The Topic:
Some employers who recruit recent college graduates for entry-level jobs evaluate applicants only on their performance in business courses such as accounting, markeitng, and economics. However, other employers also expect applicants to have a broad background in such courses asa history, literature, and philosophy.
Do you think that, in the application process, employers should emphasize one type of background - either specialization in busibness courses or a more varied academic preparation - over the other? Why or why not? Develop your position by using reasons and/or examples from your own experience, observations, or reading.
My essay:
Recently a debate has emerged over whether employers should focus on the job candidates’ performance in business courses or in a broader curriculum when they recruit recent college graduates for entry level positions. Most notably because soft skills in the business world are far more important than hard skills, in order to gain a competitive advantage in human resources, employers should emphasize a more varied academic preparation rather than business courses only.
One reason is that it is soft skills – not hard skills – that will contribute the most to the success of both individual and business. For example, a recent article in BusinessWeek states that the three top skills most desired by companies are communication, creativity, critical thinking. Classes like communication, literature, history, and philosophy are much more helpful for students to hone these skills than accounting, marketing and economics. Simply put, in order to establish a steady relationship with the customer, a marketing or sales major student cannot only be good at marketing and sales, he or she has to know how to listen and how to communicate. And the knowledge of history, literature, and philosophy will enable them to have a broader range of topics and shared interest with the potential client. That will enable them to become more successful. As a result, a broader academic background is better preferred than only business courses.
In addition, most business courses are more standardized and almost universal among all business students. At a result, in order to differentiate a candidate, employers should not simply look at one’s performance in business courses. Instead, they should have a broader view on one’s academic background. Last month, a research conducted by Harvard Business Review found that employers have a well-rounded academic background is 75% more likely to excel in their career life. In fact, it states that 88% of the executives from Fortune 500 companies have a diverse background instead of purely studying in business. Therefore, employers should focus on a broader academic background when evaluate the job candidates.
Some may claim the recent college graduates do not need the versatility to be considered for entry-level positions. However, both individuals and companies look to growth. Even a diverse background is not a must-have at present, it can become a crucial competitive advantage sometime in the future. Companies surely want to select the candidates with a good potential to move forward. As a result, companies should consider a broader academic background when hire even entry-level employees.
In conclusion, it is better for companies to consider a broader academic background when hire recent college graduates than only focus on business courses. Even for entry level positions, this practice can enable the company to potentially gain more competitive advantage in the future. Therefore, employers should emphasize the performance of the job candidates in a broad academic background instead of only business.
(I know there might be some sentences sound awkward. Any thoughts/suggestions?) Many thanks!