Use of Soft Skills
I teach an interpersonal relations course and I find it fascinating when students realize how important these skills are. Employers note that technical skills are not the primary reason for employee terminations, but rather an inability to communicate well with others. I think many of us take these skills for granted and assume our students are well versed.
At the end of my course, students tend to comment on how beneficial these skills are to not only their careers, but their personal life as well.
Hi Martha, This is exactly what we are hearing from the employers who hire our graduates! Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career.
Susan Polick
Many advisory board members have stressed the need for students to learn soft skills. These board members want employees who can communicate with others within the company and clients. Employers, also, need employees who can get to work on time and can meet deadlines. I often give quizzes towards the beginning of class to encourage students to come to class on time.
Hi Danielle- Thanks for your post to the forum. Unfortunately I know that all of us see this too often. As you mention, we can only do so much in a sementer or so. Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
I teach Physical Anthropology at a technical school and I have found that many of my students do not have the soft skills necessary to make it in the business world. I try to correct their grammar and spelling on the assignments they turn in and to show good examples of correct behavior through group activities. Unfortunately, our terms are only 10 weeks long, so I worry that I can't do enough in the time I have to help them.
I would like to turn the problem of soft skills to the following considerartion. I worked with secondary school students for about 20 years. For another 15 I've been in adult education. By switching to adults I suddenly realized that most of them were became returning to college studies students, who got desire to learn new things, but had lost their soft skills due to the gap in learning process between the time when they attended school and the moment when they had to start the learning again after years of being involved in simple working activities using their skills but not theoretical knowledge. The problem to my mind creats difficulties in the field of vocational education
Wow Justin - That is wonderful! More instructors should do so! Susan
I agree. I have implemented a soft skills section into all of my classes. Our students seem to need help in this area more than the technical skills sometimes.
Hi Heather- I would at the start of every class have all students turn off their cell phones. That should only take a few seconds. Best wishes! Susan
The biggest trouble I have is enforcing the soft skills that are essential in their career. The biggest ones are being on time and cell phones. My school does have policies on these but the consequences seem not to be hard enough for these students. The slap on the hand they get is not enough. I also deduct professionalism points which is 10% of their grade. This still doesn't seem to be enough. I harp about being on time and cell phones are not allowed as my students will be working in a medical setting and that the doctors will not approve and that I've personally seen employees being fired for such actions. How can I enforce this policy without taking class time out of every day? Any help is appreciated!
Hi Juanita - The best way to get your students to understand the importance of soft skills is to bring in an employer to tell students what they are looking for. Another way is to have your students read the attached article and discuss it.
Best wishes! Susan
Thanks for posting this as a topic of discussion. I am trying to incorporate teaching more soft skills to my students after we've met their required daily objectives. What are some sample discussions I can lead them into?
I agree, this is something which can assist in success for the student
Hi Rochelle- That statistic does not surprise me! What does T.B.L.S. stand for? Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
I was told by another instuctor that statistics show that 9 out of 10 jobs are lost due to the lack of soft skills... I am a T.B.L.S. instructor we focus exactly on just that "soft skills" communication,attitude,time management,budget etc. these skills are very relevent to the lives of the student both in and out of the work place.
Hi Alexis- Thanks for your post to the forum. Students often ask "why do I need to learn this stuff!" in regards to softskills. We respond that employers are looking for those skills. The BEST is to get employers in to talk to students to make that point! Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
It is very important that we use soft skills with our students as well as teaching them how to use soft skills. Soft skills are the foudation for excellent customer sevice.
I think soft skills are so very important. Often you don't get to show your technical skills because you have poor soft skills. I am constantly talking to my students about improvement in that area.
I teach at a culinary school and most of our students don't even consider that soft skills are needed. The feeling is that they are away from the public so do not need to work on people skills. In a few of our modules at school the students work together creating buffets and other group work and boy does it become apparent who has innate soft skill and who does not. I try to use these group exercises (especially when they go bad due to lack of group unity) as an opertunity to teach those very soft skill that will allow them to be sucessful in their future careers.
Hi Suzanne- Thanks for your post to the forum. You make a very good point - since our students will be working with others they must have the soft skills necessary to be valuable team members. Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
