Tuesday, February 12, 2019
What skills do students desperately need to be successful in the workplace? If soft skills was your first response, you would be correct. According to LinkedIn’s 2019 Global Talent Trends report, “92 percent of talent professionals and hiring managers say that soft skills are just as important—or more important—than hard skills.”
One of the best ways students can gain soft skills is by participating in Career and Technical Student Organizations (CTSOs). CTSOs are co-curricular student organizations that provide leadership, teambuilding, and organizational skills. Wisconsin offers six different CTSOs with more than 46,000 participating members. This promotional flyer shows the positive impact of Wisconsin CTSOs.
The foundation of CTSOs is their competitive events program. Industry professionals volunteer as judges within each of the six CTSO competitive events, and they validate the students’ classroom and on-the-job learning.
Teri Berndt, 15-year veteran DECA judge states, “I firmly believe that the lessons learned and the skills acquired through the DECA program cannot be acquired in a book, and they are necessary skills that will stick with them throughout their entire life. Thinking on their feet and building communication skills will surely help them in any career they pursue. DECA members become more professional and comfortable networking with adults.”
Beyond the competitive events program, CTSOs offer unique learning experiences outside the classroom. For example, every February, dozens of CTSO state officers have the opportunity to advocate to their state legislators about their experiential learning and local impact through CTSO participation and classroom connection. Within their leadership role, these student leaders become college and career ready by enhancing their public speaking, project management, and collaboration skills.
Learn more about the six Wisconsin CTSOs.
—Submitted by Tim Fandek, Marketing, Management, and Entrepreneurship Education Consultant, Wisconsin DECA Chartered Association Advisor, Career and Technical Education, Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction