Employer Perspectives on Liberal Education

"The formula for businesses trying to compete in today's economy is simple: hire employees with the mental agility, leadership and passion to navigate constant change -- in other words, hire those who are liberally educated."

- A.G. Lafley, retired Procter & Gamble Chairman and CEO

“Well, it's not primarily the memorized facts that have current and former CEOs like me concerned. It's the other things that subjects like history impart: critical thinking, research skills, and the ability to communicate clearly and cogently. Such skills are certainly important for those at the top, but in today's economy they are fundamental to performance at nearly every level. A failing grade in history suggests that students are not only failing to comprehend our nation's story and that of our world, but also failing to develop skills that are crucial to employment across sectors. Having traveled in 109 countries in this global economy, I have developed a considerable appreciation for the importance of knowing a country's history and politics. “

-Norm Augustine, former under secretary of the Army, and the retired chairman and CEO of Lockheed Martin

“At State Farm, our employment exam does not test applicants on their knowledge of finance or the insurance business, but it does require them to demonstrate critical thinking skills and the ability to calculate and think logically. These skills plus the ability to read for information, to communicate and write effectively, and to have an understanding of global integration need to be demonstrated. This isn’t just what employers want; it’s also what employees need if they are to be successful in navigating the workplace.”

-Edward B. Rust, Jr., Chairman and CEO, State Farm Insurance Companies

At IBM our vision is that both individuals and institutions are on a journey of increasing capabilities. The key is to find college graduates who are interdisciplinary, team-oriented, real-world problem-solvers, and who are also informed global citizens.

-Jim Spohrer, Director, IBM University Programs World-Wide

 “Anyone can be taught to run numbers. But what you can’t do on the job is teach someone how to think about the world, to have intellectual curiosity….We want people who have a global perspective, who have an interest in the world around them, people who have depth and breadth and aren’t constrained by their education…people who speak and think intelligently.”

-Kenan Arkan, Investment Manager, Goldman Sachs

We seek individuals with the traits found in our most successful corps members—strong leadership, achievement, perseverance, critical thinking, organizational, and motivational skills, and respect for and ability to work effectively with individuals from diverse backgrounds. Many of these traits are the same characteristics that define great leaders in any context.

-“Who Are We Looking For?” teachforamerica.org

We look for people who have taken the lead, whether it’s an internship or a community activity. We like people who are versatile, who can use technology, yes, but who perform well in front of the client. We train new graduates. We don’t’ expect them to come in knowing advanced software. What we want is people with a hunger for learning—people who can understand client problems and come up with ways to solve them that are creative, focused and goal-driven.”

-Keturah Akida Henderson, Deloitte

“An ideal candidate for us is one who has a strong educational foundation plus the great classes that come with a liberal arts degree.”

-Stevie Toepke, Harris Williams

“Employers do not want, and have not advocated for, students prepared for narrow workforce specialties…Virtually all occupational endeavors require a working appreciation of the historical, cultural, ethical, and global environments that surround the application of skilled work.”

-Roberts T. Jones, president, Education Workforce Policy, LLC

“To be successful in global companies like Siemens, business managers must be able to navigate the local market differences, seek opportunities for collaboration between businesses, and promote cooperation across functions. A solid foundation in the liberal arts and sciences is necessary for those who want to be corporate leaders.”

-George C. Nolen, president and CEO, Siemens Corporation, New York

“Intel Corp Chairman Craig Barrett has said that 90 percent of the products his company delivers on the final day of each year did not exist on the first day of the same year. To succeed in that kind of marketplace, US firms need employees who are flexible, knowledgeable, and scientifically and mathematically literate.”

-Norman R. Augustine, "Learning to Lose? Our Education System Isn't Ready for a World of Competition," Washington Post, December 6, 2005.

“Integrated capabilities are the key to this industry’s future.”

–Keith Peden, senior vice president of human resources, Raytheon Company, 2006.

“The way forward is to become more open, more experimental, and to embrace the unknown….The bar for innovation is rising. And simply running in place will not be enough.”

-The Council on Competitiveness

“Together, we must ensure that US students and workers have the grounding in math and science that they need to succeed and that mathematicians, scientists and engineers do not become an endangered species in the United States.”

-The Business Roundtable