Friedman's article "How to Get a Job at Google" from the New York Times raises a number of issues about education. He interviewed Laszlo Bock, the man who does the hiring for Google, to find out what exactly the company looks for in the hiring process. One of the first things Bock noted was that G.P.A.s really have very little to do with your work ethic and abilities. While good grades don't hurt, they're certainly not the be all and end all. Bock related that Google looks for five different things in potential employees: 1) Cognitive ability (not your IQ, but how well you are able to process information on the fly and in various situations), 2) Leadership (can you step up and lead as well as step back in the appropriate moments?) 3) Humility (knowing that it's not just about your ideas but how everyone can work collaboratively), 4) Ownership and 5) Expertise (which Bock is quick to note it is the least important attribute). Friedman notes that these five characteristics are not necessarily what students are learning in schools or even in their college experiences. He notes that many employers are interested in "soft skills -- leadership, humility, collaboration, adaptability, and loving to learn and re-learn."
This article was particularly striking for me this week. On Thursday, one of my students said to me "Can I work alone on this assignment? I don't like working with people." I was a little shocked, in part because of the student's brusque and deadpan delivery. There has been a shift in the last few decades to include more group work in the classroom, pushing for students to develop their collaborative abilities. While I believe there have been strides to help students develop their collaboration skills, I worry about the role of leadership and humility. Google is not looking for poeple who have proved themselves in traditional leadership roles (like president of the chess club), but people who know when it is appropriate to lead and when it is not. In a society that overvalues extroverts and agressive leadership, the more nuanced leadership skills are not being developed, which also impacts the level of humility students are showing. Being able to admit when you're wrong and advocating for your ideas can be a tricky thing. I wonder if we are teaching our students to be well rounded leaders.
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AuthorI'm currently a teacher candidate in pursuit of my English Credential. Archives
February 2017
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Elizabeth Mauerman | Blog |