Where Will YOUR Kids Get A Job?
by Murdo Macleod
More Business Skills Articles
Published on this site: January 2004 - See
more articles from this month
Let's
face it.
The job market is getting tougher every day.
Computerization
is making many jobs redundant.
The Internet and modern telecommunications
have allowed companies to outsource jobs to third-world countries where wage costs
are much lower.
In fact thousands of jobs have already been shed in the
United Kingdom as several major banks have outsourced their call center operations
to the Indian subcontinent.
Other companies are following suit, sending
their back- office and Information Technology jobs the same way.
This is
a major trend that's only going to accelerate.
Have you ever wondered how
your kids will get on when it's time to look for a job?
With the population
increasing and with more people competing for fewer jobs, companies can now pick
and choose from the very best applicants.
But wait a moment....
What
do we mean by "the best"?
Whether you like it or not, "best"
generally means the best qualified.
Employers, of course, have always used
academic qualifications to shortlist job applicants for the interview stage.
But
what is emerging now is a reliance on exam results for even seemingly ordinary
jobs.
For example, did you know that the average call center employee in
India is educated to degree level?
Qualifications are becoming more important
than ever before.
And while not everyone is a natural-born exam prodigy,
there are steps parents can take to help their kids gain better exam passes.
Here are 5 tips to get you started:
- Make learning enjoyable
We all
do things better when we enjoy them, so bring out the joy of learning for its
own sake.
One way to achieve this is by having family discussions about
exam-related topics. Try to inject some drama (or at least some interest!) into
the topic.
Another way is to embrace different technologies outside of
the classroom. The Internet, multimedia CD-ROMs, and TV services like The Discovery
Channel all help to liven up learning.
- Develop problem-solving skills
Practicing mental activities like quizzes and crossword puzzles
helps nurture the intellectual problem-solving part of the brain.
It also
develops other important skills like concentration and creativity.
So get
your kids into the habit of solving problems every day.
Their exam skills
will develop naturally, plus they'll be able to solve problems more easily in
the real world outside of the exam hall.
- Encourage the study habit
Who hasn't tried to cram themselves full of information the night
before an important exam?
Unfortunately, that's doing it the hard way.
"A
little, often" works much better.
Ensure your kids set aside at least
20 minutes a day for peaceful study. Every day.
After a few sessions of
enjoyable learning, you'll find they actually look forward to their study period.
- Learn exam technique
Studying for exams includes studying exams.
Get hold
of some past examination papers - you can buy these cheaply in most bookstores
- and have your kids study the questions.
Exams have a consistent formula,
and once you know the formula, you're halfway to success.
Familiarity also
instills confidence - an important quality when it comes to facing a real exam
situation.
- Pay for performance
If all else fails, or your
kids are having trouble getting motivated towards a forthcoming exam, try offering
them an "incentive".
(Well they have to learn about "performance-related
pay" someday.)
You'd be surprised how a little motivation can improve
exam results!
Whichever way you do it, try to help your kids get the best
grades they can.
"Qualifications doth not a person make."
But
they certainly help when it's time to earn a living.
'Fun
With Figures' shows anyone how to gain an unfair advantage in math. Visit the
website today and find out what they didn't teach you in school.
http://FunWithFigures.com/
|
