Conclusion

This matters because high school students are such a large percentage of entry-level employees entering the workforce. As a result, early talent preparation falls on employers to address, resulting in increased cost and time, or is not prioritized, negatively impacting workers’ livelihoods. An unprepared workforce can cause ripple effects throughout the economy and society.

These hiring managers feel trade school or college graduation and real-world experience (through internships or other means) make better prepared entry-level employees. They also view candidates, regardless of postsecondary pathway, with industry-recognized credentials as more prepared than those without them.

However, surveyed hiring managers also indicate that they highly value “soft skills” like critical thinking, problem solving, and communication—sometimes more than credentials or classroom learning alone. As one interview respondent put it, “I actually hate the term soft skills. I feel like they’re critical skills”.¹

These insights offer young adults looking to enter the workforce a number of things they can do to help standout to employers.

Young people should consider pathways that are highly valued by employers and consider talent boosters like industry recognized credentials, experiences, and financial literacy that top the charts for employers. They should also consider ways to develop and demonstrate key skills such as critical thinking, problem solving, and effective communication skills.

So, it pays to have a balance of education credentials, real-world experience, and soft skills to become an attractive entry-level candidate.

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