EdSurge Podcast Career Readiness in the Real World
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Oct 2, 2025 Jennifer Wilkerson is the VP of Innovations and Advancements at NCCER, specializing in construction education, while Andy Dunaway is a Product Manager at Pearson focused on bridging education with industry. They discuss redefining career readiness to include confidence and alignment with employers. Essential 'power skills' like teamwork and critical thinking are highlighted as vital. They advocate for apprenticeships and co-ops to give students real-world experience and suggest forming local partnerships to connect schools with industries, emphasizing diverse pathways to success.
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Shared Confidence Defines Readiness
- Career readiness equals skills plus shared confidence between employer and employee.
- Employers and learners must both believe the match will work for success.
Power Skills Complement Tech Skills
- Durable power skills like timeliness and teamwork remain essential alongside technical skills.
- These skills become more valuable as AI tools augment technical tasks.
Teach Communication And Critical Thinking
- Communication and critical thinking must be intentionally taught, not assumed.
- Hands-on CTE strengthens thinking by letting students apply and solve real problems.