Prepare Them for the Real World

In recent conversations with friends who are in management positions where their role includes hiring employees, the stories they have told about trying to find help are at a minimum discouraging for any employer. One of them shared with me that a potential employee thought that cursive was a language?! This might be funny if it were not a statement on the sad state of affairs employers face.

With this in mind I came up with a few things that parents, and other influential adults in a young person's life should teach them. As the saying goes, "you don't know what you don't know". They will not know how to prepare for the real world if they are not given guidelines and had time to practice before trying to enter the workforce.

There are some simple thigs that everyone should know, but some don't. One of these is how to tell time on an actual clock (not digital). It's surprising how many young people don't know how to read a clock because they have always had digital in their life. There are a lot of employers who still use a traditional clock on the wall, and if they ask you the time and you can't tell them they may not be impressed with your skills.

Preparing a simple resume so that they can apply for work is a great place to start. Even if it's their first time applying for work and they have no experience in the work world, there are things they have done in their life either at home or school that can speak to their character. Once they have work experience they can build on their original resume. They also need to be shown how to fill out a work application (online and paper) if they want to get in the door for an interview.

Once they get an interview, practice with them so they will be ready for what a potential employer may ask them. If they can't answer without stumbling over their words it will reduce the chances of either a 2nd interview or getting hired. Leave their cell phones in the car (or at least turn them off), and don't bring anyone to the interview with you. Believe it or not this has happened. Also, get directions and do a trial run to the destination; that way you won't get lost or be late.

A few things they should know:

• How to hold a conversation with their supervisors or co-workers.
• Taking effective notes at a meeting so it's clear what is expected of them.
• Proper work etiquette: dressing appropriately, no phones at work, leave your personal life at home, speak softly (use your inside voice).

Last but not least, you have to start at the bottom - nobody starts at the top. If you have a strong work ethic, and go above and beyond the basics of your role/repsonsibilities, you will go much further and at a faster pace. There is a direct correlation between what you put into something and what you get out. It's up to you to decide where you want to end up.