A colleague and I did a survey a few years ago of the membership of the American Association of Political Consultants. It would be hard to imagine a group of men and women whose profession demands more applied knowledge and street smarts. But when asked what kind of young people they wanted to work in the pressure cooker of campaigns and elections, these hardboiled realists overwhelmingly gave answers that were morale-boosting for every teacher. They needed college graduates who could be clear and effective writers and oral communicators, as well as critical thinkers versed in literature, music, history, and international affairs. They understood that such a package is best delivered by good teachers at a quality liberal arts college or university.
Most employers recruiting on our campus give a similar profile when they describe their ideal hire.
Ditto for the CEOs who come and speak about the future of business. Obviously there are exceptions to this generalization. But we have to be clear that exceptions are hardly smart bets to emulate. The Bill Gates scenario of college dropout founding trillion-dollar industry is more fantasy than reachable goal. The future of work, most economists say, is uncertain.