The expected entry-level job competencies and attitudes of high school graduates as reported by employers

• Main Author: Shinn, Larry L.
• Other Authors: Pole, E. John
• Format: Others
• Published: 2011
• Subjects: High school graduates > Employment.
• Online Access: http://cardinalscholar.bsu.edu/handle/handle/180735; http://liblink.bsu.edu/uhtbin/catkey/495288

Employers have criticized the secondary education program stating graduates are not meeting expected entry-level job competencies and attitudes. Recent surveys of employers indicated wide dissatisfaction with the educational quality of high school graduates and confirmed much of the general criticism which has been made of American education.The purpose of this study was to obtain data to answer the following research questions:1. What are the entry-level job competencies and attitudes needed by high school graduates?2. What effect does the number of employees have the entry-level job competencies and attitudes required?3. What effect does the type of business have on the entry-level job competencies and attitudes required?Data were collected from 679 employers by the use of a mailed questionnaire.Major Findings In response to all three research questions, employers indicated an entry-level employee did not need understand basic economic/free enterprise concepts to be successful in an entry-level position. According to the responses to Research Questions No. 1 and 3, employers rejected the need for an entry-level employee to have the ability to speak critically and constructively in the exchange of ideas and to know the terminology of the business/industry. Employers rejected other questionnaire items but at a lower frequency rate than noted above.Conclusions1. A list of competencies and attitudes was established as being needed by an entry-level employee.2. The number of employees and type of business/industry did have an effect on the competencies and attitudes needed by an entry-level employee.