Book Summary : 10 Things Employers Want You to Learn in College

10 Things Employers Want You to Learn in College Bill Coplin (Author) - Syracuse University

• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: Ten Speed Press (August 6, 2003)
• ISBN-10: 1580085245

The Ten Know-How Groups:

1. Establishing a Work Ethic
2. Developing Physical Skills
3. Communicating Verbally (Speaking)
4. Communicating in Writing
5. Working Directly with People (Teamwork)
6. Influencing People
7. Gathering Information (Research)
8. Using Quantitative Tools (Number Crunching)
9. Asking and Answering the Right Questions (Critical Thinking)
10. Solving Problems

Good new and bad news face all college students:

1. The Good New
   • Over their work life, college graduates earn an average of $2.1 million dollars compared with $1.2 million dollars for high school graduates.
   • Someone with a professional degree (M.D., J.D., or M.B.A., for example) will make $4.4 million.
2. The Bad News
   • 63% of students who begin a 4 years college do not finish in 4 years, and 42% do not finish in 6 years.
   • 68% of graduating seniors in 2000 borrowed a mean average of $19,785.
   • 60% of college graduates plan to live with their parents after graduation.

Employers rate the importance of candidate qualities/skills (listed in the order of importance):

• Communication skills (verbal and written)
• Honesty/integrity
• Teamwork skills (work well with others)
• Interpersonal skills (relates well to others)
• Strong work ethic
• Motivation/initiative
• Flexibility/adaptability
• Analytical skills
• Computer skills
• Organization skills
• Detail oriented
• Leadership skills
• Self-confidence
• Friendly/outgoing personality
• Well mannered/polite
• Tactfulness
• GPA (3.0 or better)
• Creativity
• Sense of humor
• Entrepreneurial skills/risk-taker