but I just have to say a few words about my favorite blog -- http://pittsblog.blogspot.com/. While I don't always agree with his conclusions, Mike Madison does a great job exploring issues of regional concern. It's refreshing to see someone challenge popular points of view without just being a nay-sayer. Check

Vanessa Lundnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13856833.post-1137792919347640382006-01-20T16:23:00.000-05:002006-01-20T16:35:19.356-05:00

It's no secret that most Americans believe that obtaining a college degree is a key to success. Here at HCPI we often shock people by reporting on how few students graduate in 6 years (about 50%). Now there's more upsetting news -- many students at college lack complex literacy skills. The study reports that more than half of students at four-year schools and more than 3/4 of students at two

Vanessa Lundnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13856833.post-1136837168238613232006-01-09T15:03:00.000-05:002006-01-09T15:06:08.286-05:00

This article from workforce.com discusses the value of identifying positions that directly produce revenue, reach customers or encompass skills. The identification of these positions can help a company differentiate itself from rivals and better allocate resources. Here in SWPA, some forward-thinking organizations are already working hard to identify pivotal talent.

Vanessa Lundnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13856833.post-1135345965760314602005-12-23T08:51:00.000-05:002005-12-23T08:52:45.773-05:00

Found this pic in a BBC photo caption contest. The caption - "26 December, Job Centre"

Vanessa Lundnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13856833.post-1133194129249443562005-11-28T10:56:00.000-05:002006-01-09T15:27:35.083-05:00

On November 14th, the Institute of Politics convened a group to discuss the workforce development challenges facing the healthcare industry. The speakers made many interesting points. Many speakers emphasized the fact that workforce availability and quality impacts quality of care. There were also numerous remarks about the the skill shortages that exist across a broad range of occupations.

Vanessa Lundnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13856833.post-1132766230509115622005-11-23T12:04:00.000-05:002006-01-26T21:09:50.190-05:00

Yet another report (this one by NAM, the Manufacturing Institute and Deloitte Consulting) reports that a strong majority (83 percent) of manufacturers are struggling to serve customers because there are not enough qualified workers. Read more here. Part of the problem is the image of manufacturing but skills are also in short supply. The NAM survey cited "significant dissatisfaction among

Vanessa Lundnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13856833.post-1132763122930780372005-11-23T11:11:00.000-05:002005-11-23T11:41:07.990-05:00

Yet another article proves that there's no such thing as unskilled work. Balloon handlers need skills, too. This interesting NYTimes article discusses the training (or lack thereof) for the 2,000 balloon handlers who keep the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade afloat. My favorite quote -- "Please do not inhale helium escaping from the balloon." Amen.

Vanessa Lundnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13856833.post-1132692309703020782005-11-22T15:28:00.000-05:002005-11-22T15:45:09.716-05:00

Today, Butler HS students visited HCPI and took a tour of WISER -- the Peter Winter Institute for Simulation, Education and Research. WISER is one of the most active training institutes in the US -- serving more than 6000 trainees a year. This picture shows one of the simulation rooms and a SimMan.

Vanessa Lundnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13856833.post-1132615696516495622005-11-21T18:20:00.000-05:002005-11-21T18:28:16.533-05:00

Are employers finally figuring out that people really do matter? A recent SHRM survey reports that as the U.S. economy and the job market improve, a significant majority of workers are searching for new employers. Three out of four workers who are employed and responded to the survey said they are job searching actively or passively. Not only are people looking for jobs -- they're finding them.

Vanessa Lundnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13856833.post-1132342169167117632005-11-18T14:17:00.000-05:002005-11-18T14:29:29.180-05:00

Live from Washington DC... It's the Pinnacle Awards! I'm here in Washington DC with fellow Pittsburgh Human Resource Association Board members (Faith Stipanovich, John Oliverio, and Kelly Scott) to accept the pretigious Pinnacle Award for outstanding chapter achievement. The PHRA is being recognized for the organization's role as a founding partern of the People Do Matter Initiative -- a program

Vanessa Lundnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13856833.post-1132072107376197652005-11-15T11:21:00.000-05:002005-11-15T11:33:00.643-05:00

A lot of us career development geeks are big fans of Road Trip Nation -- a tv show about two college students who went on a roadtrip to learn how successful business leaders found their career path. Personally, I love the show because it's so much more human and realistic than the average career guide. It celebrates the very imperfect journey we all take. Learn more from the WSJ... Or visit RTN

Vanessa Lundnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13856833.post-1132071079587861852005-11-15T11:09:00.000-05:002005-11-15T11:11:19.586-05:00

It seems like PA is finally inching towards the rest of the nation and getting one step closer towards establishing state standards for career education. Proposed regulatory changes to Chapter 4 Proposed State Standards for Career Education and Work will be published in the November 5, 2005 edition of the Pennsylvania Bulletin and will undergo a 30-day public comment period. Why does this matter?

Vanessa Lundnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13856833.post-1132070799234649302005-11-15T10:57:00.000-05:002005-11-15T11:06:39.236-05:00

When talking to HS kids about their future plans, it's fairly clear that most are looking forward to getting out of their parents' house. So why are THE MAJORITY of students headed back home after graduation? An Oct. 15 article in the Washington Post that said 60 percent of 2005 graduates planned on moving back home after graduation. And Census Bureau data indicates that "in 2003, 50 percent of

Vanessa Lundnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13856833.post-1132069295210836102005-11-15T10:34:00.000-05:002005-11-15T10:41:35.226-05:00

A report compiled by the Pennsylvania Economy League titled "Jobs of the Future" shows that highly skilled workers must be proficient in reading and math to compete for future jobs. The study points out the following concerns: 1. ) There will be jobs for people with only a high school degree, but more than one-half of the region's 11th graders are not proficient in math, and more than

Vanessa Lundnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13856833.post-1130804835238913192005-10-31T19:20:00.000-05:002005-10-31T19:27:15.240-05:00

Don't miss the forum, "Workforce Development & the Healthcare Industry" on November 14, 2005 at Alumni Hall. The event will kick off the regional events that are being planned for Pennsylvania Health Careers Awareness Week. This policy-focused forum will feature regional and state experts on health workforce planning and HR, career education, incumbent worker initiatives and public policy. To

Vanessa Lundnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13856833.post-1130803626539433182005-10-31T18:52:00.000-05:002005-10-31T19:20:30.996-05:00

The student leaders pictured here are taking our career literacy materials, repackaging them for younger peers and helping other kids begin their own career exploration adventure. In October alone, we trained more than 50 of these Student Ambassadors. They're enthusiastic, creative and energizing. It's been an awesome fall here at HCPI!

Vanessa Lundnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13856833.post-1127772106491950162005-09-26T18:00:00.000-04:002005-09-26T18:01:46.496-04:00

CS Monitor reports that on-the-job-training is making a comeback, with 63,000 completing apprenticeship programs this year - up 68 percent from 2000. Read more...

Vanessa Lundnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13856833.post-1127769690270056492005-09-26T17:13:00.000-04:002005-09-26T17:21:30.276-04:00

There are two brilliant new additions to the career exploration toolkit. Both resources are based in Southwest PA -- offering relevant local information about career exploration. The Future is Mine is a project of the Mon Valley Education Consortium. Their website is serving as a very practical resource for schools participating in yearlong career education activities. Many of the pages are

Vanessa Lundnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13856833.post-1127147338142912832005-09-19T12:16:00.000-04:002005-09-19T12:36:11.953-04:00

Wow! Sending out the new HCPI brochure sure did generate a lot of interest on behalf of schools. We have 40 presentations coming up in the next 2 months. Some highlights: Career Ambassador training at West Allegheny High School, Parent Open House at Blue Knob Elementary School, and a teacher training in collaboration with PHEAA. We've also had some media attention. Last week, I had the pleasure

Vanessa Lundnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13856833.post-1125676928798620032005-09-02T11:57:00.000-04:002005-09-02T12:03:18.856-04:00

The devastation of Hurricane Katrina is calling some to question big business' just-in-time philosophy. Being "highly specialized" reduces redundancies, but it also makes us more vunerable. Hear more on Marketplace's online report.

Vanessa Lundnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13856833.post-1123788063386341712005-08-11T15:14:00.000-04:002005-08-11T15:23:41.456-04:00

Thanks to the Wilkinsburg Kiwannis for giving HCPI the opportunity to share the "Talent Trapeze" presentation this afternoon. The audience asked wonderful questions and had some exciting ideas for follow up activities. We're particularly excited about the support of the Wilkinsburg school administrators who were in attendance. It's through these generous ideas and support that HCPI is able to

Vanessa Lundnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13856833.post-1123765897705721222005-08-11T09:03:00.000-04:002005-12-28T14:29:33.350-05:00

A survey released by Great Britian's Skills Council lists the top "dream jobs" of both kids and adults. Interestingly, medical professions such as physician and nurse were more popular than entertainment or sports jobs. (And this comes from a country with lower wages for medical professions!) TOP 10 DREAM JOBS FOR KIDS TOP 10 DREAM JOBS FOR ADULTS 1) Doctor/Nurse 1)

Vanessa Lundnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13856833.post-1122735875301325502005-07-30T10:48:00.000-04:002005-07-30T11:17:31.723-04:00

Despite record fuel prices, one formerly struggling airline has finally turned a profit -- American Airlines is finally in the black. How? Remember those funny stories about getting rid of pillows on certain flights and eliminating olives from the salads? American turned minor cost reductions into major savings. But the real story is that the ideas were products of the company's human

Vanessa Lundnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13856833.post-1122482386209583582005-07-27T12:36:00.000-04:002005-07-27T12:46:42.306-04:00

The latest issue of Fast Company really caught my attention -- "Why We Hate HR." Obviously, a provocative title. I really like the picture, too. But reach beyond the visual and read the article -- it's worth it. Here's a snip: "HR is the corporate function with the greatest potential -- the key driver, in theory, of business performance -- and also the one that most consistently underdelivers.

Vanessa Lundnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13856833.post-1122314433069459572005-07-25T13:57:00.000-04:002005-07-25T14:01:24.776-04:00

I was looking at a new business publication for women (Pink), and found these sobering statistics: Women represent 51% of the population, but only 1.6% of the Fortune 500 CEOs, 5.2% of top earners, and 7.9% of the highest titles. I'm at a loss for words.

Vanessa Lundnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13856833.post-1121006331867100402005-07-10T10:20:00.000-04:002005-07-10T15:43:04.703-04:00

Germany has long been a model for business-education partnerships. Their model for vocational education has been the envy of many leaders in the states. This article reveals they have their own challenges and some exciting solutions. Take a look at how Germany is building an educational "knowledge factory." http://www.iht.com/articles/2005/07/08/business/wbnurture.php#

Vanessa Lundnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13856833.post-1120446924972984582005-07-03T22:52:00.000-04:002005-07-03T23:15:24.980-04:00

On June 21st, Board members of the Southwest Pennsylvania Business Education Foundation completed training to be speakers for the Human Capital Policy Initiative. The training was held at the beautiful new campus of South Fayette High School. Special thanks go to Terry Brennan for coordinating the training. These extraordinary educational leaders shared exciting ideas about how they plan to

Vanessa Lundnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13856833.post-1120443866994194722005-07-03T22:02:00.000-04:002005-08-01T08:59:52.130-04:00

Nearly two dozen HR leaders from Pittsburgh attended the Society for Human Resource Management Conference in San Diego, California in June, 2005. It was an outstanding opportunity to listen to remarkable speakers, participate in high quality workshops, meet other HR professionals (approximately 25,000 of them!) all and experience a little California sunshine. HCPI colleagues would have loved

Vanessa Lundnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13856833.post-1119401821282935372005-07-02T20:56:00.000-04:002005-07-03T22:42:26.026-04:00

At last week's Society for Human Resource Management's annual conference, I was struck by how often people mentioned their concerns about rising healthcare costs. This is a business challenge that the HR community is struggling to address. On the positive side, if they can find a way to control costs, they'll gain the attention of their organizations' leaders. On the negative side, controlling

Vanessa Lundnoreply@blogger.com0