Professionals realize the importance of networking.. Networking for business benefit is practical for business professionals and jobseekers. If success were accomplished by putting a page out on LinkedIn, we surely are missing the point of possibility!
College Internships are a proven way for entry level applicants to gain experience to "get a foot in the door".
The Opportunity: Lifestyle design takes on a zen like efficiency when business professionals embrace detachment from the "challenges" to allow a better solution to arise.. Timothy Ferris explores matters of business in "
The Four Hour Work Week". Readers might feel particularly inspired to take on the business challenge such that it is transformed into a community creative business possibility. Timothy Ferris's "
6 Formulas for More Output and Less Overwhelm" can be modified for defining how business partnership successes.
We could do so much more through creative collaboration and managing whats in front of us. Let us encourage educators and business professionals to get to know one another and discover the synergies to networking for business value.
- What can we discover from networking for business value?
- What are we spinning our tires on that we could be doing differently?
- What opportunities could we create by being more open to possibilities?
- What if experience could be created from energy and ideas?
Articles in the in the Akron Beacon Journal by Paula Schelis, "IT Grads Finding Openings Closed to Them" and in Crain's Cleveland Business by Chuck Soder "IT Internships insufficient in region" illustrates a huge underutilized opportunity in business today. Lack of jobs, lack of talent, lack of resources stems from a lack of ideas. This is an exciting undertaking that has long fascinated myself and many on the Helping Friends Career Network. We started this network to support people who's jobs were outsourced, but the benefit of focussing on the opportunity to be of value to a community, to business, and the professionals extended our reach!
Being too focused on a problem (business, jobseeker limitations, university) continues an inequity in ideas. If "experience" is gained by solving business problems, and IT Grads, local businesses, and universities have a common interest in creating a solid future, shouldn't the solution rest in exploring the possibilities? The solution is in realizing the opportunities that exist to create synergies for all stakeholders willing to partner to replace the limitations of today's economy, headlines, opportunities, or possibilities.
Statistics from the Northeast Ohio Information Technology Workforce Report: 96K IT Professionals with most challenging positions being Technical Writers, Quality Assurance, and Software Engineers, most are in the specialists arena, while 5% are in the Information Systems Analysis arena. Options for staffing challenging positions are many, but the overwhelming need and competitive market news might limit us needlessly.
The Business Challenge: Many professionals believe they gain career development by leaving their jobs and trading up to another corporation is easier then they can by staying in a company too small to give them what they need. Universities can educate, but statistic drive the future of who is going to be volunteering to gain experience on the speculation of opportunity. If the strategy is in managing business successfully for any conditions, then the right time to start is... anytime.
Many companies would benefit by looking at what they could academically do with the local community to extend their competitive reach, and mentor professionals in the field. Hiring and partnering with college creates a low cost, high value training program good for employers, students, and university relations. The right balance of ideas, development, and employee loyalty does more than just helping to reduce turnover!
If we "teach best what we most need to learn", doesn't that suggest a higher level of partnership is needed between business and academia?Companies that view themselves as part of a larger community realize the win win synergies of academia and business partnership. Business Leaders who are experts in creating opportunity from business challenges have a gifted desire in taking care of their great people and in the process, creating extraordinary competitive advantage.
- Why is turnover proportionately higher in one organization than another?
- How are others being successful in attracting and retaining talent?
- What is the most difficult opportunity facing your business today?
- How does business and acedemia contribute to the local economy to create opportunity and loyalty within a community?
The Gap: Some business owners are balancing the specific skill set needed, but knowing that employment gaps exist might be solved by an excellent career development, community outreach, and college recruiting program.
- Could career development" strategy benefit small businesses who might otherwise pay a premium to recruit and manage retention due to a competitive attrition?
- Consider the value/cost/benefit of creating internships for projects bring brilliant ideas being trained in your local college, to create breakthrough business ideas, that can be applied locally!
- Could it be an efficiency to have a business plan that is so clear that it's benefits are sold, and referenced within the community? A balance of attracting the best talent from across the United States for your difficult to fill jobs, and creating a local presence could be good for business, community, and academic advantage?
- Consider the retention opportunities of allowing your best talent to prepare a development program that creates possibilities for them to do more professionally, while contributing to the local career development.
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