In the Media: What are employers really looking for?
The goal of education should be to prepare students to navigate the world, whichever path they choose. That said, our world is constantly changing and the skills needed are also rapidly evolving. Research from companies such as LinkedIn however, have identified the top 11 skills employers are looking for, regardless of the industry or position a company is looking to fill.
Here are the top 5 of the most sought-after employability skills that hiring managers search for in candidates according to research from LinkedIn:
Communication Skills
Leadership Skills
Teamwork Skills
Interpersonal Skills
Learning/Adaptability Skills
Education, therefor should work to equip students with at least these top 5 skills. If not the full list of 11 that goes on to include self-management skills, organizational skills, computer skills, problem solving skills, open-mindedness and strong work ethic.
In Waldorf Education, our dynamic curriculum is intentional designed to nurture long-term human capacities for success including every single one on the LinkIn list. Our curriculum is focused on not only building soft skills like arithmetic and writing but also capacities that go deeper such as critical problem solving, creative thinking and collaboration. This comes to life in elements such as 8th grade projects where every individual student spends nearly a year exploring a topic of their choosing, working with a mentor and presenting a 20 minute report to the entire community. Putting their communication, organization and self-management to the test.
Another example can be clearly seen in our campus-wide social literacy program that pairs students with buddies through the school year. The older students have the chance to be role models for the younger grades and form relationships while also taking on positions of leadership. Not to mention, the range of topics students are exposed to in our curriculum from astronomy to knitting, from biology to the Roman empire to so much more, a curiosity and love of learning is sparked.
Student across the grades are challenged to work with their classmates to solve problems, make observations and build relationships in every element of our curriculum from math to science, language and the arts. For example 5th graders help 1st graders learn to knit, students present regular reports to the community and campus wide events challenge collaboration skills led by our 8th graders.
Ready to learn more about an education that lays a foundation for long-term success by building capacities?
