In a NY Times editorial, Columnist Thomas Friedman asked Google executives, “How’s my kid going to get a job?” and received a non-traditional answer. GPAs, test scores, and college degrees are not top criteria. Learning ability is the top “look-for” at Google. Second, is emergent vs. traditional leadership. Rather than a resume with leadership positions held, Google wants employees that know when to step in and lead or step back and allow others to lead.
Friedman concludes with more unconventional wisdom: “And in an age when innovation is increasingly a group endeavor, it also cares about a lot of soft skills — leadership, humility, collaboration, adaptability and loving to learn and re-learn. This will be true no matter where you go to work.”
Let’s provide our teens with the chance to build these important 21st Century Skills and be job-ready…watch out Google!
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/23/opinion/sunday/friedman-how-to-get-a-job-at-google.html?_r=0