BUSINESS EDUCATIONCIS FACULTY Staff Development Workshop

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BUSINESS EDUCATION/CIS FACULTYStaff Development
Workshop

• Curriculum for the New Millennium
• Asilomar Conference Grounds
• March 14-16, 2004

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RESULTS OFBUSINESS AND INDUSTRY TRENDS
QUESTIONNAIRE
GROUP E TEAM

• Technical advisors Tony Salas
• and
• Eric Wilson

• Marg Taylor
• Terri Savarese
• Kathy Striebel
• Mary Ann Watson
• Donna Anderson

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Questionnaire Responses

• Marin County -14
• Orange County 14
• San Diego County - 14

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Who Helped us Get the Questionnaires Answered?

• Local Business Representatives
• Employment Agency Representatives
• Human Resource Departments
• One-Stop Center Employment Representatives
• Professional Associations

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How Were Questionnaires Tallied?

• Group E met and Hand-Talliedall Questionnaires

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Where Can the Questionnaire be Found?

• The Questionnaire is Located on the Web at
  www.calbusinessed.org
• You Will Find it in the Left-hand Column.

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QUESTION 1What are the job titles of your
entry-level office employees?
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QUESTION 2How many entry-level employees in the
listed categories will you hire in the next 6-12
months?
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QUESTION 2aAre you currently experiencing a
hiring freeze?
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QUESTION 3What skills are needed for these
entry-level positions?

San Diego data not available.
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QUESTION 4In addition to basic software
knowledge and soft skills (i.e., flexibility,
positive attitude, being a team player, etc.)
what other desired traits do you look for in an
entry-level employee?
MARIN COUNTY

• Communication
• Punctuality
• Attendance
• Appropriate Attire
• Business Casual
• Professional Attire
• Willingness to Take on Additional Responsibility
• Learn New Skills
• Determine Priorities
• Handle Emergency Requests
• Work in Fast-paced, Stressful Environment
• Multi-task
• Dependable
• Customer Service Skills
• Trade Association Knowledge
• Understand Pecking Order

• General Office Business Practices
• Attention to Detail
• Neatness
• Organization
• Confidentiality
• Curiosity
• Visual Outlook
• Juxtaposition Skill
• Self Critical
• Perfectionist
• Work with Public
• Adapt to Change
• Detail Oriented
• Flexibility
• Education
• Ambition

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QUESTION 4In addition to basic software
knowledge and soft skills (i.e., flexibility,
positive attitude, being a team player, etc.)
what other desired traits do you look for in an
entry-level employee?
ORANGE COUNTY

• Communication Skills
• Analytical Skills
• Work Within Deadlines
• Adapt to Change
• BA in Accounting
• 3.0 GPA
• CPA Candidate
• Customer Service Oriented
• Work with Public
• Dependability
• Honesty
• Organizational Skills
• Willingness to Work

• Ability to Take Criticism
• Presentable Appearance
• Sales Experience
• Retail Industry Knowledge
• Negotiation Skills
• Attention to Detail
• Focus and Concentration
• Dedication
• Understandable on the Phone
• Good Grammar
• Basic Math Competencies
• Self Starter

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QUESTION 4In addition to basic software
knowledge and soft skills (i.e., flexibility,
positive attitude, being a team player, etc.)
what other desired traits do you look for in an
entry-level employee?
SAN DIEGO COUNTY

• Pleasant Appearance
• Good Grooming
• Ability to Listen and Follow Directions
• Computer Skills
• Follow Simple Directions
• Question Situations if something Doesnt Seem
  Right
• Speak Clearly and Well
• Use Good Grammar
• Assertive Personality
• Strong References
• Friendly
• Math Aptitude

• Work Experience
• Willingness to Learn New Things
• Intelligence
• Motivation
• Good Attitude
• Multi-tasking Skills
• Customer Focus
• People Skills
• Initiative
• Steady Work History
• Relevant, Current Office Skills
• Dependability

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QUESTION 4In addition to basic software
knowledge and soft skills (i.e., flexibility,
positive attitude, being a team player, etc.)
what other desired traits do you look for in an
entry-level employee?
Most Important / Common

• Communication Skills
• Appropriate Attire / Good Grooming
• Customer Service Skills
• Multi-tasking Skills
• Learn New Tasks and Skills
• Dependability
• Attention to Detail

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QUESTION 5What pre-employment screenings do you
administer?
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QUESTION 6Do employees have the opportunity to
attend college classes during the day?
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QUESTION 7Do you offer tuition reimbursement for
completed business courses?
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QUESTION 8Please check the software applications
and/or equipment used in your organization.
Marin County

• Speech/Voice Recognition 1
• E-mail 14
• Internet 14
• Blackberry 2
• PDA 4
• Tablet PC 1
• Pocket PC 0
• Digital Dictation Systems 0
• Other Adobe Acrobat

• MS Word 14
• WordPerfect 2
• Excel 14
• PowerPoint 13
• Access 13
• Quickbooks 0
• Outlook 14
• Front Page 6
• Publisher 4
• Project 3

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QUESTION 8Please check the software applications
and/or equipment used in your organization.
Orange County

• MS Word 14
• WordPerfect 4
• Excel 14
• PowerPoint 14
• Access 10
• Quickbooks 5
• Outlook 7
• Front Page 3
• Publisher 3
• Project 2

• Speech/Voice Recognition 0
• E-mail 14
• Internet 14
• Blackberry 1
• PDA 6
• Tablet PC 4
• Pocket PC 0
• Digital Dictation Systems 0
• Other Printer, copier, scanner, fax machine

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QUESTION 8Please check the software applications
and/or equipment used in your organization.
San Diego County

• MS Word 14
• WordPerfect 4
• Excel 14
• PowerPoint 11
• Access 9
• Quickbooks 6
• Outlook 9
• Front Page 3
• Publisher 46
• Project 4

• Speech/Voice Recognition 1
• E-mail 14
• Internet 14
• Blackberry 1
• PDA 0
• Tablet PC 1
• Pocket PC 0
• Digital Dictation - 1 Systems
• Other Dragon Speak

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QUESTION 8Please check the software applications
and/or equipment used in your organization.
Most Important / Common

• Word (with a few WordPerfect)
• Excel
• PowerPoint
• Access
• Outlook
• Internet

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QUESTION 9What industry-specific software
packages does your company use?
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QUESTION 10Do current industry certifications
play a role in hiring?
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QUESTION 10aIf the answer to question 10 is yes,
do you forego testing?
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QUESTION 11Which of the following certifications
do you acknowledge?

• Microsoft Office Specialist
• Certified Administrative Professional
• Certified Professional Secretary
• Accredited Legal Secretary
• International Association of Virtual Office
  Assistants
• Certified Medical Transcriptions
• Certified Shorthand Reporter

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QUESTION 12Do community college certificates and
degrees play a role in hiring decisions?
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QUESTION 13Since workplace needs and trends are
dynamic, would you be willing to serve as an
advisor to your local community college?
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QUESTION 14What do you see as workplace trends
within the next five years?
Marin County

• More Virtual Assisting
• Global
• Moving into Faster Technologies, i.e., Wi-Fi
• Increase in Telecommuting
• More Work, Fewer Resources
• More Work, Less People Due to Budget Constraints
• More Videoconferencing
• Ergonomically Proficient Offices
• More Electronic Communications
• Traditional Secretarial Roles Vanishing
• More Specialization, Less Generalization

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QUESTION 14What do you see as workplace trends
within the next five years?
Orange County

• More Administrative Assistants will be Designated
  as Project Coordinators with Specific Areas of
  Responsibility
• Increased Virtual Office Environment
• Increased Overseas Employees, Helpdesks, Support
  Infrastructure
• Fewer Jobs Due to Efficiencies Earned inComputer
  Programs
• More Computer Based/Dependent
• More Flexible/Virtual Less Office Space
  Required
• More Job Opportunities as Entry-level Workers are
  Far More Computer Savvy and Educated
• More Software
• Faster Learning Curves

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QUESTION 14What do you see as workplace trends
within the next five years?
Orange County, continued

• Be Proficient in Two/Three Areas that Relate
  toOnes Career
• Understand how Businesses Operate Internally
• Become More Savvy in Investments
• Multi-tasking Work in Many Departments inOne
  Company
• Wireless Connectivity
• Little or No Support Staff--Do It Yourself, i.e.,
  Travel Arrangements, Create Presentations,
  Prepare Proposals
• Continued Need for Basic Conversational English
  and Math Skills
• Bi-lingual Spanish

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QUESTION 14What do you see as workplace trends
within the next five years?
San Diego County

• Continue to Do More with Less
• Increased Internet Use
• Streamline Existing Staff
• More Cross Training
• Zero Tolerance
• Networking
• More Attention to Older Workers Needs
• Healthcare Costs Going Way Up
• More Outsourcing of Office Generalist Tasks
• Fewer Bonuses Given Higher Base Salaries

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QUESTION 14What do you see as workplace trends
within the next five years?
San Diego County, continued

• Administrative Assistant Positions BecomingMore
  Technical
• Pay Rate Flat or Slightly Higher
• More Temporary Positions
• Increased Competition
• More Project Management for Admin Assistants
• Electronic Record Keeping
• More Event and Travel Planning
• More Virtual Assistance
• Paperless Offices
• Flexible Schedules Work From Home

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Group Es Comments What do you see as workplace
trends within the next five years?
Most Important / Common

• More Virtual Assisting
• More Flexible Scheduling
• Project Management for Admin. Assistants
• Faster Learning Tracks
• Fewer Number of Employees Doing More Work

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Group Es Comments
Survey data indicates that entry-level employees
need these skills

• Data Entry and Keyboarding
• Microsoft Office Software
• Report Writing and English
• Word Processing
• Filing
• Telephone Techniques
• Office Procedures
• Internet Skills

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Thank You! Questions? Comments?