Episode: 642

Episode Title: The Competitive Trifecta: Academic Knowledge

A competitive advantage in today’s workforce is a trifecta. We’re covering the first piece you need, academic knowledge—next on The Perna Syndicate.

Ep 642 show:

This is The Perna Syndicate—thanks for tuning in! No one really knows what’s coming next for the economy. Are we going to struggle or will things turn around? 

One thing we do know is that the next generation will need more skills and abilities than ever to thrive. As parents and educators, we can help them build a competitive advantage that will serve them over the course of their entire career. 

First we have to understand what makes a worker valuable. Employees who combine robust academic knowledge, strong technical competency, and valuable professional skills are in high demand. That won’t change even when the economic landscape does. 

Academic knowledge is the first piece of this trifecta, and it has never really been in question. Of course you need the smarts to be effective at work; every job requires some level of human intelligence and innovation. 

But we can’t rely on academic knowledge alone anymore. It used to be enough to get good grades. Those who excelled in school could be fairly well assured of a viable, living-wage career awaiting them at the end of their higher education. It was a nice system—while it lasted.  

Today, it’s no longer enough to excel only in the academic realm. Young people who truly want to get ahead must add two other critical attributes to their portfolio: technical competency and professional skills. 

We’ll talk more about these critical abilities this week, so be sure you’re subscribed to The Perna Syndicate wherever you listen. Thanks for tuning in, and we’ll see you tomorrow!