Hard Unemployment Truths About 'Soft' Skills (many applicants fail drug tests, lack work ethic)

Wall Street Journal ^ | September 19, 2012 | Nick Schulz

[AppyPappy]

There is someone sitting near me who is sick as a dog but she already run through her sick leave so she just coughs all day. I feel sorry for the people who get closed up in the office with her. She likes to suffer loudly.

[Night Hides Not]

These issues are generational, no doubt.

I prided myself on being able to "work hard, play hard."

Today's young folks want to be able to play hard, but that's where it ends.

[Nervous Tick]

My wife’s cousin has a “disease” called “I can’t get up in the morning”.

That would be funny, except that if they ever give that "disease" an ICD-9 code you won't be able to fire a lazy sonofab!tch like that unless you want an ADA lawsuit to fight.

And they wonder why practically no one with any sense is hiring, and those that are hiring are picky as hell.

[Mr. Jeeves]

And some people think "tariffs" are going to magically bring manufacturing jobs back to the USA. The rot goes much deeper than that. Multi-nationals are well aware of the composition of the US workforce today, and will act carefully with expansion plans even if we end up with Romney as President and Republican control of both Houses.

As I've estimated before, the US "unemployable rate" approaches 50%.

[Buckeye McFrog]

Here in our area there is a lot of shale gas fracking. An able bodied young man with a high-school diploma who is willing to be trained and then show up for work every day could easily earn as much as $100K. But they are having a hard time filling these jobs, cause the idea of showing up and working hard every day in tough conditions is foreign to these kids.

Not like the Pittsburgh of old. Those old mill hunks would pull double shifts under some of the most brutal working conditions that ever existed.

[OrangeHoof]

I wonder what effect all that texting has done to spelling skills. Too much “OMG R U Kid’g? I’ll b l8 LOL!!!” and the brain finds it can’t write business grammar anymore.

[Buckeye McFrog]

The rot goes much deeper than that. Multi-nationals are well aware of the composition of the US workforce today, and will act carefully with expansion plans even if we end up with Romney as President and Republican control of both Houses.

Exhibit A being India's Tata Motors acquiring Jaguar in the UK. The new Indian CEO arrived in London and the first thing he noticed was that all of his employees went to lunch at the pub on Fridays and never came back. He put a stop to that practice, and immediately became the most hated man in Britain.

[Ironfocus]

Great article.

If you look at the data behind the article, especially the Society of Human Resource Management survey, it is abundantly clear what Obama did. The Federal Government and Finance industries were least affected, while the construction, mining, oil and gas industries were hardest hit with having to lay off staff.

The entitlement mentality is responsible for the lack of skills, and that mentality is being nurtured by the Democrats. It is noticeable that top among the soft skills shortages in the USA are enthusiasm/motivation and professionalism, attributes not needed in an entitlement society.

[OrangeHoof]

You don’t need to pass a drug or English test to wait tables.

[Buckeye McFrog]

Why the hell doesn’t someone state the obvious? The OLDER generation (me, too!) went to things called SCHOOLS, where they were TAUGHT. Taught things like math, English (the language of the land), geography, spelling, grammar, manners,civics, economics, and the fact that homeWORK had darn well better be done. In other words, they went to a school system that for almost 200 years EDUCATED students and prepared them for the task of building this nation.

Can't disagree with you there. I went to a rundown old ragtag high school in not the best district. Yet I think I am a reasonably well-educated and literate person. And I'm not that darned old. The decline in the public schools has been very rapid and very steep.

[Durus]

I'm not sure what spelling has to do with virtually any practical business function. Spell check works. It's not a replacement for standard grammar but one can both write and speak proficiently without being a fantastic speller.

[Reeses]

How 'bout "Democrats?"

They get offended when you leave off the -ticks suffix from Democrat-ticks because then the word ends in rat, a humble animal that works hard for food. A blood sucking parasite is a better nickname for them.

[jda]

one can both write and speak proficiently without being a fantastic speller.

I SO disagree.

First of all, you have to have some minimal level of intelligence to use spell check.

Then, you have to have some minimal level of education in the English language to use spell check (for instance, you have to know the difference between there, their, and they're).

Finally, even with spell check and grammar check, you wouldn't believe how many resumes I see that have misspelled words, incomplete sentences and dangling participles.

[MarineDad]

"...not needed in an entitlement society."

This fundamental truth simply cannot be overstated or overemphasized.

[ExTxMarine]

But this isn’t just caused by the schools. Many of this generations PARENTS never bothered to instill any kind of self-discipline in their children either.

I have had more than one set of parents actually tell me that they like their daughter hanging out with my daughter because they hope some of the respect, discipline and manners will rub off on their kids. HUH!?!?!

Do they actually think that I just was “lucky” to get a “good” kid? That is the mentality of the PARENT! That is simply SCARY!

[vpintheak]

The results of being coddled their whole lives. If they fail, whatever, mommy and government will take care of them. No self respect.

[The Duke]

I have employees who just insist on having their personal lives intrude into their work life far more than is traditional in the US.

They really only hurt themselves, as we have positions for such people with limited availability - it's just that those positions don't pay as well and don't grow their careers as quickly.

[Reeses]

I'm not sure what spelling has to do with virtually any practical business function.

Spelling and grammar demonstrate competency and are more important now because of e-mail. Using just one instance of Ebonics in an e-mail can cause serious career damage.

[Emperor Palpatine]

"You don’t need to pass a drug or English test to wait tables."

I bet they would have to at THIS GUY'S restaurant...



"Oh, so this is your FIRST day on the job? Congratulations, you idiot! Its also your LAST!!!!!"

[Durus]

Einstein was a notoriously bad speller. Spelling ability is a poor overall indicator of intelligence and a poor indicator of overall communication skill.