Editor’s note

By Catherine Ducharme

Working in the career development sector, we face an odd situation. Our clients with post-secondary education have a lower unemployment rate and they tend to earn more over the span of their careers. However, we also know people rarely stay their whole life in the same kind of work, and often end up in careers that have little connection with their degree. So why do their degrees matter?

I went to university thinking that grasping complex abstract theories was an end in itself. Now I understand that the process of learning was the part that mattered most. I learned to do research and communicate my results clearly. I learned to adapt and keep a positive attitude in classes I found difficult. In the end, it didn’t matter what topic I studied. The important thing is that I studied.

The same applies to all the odd jobs I got along the way. I will never have to make cappuccinos again (hopefully!), and I’ll probably never have to repair sunglasses or operate a commercial washing machine either. However, I will keep on benefitting from all the transferable customer service, teamwork and problem-solving skills that I picked up in all of these jobs.

This is a recurrent theme in this issue of Careering, which takes an in-depth look at soft skills. Yes, knowledge is valuable, but it’s only part of the story. What about leadership, initiative, work ethic? What about essential skills such as reading comprehension or basic arithmetic? What about the capacity to work well with others in a multi-generational workplace? According to a recent Environics survey commissioned by CERIC, 62% of employers Canada-wide said they would hire someone with the right soft skills and train them to get the technical skills necessary. Soft skills are that critical.

I was hired for four weeks at CERIC and stayed for four years, because it was great work for a great organization. My years here have given me so much learning and experience of both the soft and technical kind, but now I am passing the torch on to Karolina Grzeszczuk, who will take over as Editor of Careering magazine starting with the next issue. I wish Karolina the best of luck, and wish you happy learning as you dive into your magazine.

It’s been a pleasure!