Workplace competencies (SCANS) of job applicants as reported by human resource personnel

Purpose of study. The primary purpose of this study was to investigate the perceptions of human resource personnel with respect to workplace competencies possessed by job applicants and the factors employed when evaluating these skills in job applicants. This information should help educators and trainers better prepare applicants for the transition between school-to-work.; Methodology. Data for the study were collected during face-to-face meetings with human resource personnel from 25 employers in mid-Missouri. Adapted from the SCANS report, the survey included five competency domains: resources, information, interpersonal skills, systems, and technology.; Findings. Job applicants at various educational/skill levels possess different levels of workplace competencies. Human resource personnel commented that they were having difficulty finding qualified applicants because fewer qualified applicants apply and their soft skills need to be higher.; Conclusions. To the extent that data are valid and reliable: (a) fewer employers are hiring job applicants who are at the less than GED educational/skill level; (b) as the educational/skill level of a job applicant increases so does the level of workplace competencies possessed and the hiring salary; (c) the assessment method does not differ among educational/skill levels, however, the type of information addressed becomes more technical and specific; (d) companies utilize a combination of assessment methods to increase the validity of the screening process; and (e) employers believe in the importance of teaching soft skills to job applicants and must actively encourage educational administrators to develop curriculums that accentuate soft skills.