A study was conducted to use the SCANS (Secretary's Commission on Achieving Necessary Skills) employability skills to identify the criteria used for hiring and employment retention by companies in Southeastern Pennsylvania. Results were intended to help personnel development and training institutions in the region align their training outcomes and…

This guide is intended to answer employers' questions on how to hire and manage workers who have an intellectual impairment. Following an introductory description and definition of intellectual impairment, the guide addresses relevant issues through a series of responses to questions: (1) Do individuals with an intellectual impairment make good…

Study of 321 undergraduate students reveals that the type of job for which applicants apply is a stronger determinant than applicant's sex of which qualifications are valuated as important in an interview situation. Use of standard selection criteria that predict job performance might best prevent sex discrimination. (Author/BJV)

Nontechnical employment competencies needed by secondary students were identified and then tested with employers, teacher-coordinators, and school counselors. Their perceptions of the relative importance of each competency and discrepancies in those perceptions illustrate the need for cooperation between the school and the business community. (SK)

Four surveys in 1977, 1978, and 1979 studied employer attitudes toward the Open University (Great Britain) and its graduates as employees: the status of the degree in relation to others, recruitment trends, importance of specialization, employers as sponsors of their employees, vocational courses needed, and ignorance about the university. (MSE)

This booklet provides advice to young people seeking their first jobs on how to avoid the pitfalls that have caused others to lose jobs or fail to be hired. Topics discussed in short, one-page sections include appearance, attitude and behavior, ignorance of labor market facts, misrepresentation, sensitivity about a physical defect, unrealistic…

The major purpose of this study was to determine from the business community what competencies in the job application process are needed by students preparing to enter the job market for their first full-time position. Data were collected from 100 human resource administrators (out of a sample of 400). The general feeling of the administrators was…

A two-year research project was conducted to determine the skills employers consider necessary for the workplace. Recent changes in the economy have made employers begin to realize that they must assist their current and future workers in achieving competency in workplace basics if they are to be competitive. Employers have come to realize the…

A study was conducted to identify the nonverbal behaviors predicting hireability, as well as the nonverbal behaviors candidates employ that predict hireability. Subjects were 25 campus recruiters, each of whom was given a cover letter explaining the purpose of the study and three copies of a Likert-type questionnaire on a single communicator…

Results of a survey of employers showed a preference for the co-curricular transcript over the traditional resume. Employers screening applicants considered the students' involvement in extracurricular activities as well as grade point average, specific coursework, and previous work experience. Outlines implementation steps of a cocurricular…

Student interviews of newspaper editors who hire personnel helped both journalism students and faculty identify the job skills that have to be learned and taught. (RL)

Stable, long-term career security is becoming a thing of the past, requiring new ways of thinking about, and framing relationships among, work, organizations, payment, and value for effort. Describes "portfolio career" concept with which individuals recognize their value to organizations comes about because of skills held that produce results.…

This study compared the perceptions of 87 practicing and preservice special education teachers and 100 employers concerning critical factors for job success. Educators rank ordered the four job skill categories as work related, social, communication, and personal, whereas employers' rankings were work related, communication, personal, and social.…

A study investigated the perceptions of human resource managers (n=243) concerning graduates from 9 area colleges, using 40 criteria to differentiate potential employees. The results support use of the methodology by colleges and universities to investigate factors contributing to institutional image within the business community. (MSE)

Interviews were conducted with employers and military personnel to obtain information regarding basic skills needed in entry-level jobs available to young people with a high school education. Information was also obtained from young entry-level employees and military recruits on the quality of their high school preparation in basic employment…