News

November 26, 2019

Interviewing, Communication and Time Management: A Capital Region BOCES Education Goes Beyond Specific Job Skills

Explaining a task. Interviewing for a job. Arriving to work on time. Being respectful. These all may seem like common sense skills, but national studies and research routinely find those and other so-called “soft skills” to be severely lacking in job applicants.

The National Association of Colleges and Employers’ 2019 Job Outlook survey found that 80 percent of employers want more applicants with good written communication skills, while 40 percent of job recruiters cited overall communication skills – written and verbal – as lacking in job prospects. Meanwhile 30 percent of recruiters said the same thing about critical thinking skills, according to a report by software firm Ellucian.

Other skills employers want in applicants include problem-solving, adaptability and time management, per 2017 research by national recruiting firm iCIMS.

That’s why Capital Region BOCES Career and Technical School students learn not just how to work in a certain career, but a whole litany of “soft skills” that apply to careers ranging from physician to rocket scientist to mechanic and welder.

Students in every Capital Region BOCES Career and Technical School program are taught time management, communication, interviewing and other skills that they are then tested and evaluated by not only faculty and staff members, but also some of the 300 business and education partners who frequent the career and technical school campuses.

“Career and tech students have not only the job-specific skills, but the soft skills, the interview skills, time management, respect for the employer, and respect for themselves going into college or career that others are lacking,” said Elizabeth Fordley, educational director for the New York State Restaurant Association Educational Foundation.

Students periodically take part in mock interviews, where business leaders interview them for jobs. Students are asked standard interview questions — “why do you want this job?”, “why should I hire you?” “What do you enjoy doing?” etc. and “what are your future plans?”

The idea, said Capital Region BOCES Business Liaison Nancy Liddle, is for the students to gain the “valuable experience” of taking part in an interview before the interview actually matters.

“I have learned a lot of social skills and a lot of experience from all of the interviews (with businesses) we have done. Overall, I have had my charisma built up and gained professionalism,” said Nicole Filkins, 2019 Heavy Equipment/Commercial Construction graduate from Berne-Knox-Westerlo High School.

Students also learn how to work well with people they may not have traditionally associated with.

“I have learned how to work with other people of different backgrounds and ideas. I have learned how to find a career and how to get a job, these are all great skills to have,” said Cole Cookingham, 2019 Schalmont High School graduate from the Heavy Equipment/Commercial Construction program.

Employers say the training pays off.

“Over the years, we have hired at least six employees that graduated from this program and we are very satisfied,” said Dave Knox, service manager for Colonie Mechanical Contractors.

Dustin Cuoco, service manager for Mohawk Heating and Cooling, said “Our top three techs are Capital Region BOCES and Hudson Valley Community College grads.”

Jamaica Millwork LLC Owner Tim LaMay had nothing but praise for the BOCES students and graduates his firm as hired

“They pay attention, are respectful, been on time every day and they aren’t on their phone,” LaMay said.