[View the story "#InternPro Chat: Professionalism 101: \"What Your Helicopter Parents Should've Taught You\"" on Storify ]#InternPro Chat: Professionalism 101: "What Your Helicopter Parents Should’ve Taught You"
Storified by YouTern · Thu, Feb 28 2013 18:09:54
QUESTION 1:
Q1: Agree or disagree, and why: “Basic professional skills are no longer adequately taught at home or in school”? #InternProYouTern
A1: Both. The simple "Yes sir, no sir" and "Yes ma’am and no ma’am" is becoming extinct. That and a memorable handshake. #InternProHuong
A1: Pro skills aren’t taught because people learn to live with mediocrity. Bad. #internproMike Verbickas
A1: Schools (middle/high/higher ed) need refresher curriculum in the professional skills that are needed today #InternProMarcy Depew
A1: Agree. These days, those are only really taught during work experience. #internproJenny Fukumoto
A1) phone etiquette seems to be lacking, being in customer service I hear it constantly #internproBrooks Ahlfenger
A1: I generally agree because I’m not sure manners are being taught. #internproKenna Griffin
A1: Even if professional skills are taught at home/school, it’s ultimately student’s responsibility to make sure they’re learned #internproMatt Henderson
Q1 That’s tough – it truly depends. I definitely see a big gap in kids transitioning out of school. #InternProjwells18
A1: Agree. Depends on upbringing and schools attended, but most skills are learned through career centers and internships/jobs. #InternProNick LaRosa
Parents may be too caught up in activities, not realizing the long-term imp of professional skills. Goes together. #internproAfrica Hands
QUESTION 2:
Q2: 74% of employers say recent grads lack workplace skills… but isn’t entry-level work where we learn these skills? #InternProYouTern
A2: The best place to learn professionalism is internships. Recent grads should have those skills before graduation #InternProLauren Frock
#Internpro A2 Taking responsibility is a great way to hone pro skills.Cyndy Trivella
A2: Unfortunately most recent grads have already had at least 1 internship. It raises the bar for "entry level" #internproJenny Fukumoto
A2: Internships are where the skills are gained! Most entry-level jobs require at least 1 year of internship experience #InternProCHANTS
A2 entry level work is where it should be perfected. We should learn the basics from internships during undergrad. #internproTonnisha J. English
A2: People that want to get ahead in the professional world will seek those skills before they enter the professional world #InternProAlexandriaLaNell
A2 People DO learn on the job, but that’s NOT the point of the job. The point of the job is to produce #internProChaim Shapiro
A2) I was lucky to gain experience w/ my year in #americorps @VISTAbuzz & yes "entry level" should mean just that #internproBrooks Ahlfenger
A2) Skills are developed over a lifetime #internproRich Grant
QUESTION 3:
Q3: What professional skills are expected by employers… and how can I best leverage those skills in my job search? #InternProYouTern
A3: Communication across all channels is key. Employers want that. Big difference between listening and hearing. #InternProHuong
A3: Employers expect self-motivation, excellent communication, work ethic, team player, professionalism. Can teach the rest. #internproJenny Fukumoto
A3 Communication, thinking on your own, playing well w/ others. Finding ops that not only *allow* you to do that but shine at it. #internproPatrick Warfield
A3: The most important skill might be the sheer ability to learn new ones as needed #internproMatt Henderson
A3: Knowing that communications is 51% listening. #InternProTom Bolt
#InternPro A3: Being a dependable and trustworthy worker. Working for the good of the team and not just individual success.Chloe Reznikov
A3 being reliable. Most employers can’t count on their employees to deliver consistently #internproJohn Muscarello
@YouTern A3: Entrepreneurial skills. Show that you can think of solutions and make it happen on your own. #internproashley welde
Q3: Basic computer skills, knowledge of Microsoft programs. Comm.skills and internship exp are all essential esp for entry-level #InternProCHANTS
A3 being consistent is IMO the most important trait to achieve as a new employee #internproSteve Levy
A3) Students can build (and demonstrate) skills in leadership, communic, prob solving by getting involved on campus, in community #internproRich Grant
A3: Two words – active listening. #internproCareerleaf
A3: hard working, dedicated, ethical, and skilled in the industry #InternProLauren Frock
QUESTION 4:
Q4: What are the peeves of employers regarding professionalism at work? What do you personally need to work on most? #InternProYouTern
A4: PLEASE proofread. Your resume, cover letter, emails, employee bio, work materials, everything! #internproCareerleaf
A4 – I work on understanding people and situations the most. If you seek to understand, all else will follow naturally. #internproSamuel Hershberger
A4 DON’T be a know it all. EVERYONE can learn (Jewish proverb, a wise person is someone who can learn from everyone) #internProChaim Shapiro
A4 Attendance, attitude, willingness/ability to "jump in", ask for help. #internproPatrick Warfield
A4: Pet Peeve = Too easily distracted; I need to stop procrastinating. I promise I’m starting that next week #internproScott Keenan
A4: Gossip! Creating or participating in work conflict is a huge problem. I fear I encourage this by listening to "sides." #internproKenna Griffin
#InternPro A4: It annoys me when I work with people who are lazy, complain, and are overly defensive.Chloe Reznikov
GET OFF the internet and I phone while at work and get your job done #internproSteven G. Davis
A4: Two professionalism issues are punctuality and dress (particularly for women). You’re not trying to get digits at the office. #InternProDerek DeVries
A4 Texting all day long. Put the damn phone away. #internproJohn Muscarello
Peeves-"reply all" on email when you should "reply to sender"-treating email like it’s a chat client-be respectful of others time #internprojwells18
A4: Some very smart people act before thinking… stop, look, listen. Then say something. #InternProTom Bolt
A4: Typos in docs and the lack of knowledge of the company or industry you desire to be in. Do your research, know the industry #InternProCHANTS
QUESTION 5:
Q5: Have over-bearing, but well-meaning, “helicopter parents” made it more difficult to achieve career success? #InternProYouTern
A5: Not sure they’ve hindered success, but they’ve made it easier for young people not to take responsibility for themselves. #internproKenna Griffin
A5: Yes! They are disabling their kids by doing everything for them and not sending them out of their comfort zone. #internproELiz Dexter-Wilson
#Internpro A5 When ppl deny anyone the opportunity to fail, they rob them of the opportunity to enjoy success.Cyndy Trivella
Q5: Someone mentioned this earlier, but students haven’t all been taught that failure is part of life. Don’t know how to handle. #internproTina Mello
A5: Yes. Protection from failure is damaging. We learn and grow from it. #internproMike Verbickas
A5: Copter parents MUST stop giving career advice they know squat about. And kids need to stop listening to that lousy advice! #internproELiz Dexter-Wilson
A5 See this issue all the time with peers. Ppl don’t know how to do anything for themselves! Luckily I don’t have this issue #internproTonnisha J. English
A5: Instead of talking about the PROBLEM, what about the SOLUTION? Is it just the need for better parenting? Hello can of worms. #internproMatt Henderson
A5 – I have never seen good come out of parents trying to intervene to help their kids in the workplace. #Internprojwells18
A5: I’ve seen heli-parents feeding their kids ideas, answers, how to handle things – they’re disabling critical thinking skills. #internproShannon Smedstad
A5: Yes. Bad/outdated advice just keeps on coming and students believe it bcuz they didn’t do the research #internproJulie Feinerman
A5. Enabling our youth will not make them successful. They need to learn to help themselves at some point. #InternproUndergrad Success
A5: Yes, but at the end of the day, the student is in charge of their life and future career. #InternProNick LaRosa
Do not copter your kids. You future kids-in-law will hate you. #InternProDr. Janice Presser
QUESTION 6:
Q6: You are “Recruiter for a Day”: Your reaction to a parent calling you asking why their child didn’t get the job? #InternProYouTern
A6 I will say this SLOWLY – go ahead, call me after your kid’s interview…make my day… #internproSteve Levy
A6: Telling them I can’t discuss it with them, and never hiring the kid #internproJess ‘Babs’ Bahr
A6. I hang up on the parent, kid eliminated from consideration. I am not hiring a parent. #InternproGuy Davis
A6: I’ve had parents call me; have a friend who had one sit in an interview. Most kids are mortified, can’t control the ‘rents! #internproShannon Smedstad
A6. I’ll probably say, kindly, ‘ask your child, I’ve given my reasons to him’. If parents don’t trust their childs, who will? #internproFelipe MolinayVedia
A6: Most kids should know why they didn’t get the job. #internproCareerleaf
A6: If a parent calls asking why their child didn’t get the job, the answer should be crystal clear right there. #InternProCindy Billington
#InternPro A6: Seriously?! I don’t know any parents that would do that. It’s embarrassing to the parents and the poor kids.Chloe Reznikov
A6: OR…. sorry ma’am/sir, we wanted to hire your child, but we didn’t want to have to talk to YOU again. #internproScott Keenan
A6. I would tell them that I’d be happy to provide feedback to the candidate and suggest that they call themselves in the future #Internprojwells18
A6 If your child is really that upset he can send a runner up trophy #internproJohn Muscarello
A6 – "LOL" *hangs up* — Really a good opportunity for a flip phone. Hang up with some gusto! #internproSamuel Hershberger
A6: Perhaps we can reschedule the interview and you can come along? #InternProArron Daniels
A6: I must be mistaken, was it you or your son/daughter who we interviewed for the position? #internproBrooks Ahlfenger
QUESTION 7:
Q7: My boss always nags at me for showing up 4 minutes late… even when I work late. How do I handle this situation? #InternProYouTern
A7: To be early is to be on time. To be on time is to be late. Dance camp taught me that one! #InternProHuong
A7. Show up on time – often #internproSarah Lamers
A7 Always nags? If you are 4 minutes late you should have left 10 minutes earlier. #InternProStephanie Kornblum
A7: Quit bitching because your boss is holding you accountable. Your next stop could be the unemployment line. #internproRob McGahen
A7: If it’s REALLY an issue, discuss it. But most businesses open when they open, no discussion. #internproCareerleaf
A7- Stop being late, it is that simple #InternProCHANTS
A7 – My saying was always "On time is late" – in other words, be early #InternProTim Baker, CHRP
A7: Own up to it and make sure it never happens again. Fairly simple. #InternProNick LaRosa
A7. Show up four minutes earlier or be prepared to have someone else show up in your place. #internproUndergrad Success
A7: If your boss tells you to be on time, then be on time. Duh #internproELiz Dexter-Wilson
A7: Always arrive to work at least 10 minutes early so you can start working on time. #InternProCindy Billington
A7 for someone who is not a morning person, it can be difficult *cough cough* BUT! It can definitely be done with discipline #internproTonnisha J. English
QUESTION 8:
Q8: My parents were/are: A) Helicopters, but I’ll live B) Known to occasionally hover C) Able to keep me grounded #InternProYouTern
A8 – My parents kept me grounded and pushed me. They allowed me to fail and helped me see the important life lessons in it #Internprojwells18
A8. They only hover if it looks like i’m about to drown and thankfully that hasn’t happened since detention in 7th grade #internproJulie Feinerman
A8: B but I still take personal responsibility cause you can’t let them fight your battles professional and personal #InternProAlexandriaLaNell
A8: C. My parents have always been involved, but they’ve always helped me do whatever it takes to be successful. I’m thankful!#InternProLauren Frock
A8 My parents were able to keep me grounded. They taught me to earn things. #internproJohn Muscarello
A8) known to occasionally hover. Mostly my mother. More of a control freak than a heli-parent #internproRich Grant
A8: I don’t know, but my Dad wasn’t a helicopter, he was too busy working and keeping my unruly butt accountable #InternProArron Daniels
A8 – My parents try to keep me grounded in the sense they try to deflate my ego. I just keep moving forward. They trust me. #internproSamuel Hershberger
A8: what is the opposite of a Helicopter parent? #internpro I think that’s what I had.Scott Keenan
In recent surveys, 74% of employers said recent graduates lack basic professional skills.
