Yesterday was a successful session! I hope that those who were able to make it found the information useful and came away with something new. For those of you who couldn't make it, we covered several important topics. The first topic we covered was the expectations of being a student employee on campus and guidelines to be aware of and follow. That presentation will be posted soon under the training video section on the HIRE A Griffon website. The second part of our session focused on critical information to the success of every American student, job seeker and employee: The Foundations of the 21st Century Workforce. So what are the foundations and what does that mean anyway? For the United States of America to compete in the current and future job market, we have several areas that we have to become literate in to survive. Those three main areas are:

1.      Learning and Innovation Skills

2.      Information and Media Literacy

3.      Life and Career Skills

Our workforce has no choice but to become competent in these three areas if we are to compete in the 21st Century Workforce. The 21st Century Workforce Commission from the National Alliance on Business reports:

“The current and future health of America’s 21^stCentury Economy depends directly on how broadly and deeply Americans reach a new level of literacy-’21^stCentury Literacy’-that includes strong academic skills, thinking, reasoning, teamwork skills, and proficiency in using technology."

For the purpose of the Student Employee Development Initiative (SEDI) training sessions, we will focus our attention to the third literacy area, “Life and Career Skills.”

This area covers such topics as:

1. Flexibility & Adaptability

2. Initiative & Self-Direction

3. Social & Cross-Cultural Skills

4. Productivity & Accountability

5. Leadership & Responsibility

Our sessions for this Fall 2011 Semester will cover the following topics:

1. Understanding your Strengths and Goal Setting

2. Professionalism and Ethics in the Workplace

3. Managing Emotions in the Workplace

4. Diversity and Inclusion in the Workplace

Throughout the year, we want everyone to reflect on the following questions posed by the Partnership for 21^st Century Skills:

“Are you TRULY…”

· A critical thinker and problem solver?

· Self-Directed?

· A good collaborator?

· Information and Technology Literate?

· Flexible and adaptable?

· Innovative?

· An effective communicator?

More valuable information can be found on the Partnerships website at: www.p21.org.

Please use this blog as an opportunity to dialogue with us, other professionals and your peers about these skills which are vital to our success in the 21^stCentury Workforce. Have a wonderful day everyone!

Matthew

Welcome to the HIRE A Griffon Blog

Thank you for taking time to visit our HIRE A Griffon Blog.  I am Matthew Gregg the Student Employment Coordinator for Missouri Western State University and look forward to meaningful and informative dialogue with everyone.  Please use this blog as an opportunity to ask questions related to employment, gain information on the job market, interview skills, and other employment related tips.  If you want me to answer any questions leave a post, or E-Mail me directly at matthewgregg@missouriwestern.edu.  Also check us out on Facebook and Twitter.  Links can be found at www.missouriwestern.edu/hireagriffon.  I look forward to hearing from all of you!

Matthew