Careers: Seamless Education for a Better Career

Remember when the transition between eighth grade and high school wasn't nearly so seamless? Well, neither do I (TG), but it wasn't for many years.

Unfortunately, that historical antecedent still exists in the form of a huge learning and preparation chasm that separates high school to college and beyond. Fortunately, the game is now afoot to change all that, according to an excellent article in the Arizona Republic. Organizations such as the New Commission on the Skills of the American Workforce, and the Phoenix-based Center for the Future of Arizona, are starting to confront this gap with pragmatic versions of a "reengineered" education system.

Features would include creating flexible education options for students as early as middle school, based upon talents and desires; linking high schools with colleges and universities; five year progams that result in both a high school diploma and a vo-tech certificate; and for advanced learners, programs that enable grads to enter college at sophomore or even junior levels - kind of like AP classes on steroids.

Pulling that off requires three systemic changes: 1) collaborations between high school and post-secondary schools; 2) getting the teachers "on board" (NEA, are you listening?); and 3) funding (you knew it was in there somewhere, didn't you?).

I suspect that over the next decade or so we'll see just this kind of realignment - not because special interests are screaming for it, but because it's a logical evolution of how education and career preparation have to proceed to keep our future workforces motivated and prepared for global competition. "Seamless Education" is a must.

Funding is starting to appear to add some muscle to this concept. One such organization is the the Helios Education Foundation are starting , as they and others are launching grant programs to help organizations such as the Center for the Future of Arizona create pragmatic and attractive pathways for realizing this necessary transition.

Careers: Becoming an Expatriate ("expat")

Educators committed to preparing their charges for the impacts of globalization would be remiss not to address the career possibilities of expatriation, or becoming an "expat."

Expats, of course refer to that ambitious and intrepid subset of North Americans (note - all countries have expats) who take overseas assignments - whether for a North American company, or in some cases directly with an international employer.

It certainly isn't a lifestlye for the cautious or inflexible. According to my friend Jean McFarland, whose company Fifth Dimensions Strategies tracks expatriate statistics, 40% of expatriates return before completing their assignments, with the #1 reason for failure being the inability to adapt to the host culture. Of expatriates who complete their assignments, 34% do not perform up to expectations of their superiors, and 50% say they underperformed (note - expatriate packages cost a corporation approximately $1 million per year - a big "ouch" when things go wrong.)

So why the buzz? Well the pay and perks can be great... not to mention (depending what country) little extra's like maids, gardeners, chauffers and prodigious leave packages (6-8 weeks of holiday?)... not to mention fascinating "acculturation" for those who enjoy mixing it up in the strange and unfamiliar...and not to mention experience that can pay off handsomely in one's career back home in later years...

Trends in expatriation employment are tiltling more and more towards younger workers, according to research by GMAC Global Relocation Services. Also, the proportion of women undertaking expatriate assignments has risen markedly and more expatriates are going on assignments without their partners.

So, it's a great time for those who are eager, willing and competent to get subsidized for exploring broader latitudes, attidudes and longitudes. bTW, a great resource for global expatriate websites is found at the ezine of Transitions Abroad.

Bon voyage' !

Careers: A High School That Gets It...

One of the perks of commencement speaking is getting a peek at how different schools (high school or college) are preparing kids for the "real world."

One such innovator is Boise, Idaho's Meridian Technical Charter High School where I recently delivered a graduation speech. In addition to a full cadre of technically-oriented paths (such as IT programming, networking, engineering/electronics and media arts), MTC's program also "balances" students out with business, communications and other curricula/projects that prepare them for an interactive workplace. For example, "consumer economics" - something most techies don't learn (many even in college) - and speech. Who'dve thunk - geeks as public speakers? (btw, you're reading one... lol...). And Global Perspectives - preparing students for the inevitability of all those cross-cultural collisions that your humble scribe here is always harping about.

Furthermore all seniors are required to work internships with local businesses, as well as perform projects requiring vetted presentation - in suits and ties. (who said "Old School" is always bad?!).

It seems to pay off, as grads are departing for such far-flung schools as M.I.T. and Washington State to prestigious music and film-making institutes in San Francisco.

MTC's program isn't for everyone, but a school needn't be nerd-heaven to enforce the idea that career preparation is more than just ace-ing tests. Communications skills, business acumen and a little "big picture" perspective never hurt anyone - and it will no doubt help these young scholars-cum-professionals in an increasingly competitive job market.