Many of the most important things I learned during college were about growing up, not academics. When I hired college graduates, what I looked for were character traits more than just academic knowledge. Half the statistics graduates could do the job I assigned, but that wasn’t what I was looking for.
What I wanted to hire was people who actually would do the work that needed to be done, not just mindless drones who would follow instructions perfectly. I needed people who would question their instructions, people who wouldn’t let anything get in the way of finishing early, since late was unacceptable and things come up. I needed people who could deal with an arrogant politician and not burst into tears (I saw that before I had my own company, and I managed not to hire any of those delicate snowflakes). I needed people of character who would not lie, cheat, or steal (yep, that happens a lot in the workplace). Someone who needs a safe room with puppies and Play-Doh may be able to turn in well-written papers, but I don’t want them working for me in the real world.
Employers don’t provide puppies for an inability to perform. They give pink slips.
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