Actual and desirable qualifications for entry-level workers as preceived by high school principals, business personnel managers, school board presidents, and school superintendents

The purpose of this study was to provide educators with empirical information on the qualifications personnel managers expect from entry-level employees. The study also compared school officials' rankings of employment qualifications of high school graduates with qualifications found by business personnel managers when selecting entry-level workers.The data collection process involved a card sort technique utilizing two decks of cards. Surveys were mailed to Indiana public school superintendents, high school principals, public school board presidents, and business personnel managers. A total of 1924 surveys were mailed with 528 ranked surveys returned.Six null hypotheses were two-way comparisons of desired entry-level qualifications and current entry-level qualifications. Ten null hypotheses compared desired qualifications with current entry-level qualifications.There was little agreement among the respondents or respondent groups regarding the most desired or currently found entry-level qualifications. All respondent groups ranked science and technology, social and economic studies, and writing as the least found qualifications. Personnel managers ranked science and technology as the most desired entry-level qualification. School officials ranked this qualification as one of the least desired entry-level qualification.If educators are to prepare students to meet the challenges of entry-level employment, general expectations must be developed that are acceptable to a variety of employers. Only through collaborative efforts between business and school officials will entry-level qualifications be developed that have meaning to both groups. Until that collaboration occurs, educators willcontinue to rely on their own beliefs as they prepare students for entrance into the world of work.Department of Educational LeadershipThesis (D. Ed.