Do College Grads Need More Training?

In an article published in the Deseret Morning News, Wendy Leonard says, "Colleges and universities dump a lot of graduates into the work force, and yet some in the work force still need additional, specialized training to perform well in the jobs they choose."

Whether the college grads come from vocational training schools, career education programs or other traditional college or university programs, employers do often speak about the need for additional training.

Although qualified in the technical content on paper, some new college grads need extra training on the soft skills required to be effective in their new jobs.

Employers and colleges are finding ways to collaborate to create custom training opportunities that will meet the need for this additional post graduation training.

Salt Lake Community College and Utah College of Applied Technology offer programs to help employers tailor training courses to meet their business needs.

One such employer, Stampin Up!, a supplier of craft products for the scrap booking marketplace, operates two state-of-the-art facilities in Utah. In partnership with Salt Lake Community College, they applied for grant money to facilitate a series of communication training seminars for their new employees.

New college grads should consider the availability of additional training as they evaluate the companies where they want to begin their careers. Consider not just money, but also asking about the availability of additional training in the following areas:

-Team building
-Leadership or supervisory training
-Customer service and client relations
-Interpersonal skills
-Project management

New employees should also consider working on professional certifications to enhance their professional development. Research professional associations in the career areas of interest and explore the certifications that these professional career organizations support.

Seriously consider companies that will pay for membership in professional associations and cover the cost of certification or additional training as needed.