Preparing for today's job market requires more than sprucing up a resume and donning a new navy suit, according to manufacturing industry leaders who keep a keen eye out for potential employees who can offer a combination of skills and commitment.

"Interpersonal skills and a commitment to the job are what's really important and what our schools can offer tomorrow's job candidates," said Ken Howell, training specialist for Sony Electronics, Inc. in Rancho Bernardo. "Many potential candidates who have just graduated from high school don't understand what work really is - the commitment, cooperation and communication it requires for a successful effort. Being able to work together as a team is most important, because in our industry, if you don't function as a part of a team, you won't survive."

Several other manufacturing managers agree that it's not the hands-on skills that students need to be equipped with, but a sense of dedication, a willingness to participate and basic reading and writing skills.

"We want workers who will demonstrate that they're responsible and willing to show up to work consistently and on time," said Ken McGill, Director of Human Resources for Fujitsu Network Transmission Systems in Dallas. "They also need to know how to learn and be adept at reading and following instructions and communicating with co-workers and supervisors alike."

According to McGill, some of Fujitsu's best ideas for improving the manufacturing process come from employees who work on the line each and every day, and it's important that they are comfortable articulating those ideas. Steve Bishop, Senior Manager at Honda of America Manufacturing, Inc., in Marysville, Ohio, agrees. "Most of our improvements come from workers on the floor, so it's important that they can and want to tell us what's on their minds."

Honda expects potential job candidates to offer the company two C's, "communication and commitment," but not a third C, "can't." "We can do anything as a group if we're committed to discovering, discussing and implementing the possible solutions," said Bishop.

Finally, Andre Dorais, Training Coordinator at the National Steel and Shipbuilding Company in San Diego, Calif., offers the following ideas about what potential employees must know and be able to do:

Communicate:
• read critically
• write effectively
• speak with clarity
• listen actively

Mathematical Skills:
• compute
• reason mathematically

Personal Work Ethic:
• commit to quality
• adapt and remain flexible
• maintain ethical behavior
• manage oneself effectively
• be professional

Interpersonal Skills:
• interact with others
• promote customer satisfaction
• respect diversity
• resolve conflicts

Thinking Skills:
• think and problem solve
• use reference materials
• use organizing strategies
• use time and resources

These are called workplace success skills - foundation skills - that will enable candidates to obtain jobs and upon further development, help keep those jobs.