Letter: Businesses, students must collaborate to find success

Editor,

Let’s be honest. Times are different. The economy is not where it was before the 2008 crash, and finding a good job in this market is more competitive than ever. I was born in a time when a personal computer was unheard of and cell phones resembled bricks more than communication devices. Yet our world requires not only the new skills of evolving technology, but also the traditional skills that form the foundation of our society. So I did what so many others have done: I went back to school to get the skills needed to make a difference in this world and give my family the opportunities that I took for granted.

As a mother, wife and citizen of this country, being stretched thin has become the norm more than the exception. To be competitive and provide for your family, a person needs more than just a degree or certification under his or her belt. Let’s look at some quick facts: According to a recent Gallup survey, 96 percent of college graduates feel they are ready for the workforce, even though only 11 percent of business leaders would agree with that assessment. Most business leaders, as the source of their concerns about college graduates, cite a lack of professionalism and foundational competencies, as well as an absence of implementing those competencies. College graduates need experience and foundational interpersonal skills in order to bridge the gap between the generations that make up our society.

Yet some of the responsibility rests on the shoulders of companies to invest in their own futures by advocating and fostering the skills that they seek in the workforce. Students lack the awareness, time and resources to access the tools needed to fill requirements sought by employers in their fields unaided.

Last month in Albuquerque, the National Campus Leadership Council co-hosted a Students-Speak round-table with the Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce, where local business professionals and student leaders met. Both sides were able to express what they needed in this situation, clarifying what problems are being faced, and proposing some real solutions to solve them.

One of the solutions discussed revolved around collaborations among universities, colleges and businesses. A bridge program offers mentorship and internship opportunities for students, supporting students’ ability to gain the hands-on experience desired by the majority of employers.

We can be grateful that people on both sides of this issue are working together to develop an effective solution. The only way this gap seems able to be bridged is through this type of collaborative approach, brick by brick. The value of investing in our future goes beyond ROI on a financial statement. This is our opportunity to invest in who we are as individuals, families and as a country. After all, we are only as valued as the value we see in others. Let’s make it count.

Sincerely,

Tisha Hudetz

President

Government Accounting Student Association at CNM