Lack of 'soft' skills hurts job seekers

With a tight economy and relatively low unemployment in the Springfield area, employers continually struggling to hire the right people.

"With the need for businesses to be more efficient in light of competition and lower profit margins, employers are becoming more particular when accepting applications," said Jim Grebing, communications director for Missouri's Department of Economic Development.

The unemployment rate in the Ozark region is 3.9 percent, its lowest level since October 2001, according to the Missouri DED. The Ozark region comprises Greene, Christian, Dallas, Polk, Stone, Taney and Webster counties. Missouri's unemployment rate is 4.9 percent, and the national average is 6.4 percent.

The current in-demand jobs include special education teachers, stainless steel welders, computer programmers, systems analysts, truck drivers and health care positions such as registered and licensed practical nurses, nurses aides, and physical and occupational therapists, Grebing said.

With a tight market for both employers and those seeking work having the right skills is important.

Communication skills

The 2002 Skills Assessment Analysis conducted for Ozarks Regional Economic Partnership by the Docking Institute of Public Affairs showed that 74 percent of employers in the Springfield region said that hiring full-time skilled employees had grown more difficult in the past three years, and 54 percent said they expected it to stay the same over the next three years.

The two areas in most need of improvements were listening and oral communications. Approximately 82 percent of employers indicated that some or most of their employees needed to improve their oral communications skills, and 77 percent indicated that some or most of their employees needed to improve their listening skills.

Grebing agreed.

"Many of the skills requested, or expected, by employers are soft-skills rather than technical, job-related skills," Grebing said. "If applicants have the basic life skills, employers can often train them to do what the job requires."

For those just starting out in their careers, relevant work experience can include internships or part-time work while in school, according to Jack Hunter, director of career services at Southwest Missouri State University. He said that the ability to work as part of a team and communicate are very important, regardless of experience level.

"You may be a highly competent engineer or accountant or nurse, but if you can't communicate, you really are less effective," Hunter said. "Employers with whom we deal, graduate schools and professional schools (tell me) more personal interviews fail because of ineffective communication skills than any other reason."

One key for job seekers is the ability to interview well, which takes experience.

"I don't think any of us are good at interviewing unless we do it every day," said Jeremy MacLaughlin, director of human resources at Citizens Memorial Hospital. "People have to be comfortable when they sit down because they're going to be selling themselves."

Kathy Christy, director of job placement services for Ozarks Technical Commu-nity College, agreed.

"The biggest thing we hear from employers is students are lacking the soft skills they need the communication skills. Sometimes (employees) have great technical skills but can't get through the interview process."

Education

Gary Tate, a supervisor with the Division of Workforce Development in Springfield, has difficulty matching job seekers with employers' needs.

"A lot of people want a job that they don't have experience in," Tate said.

Education is a factor, but that doesn't necessarily mean a college degree. Many employers look for workers with technical training rather than a bachelor's degree.

"They're wanting people who go and do the actual job," said Rose Horton, director of career planning and placement at Springfield College.

Horton said area employers such as CoxHealth and Citizens Memorial Hospital often hire Springfield College students directly from their externships. She credits the school's high job placement rate 86 percent of graduates work in fields directly related to their training to the partnerships and guidance of the business community through the school's advisory boards, which meet twice a year.

"We are always trying to adapt our curriculum to their needs," Horton said. "Technology changes so fast, and we have to change with it. Every single time there is a shift in the market, we adapt and we change."

Horton also meets one-on-one with students to discuss their goals. She also teaches required career skills classes covering resumes and interviewing techniques.

"You can get the education, and you can get the perfect resume, but you still have to get past that interview stage," Horton said.

About 52 percent of SMSU graduates have accepted positions by graduation, and 72 percent are working in jobs related to their major or minor a year later.

"The swing is so short on some of the types of positions it might change in six months. What's hot now may not be hot two years from now," Hunter said.

Christy said that six months after graduation, 64 percent of OTC graduates reported they were working in a field related to their course of study.

Skills

Many of the 300 to 400 people who visit the Springfield office of Missouri Career Center each day take advantage of classes on how to prepare resumes and how to interview, Tate said.

One-day classes are offered for those needing to brush up on computer skills, and more extensive weeklong classes are available to individuals at the poverty level. In addition to preparation and posting vacancies, Missouri Career Center accepts employment applications for many area businesses.

The career services office at SMSU helps prepare students for their job search in similar ways. "We can help them with their credentials, resume, cover letters, portfolios and mock interviews," Hunter said. "We can teach them how to tie their ties and shake hands."

Career Services also offers opportunities for job shadowing and assessment tests to determine jobs best suited to an individual's interests and talents.

Alumni also may take advantage of some of the services offered.

Penmac also offers help for potential employees. For those who need to brush up on their skills, Penmac's Workforce Center on South Avenue offers tutorials on about 17 computer software programs.

"If they do well, we encourage them to go on to OTC to take some more advanced work," said Penmac owner Patti Penny.