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9/19/04
WORKPLACE It's not just students who need to brush up on their writing. A majority of US employers say about one-third of workers do not meet the writing requirements of their positions, according to a survey by the College Board's National Commission on Writing. ''Businesses are really crying out - they need to have people who write better,'' said College Board president Gaston Caperton. While writing has always held a spot in American education as one of the three 'R's, many say writing clearly and accurately is more important than ever - and not all workers are up to the task. In a fast-paced workplace, precision and brevity are essential. For e-mails, reports and presentations, the commission found that accuracy, clarity, spelling, punctuation, grammar, and conciseness ranked among the most sought-after skills. ''There's no way to say that writing has gotten worse,'' said Susan Traiman, director of the education initiative for the Business Roundtable. Rather, ''the demand has gotten greater.'' The commission surveyed Business Roundtable members in six sectors: mining; construction; manufacturing; transportation and utilities; services; and finance, insurance, and real estate. Two-thirds of salaried workers in large US companies have jobs that require some writing - and this includes some of the most technical occupations. ''Writing skills tend to be critical more on the salaried side of things, but even for our hourly jobs, to be able to communicate shift to shift,'' said Thomas Siegele, a human resources manager for paint and glass maker PPG Industries Inc., based in Pittsburgh. William Raney, president of the industry group West Virginia Coal Association, said writing skills are necessary for such varied groups as electricians, engineers and foremen, who often draft proposals for government agencies and regulatory bodies. ''There's a great need to translate the technical to the practical,'' Raney said. A majority of survey respondents said about two-thirds of employees - both current workers and new hires - meet writing requirements. While lackluster writing skills do not necessarily impede success in all realms, more than half of the companies surveyed reported that they assess writing in hiring and promoting salaried employees. The solution? The College Board, which administers the SAT, PSAT, and Advanced Placement tests, says the responsibility lies with grade schools and universities - but training represents another potential solution. ''You're never too old to learn,'' said Bob Kerrey, co-chairman of the writing commission and president of the New School University in New York City. ''It's a skill that is acquirable.'' The survey was mailed to 120 resource directors in corporations affiliated with the Business Roundtable. Sixty-four companies, or 53.3 percent, responded, representing nearly 4 million employees. --ASSOCIATED PRESS
EMPLOYMENT Job opportunities are increasing. So says CareerBuilder.com, the online job network. In a survey of 700 hiring managers and 1,600 workers, the site found that corporate recruiters are more optimistic today than they were in the past. In all, 38 percent said they expect to hire more employees in the fourth quarter. ''While 12 percent of hiring managers say they will be decreasing employment at their locations, 49 percent say they will be increasing their staffs with a balanced mix of incremental and replacement employees,'' said Matt Ferguson, chief executive of CareerBuilder.com. Incremental refers to workers who are hired to fill newly created jobs. About 25 percent of the hiring managers plan to hire new staff in the third quarter, down from 44 percent last May. Twenty-two percent said they would do the majority of their new hiring in the fourth quarter. According to the survey results, some hiring managers expect that recruiting efforts will begin in the third quarter and continue through December. Why the uptick? Fifty-two percent will be hiring workers for new jobs or units, and 48 percent will be replacing people who were laid off or left the company voluntarily. When the site surveyed recruiters in May, it found that 48 percent planned to add new workers in the third quarter and 52 percent said they would bring new people into existing jobs. Other recruiters said their companies are expanding or marketing new products and services and need additional staff. In all, 18 percent of the hiring managers fell into that category. Twelve percent said they are trying to boost productivity and make their companies more efficient by bringing on new staff, and 10 percent expect to boost sales while stepping up efforts to reach customers. But some won't be hiring at all. Those recruiters attributed the decision to poor growth in their industry. When researchers looked at hiring activity by region, they found that the Midwest continues to lag behind the east and west coasts. In all, 51 percent of the recruiters out west are looking to recruit more workers in the coming quarter, up from 50 percent in May. In the Northeast and the South, 50 percent of the recruiters will boost hiring. In May, 45 percent of those in the Northeast and 46 percent of those in the South said they planned to hire. Forty-seven percent of the recruiters in the Midwest said they would increase hiring, up from 46 percent in May. After talking to hiring managers, CareerBuilder surveyed 1,600 workers about job satisfaction and other workplace matters. According to Ferguson, many seemed more satisfied with their jobs. ''Job satisfaction improved with 55 percent of workers surveyed in August, stating they are content with their positions compared to 52 percent in May,'' he said. ''However, better employment prospects have more workers planning to change jobs than reported last quarter.'' He said 19 percent are looking to leave their current jobs and will likely do so within the next three months. Thirteen percent said they would look for a new job when they were interviewed in May. In addition, 31 percent are planning to change jobs within the next six month, up from 20 percent in May. In all, 47 percent want better compensation, 45 percent said they had too much work, and 40 percent said there were few opportunities for advancement at their current jobs. --DIANE E. LEWIS
EDUCATION Why is an MBA important? When Christian & Timbers, the international executive search firm, asked 420 senior executives that question, 35 percent said the degree brings a better understanding of business practices and key business issues. Thirty percent pointed to networking and contacts, and 15 percent said the degree affords a better understanding of corporations' financial practices. Just 10 percent said having an MBA often leads to a higher salary, and only 10 percent said having the degree looks good in a résumé. ''Senior executives who responded to the survey have a clear understanding of what they are looking for in the people they hire out of business school,'' said Stephen P. Mader, executive vice chairman of Christian & Timbers. He said executives expect degree holders to have a ''deep understanding of the many complex business issues facing corporations today.'' ''People who pursue an MBA because they think that it is a sure ticket to a large salary are missing the boat,'' Mader said. ''Unless they can demonstrate the depth of knowledge that employers expect, the salaries they crave won't be forthcoming.'' --DIANE E. LEWIS
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