Sociology in Practice: Our Prescription for Living Exercise 1

Mary Schmidt

Dr. Levonyan Radloff

Introduction to Sociology

17 February 2016

Sociology in Practice: Our Prescription for Living Exercise 1

How does thinking sociologically help you become more mindful of your employability? Be sure to cite (i.e. provide in-text citations) the national employability study. Identify all of the skills and capacities for social responsibility.

The first step in tackling this question is wondering what the purpose of attending college is and how it will lead towards a meaningful, successful career. We all want to improve our skills and knowledge in order to be high competitors in our fields so we can achieve a fulfilling occupation. Through the help of college, people are exposed to academia that will assist them on the path towards an accommodating existence. With this notion of a lavish and comfortable lifestyle to look forward to, the end goal of most civilians is to achieve financial solidity, happiness, and achievement in our everyday lives. It’s not until adulthood hits us and we stop to ponder about whether or not life is merely about obtaining the highest-paying job.

Society has more to offer than just a job and the monetary rewards that come with it. We must take into account the social and economic challenges that we face today. We need to remember that in order to understand where we stand in our chances of employability, the use of our sociological imagination is vital because it will enable us to see how our personal dilemmas and higher learnings are connected to larger societal patterns. In turn, developing sociological understanding will allow oneself to gain greater insight into how the demands and pressures of our social institutions. This includes questioning how the economy and the educational system may impact the quality of lives to come. “There is a growing response among American citizens that our nation’s workforce is becoming increasingly diverse as a result of socio-demographic factors, accelerated global migration, and civil rights legislation” (Radloff 4). As a result, colleges and universities all over the nation have made more of an effort to help their students develop a more optimistic view of race relations, diversity, and international issues.

Entering into higher education is a pivotal period in someone’s life that provides opportunities to rediscover who they are, what they are capable of, and what they can ultimately contribute to the world. Throughout college, students are faced with the freedom to choose not only their major or field of interest, but how they will develop the necessary skills to become a more contributive member of society. When we apply our sociological imagination, we begin to see that there is more to life than just acquiring a good education and obtaining a favorable occupation. It goes beyond the limitations of just developing one’s knowledge and skills.

The key here is to rediscover who you are and what you are capable of, especially in meeting the demands of responsible citizenship. “In a 2013 national online survey, business and nonprofit sectors revealed that employers are more likely to hire college graduates who are better prepared to work in a competitive global economy that is still coping. In order to apply sociological imagination, one must wonder about what these employers in the private and nonprofit sectors are looking for or value the most in today’s college graduates” (Radloff 5). “Out of the employers who were surveyed in the national online study aforementioned, 93% are looking for college graduates who possess the following skills regardless of their major: Critical thinking, complex problem-solving, written and oral communication. In addition, at least 9 in 10 of the employers want their prospective hires to demonstrate social responsibility such as ethical judgment and integrity as well as intercultural skills and the capacity for continuous learning.” (Radloff 5-6).

In order to apply these skills and capacities to yourself in life, you must truly understand how each term is defined and what they mean in relation to the outside world. “Critical thinking is the intellectually disciplined process of actively and skillfully conceptualizing, applying, analyzing, and/or evaluating information gathered through observation, experience, reflection, reasoning, or communication” (Scriven, Paul). Complex problem-solving is the process of using all the senses to work through details of a problem and eventually reaching the solution. It may include a variety of operations and can be a good estimate of an individual's critical thinking skills. When employers specify that excellent written communication skills are an essential qualification, they are looking for candidates who can demonstrate their ability to write clearly, succinctly and in a manner that appeals to a wide audience. Written and oral communication skills are important in today’s society because it helps a person convey messages that can't be misinterpreted.