One of our long time bookkeepers is moving away and we have been searching every unemployed as well as employed person in the area that has had some experience with the skills we need for this job. It brought back memories of my work history. During bookkeeping class one day the State Farm agent came in looking for a part-time employee. He asked the instructor who was a good 
typist and she told him I could type 100 words per minute and was proficient with shorthand. I was hired on the spot. I was 14 years old and that was the beginning of my employment. I gained so much experience from this job by working after school and on Saturdays that by the time I graduated, I had valuable experience that others seeking employment did not have. I went from there to a bigger insurance agency to a larger business and from there on and on until I was the office manager and personal assistant in a sizeable health care facility. By this time I had knowledge of several business machines – payroll, accounts receivable and payables and most of all “people skills.” I was hired for these jobs over persons who had graduated college. I had experience and I was blessed.
These times are just not the same. Eighty percent of the young adults graduating have had no work experience. At the least not the kind that would render the types of jobs for which I was qualified. College graduates now that are seeking employment are asked for experience. How can they have knowledge of the work place when they have been in school for the past four years? It seems a vicious cycle – no experience no job even with a degree. We too are looking for some knowledge of our systems for new employments. Several of our last employees were unable to work a calculator, one of the simplest of machines. One of my children is a music major, a band director by trade, the other fitness management, (he is an excellent athlete); both work with us as a retail grocery supervisor. One is an elementary education major and does use her degree some.
I am not saying high school graduates should not go to college, not at all. I am saying college is not for everyone. I say this knowing if my grandchildren said no to college I would be the first to have a spasm. Encourage your young adult children to “walk” into the real world during their high school years. Let them experience life and decide what is best for their lives. We could not live without carpenters, plumbers, electricians, trash collectors, service people of all kinds and yes, even grocery men and the majority of these people have no college degree. Our children are faced with so many decisions after high school graduation, you be the sounding board and keep an open mind, unlike one Meme I know.
School Days Sloppy Joes
1 pound ground chuck, ½ chopped onion, ½ cup chopped celery, 1 cup catsup, 1 T. brown sugar, ¼ cup water, ½ t. chili seasoning Brown ground chuck, onion and celery. Add next ingredients and simmer for 20 minutes. Serve on buns. Makes 4 servings.
