Arts graduates sought by employers “When | hire a new employee, | want someone who can approach problem-solvin from _a broad perspective. | don’t want the narrowness of the specialist... give me a liberal arts graduate with a good foundation and | can teach them anything else they need to know.” -- J. Paul Getty, businessman and multi- millionaire. The liberal arts degree has always been considered valuable in providing a well- rounded education. But recent statistics show that arts students also acquire the job skills and training actively sought by Canadian employers. In a recent survey conducted by the University and College Placement Association, executives from 1,900 businesses across Canada indicated that they placed arts graduates high on the list of potential employees. Arts graduates were perceived as having the ability to analyze and solve problems quickly, communicate skillfully and to remain flexible in a rapidly changing world. Mr. James Duncan, executive director of the University and College Placement Association, said interest in arts graduates has grown stronger as a result of cutbacks in the early eighties which forced employers to look at their staff closely and to stretch their resources among them. “Employers have found that graduates of arts and social sciences programs can “The BING [he RING Univers: ty of Victoriee March ¥ [se transfer their skills easily to different areas within businesses. The graduates also have a ‘social perspective’ which makes them better able to deal with clients and colleagues.” These findings dispute predictions made in a 1978 Statistics Canada report that the demand for liberal arts graduates would decrease in a job market dominated by technology and business. A 1984 survey of post-graduate activities of UBC students, commissioned by UBC’s Student Counselling and Resources Centre, supports the new findings. The unemployment rate for arts graduates was 8.8 per cent, much lower than many of the other faculties and professional schools. Dr. Jonathan Wisenthal, associate dean of the Faculty of Arts, says arts graduates play an important role in our present society. “We are concerned in the Faculty of Arts with qualities of judgement, with the ability to understand the human implications of problems and to analyze problems within the context of some understanding of human civilization. These skills become increasingly important as society becomes more and more technological.” He adds that liberal arts studies give students a broad choice of careers and often form the base for further professional or technical training. “A B.A. program provides students with the time and experience to discover what their strengths and weaknesses are and the maturity to make wise decisions about the career path they wish to pursue.” The Faculty of Arts, Alumni Association and the Arts Undergraduate Society recently sponsored a forum entitled “After the B.A.”, which focused on career options for arts graduates. Students met graduates of humanities and social sciences programs wha have achieved success in various careers. Panelists included Nathan Nemetz, Chief Justice of B.C., Donald Hudson, president of the Vancouver Stock Exchange, Diana Millen of the consulting firm D. Millen and Associates, Michael Horsey, B.C. Deputy Minister of Tourism, Dennis Foon, artistic director of Green Thumb Theatre, and Ray Williston, chairman and president of B.C. Cellulose. The panelists shared how they apply the skills acquired through their liberal arts education to their present positions and the qualities they look for in new employees. One common sentiment they expressed was that an arts education was what you chose to make it. “How you develop your mind through whatever specialized area of study you choose is what really affects your future,” said B.C. Tourism official Michael Horsey. “Employers took at a whole set of skills. It's the well- rounded person who excels in a job interview. Donald Hudson, president of the Vancouver Stock Exchange, said B.A. graduates are a valuable asset to a company because of their broad view of the world. “B.A. graduates have the ability to look at situations from several different perspectives and to understand different points of view. These skills can be applied to whatever business you happen to be in. Most of the specific training in any company takes place after you begin the job, so it’s not that important what area you study. What is important is that students learn to be self-reliant, to develop their mind and to persevere. ; “| personally enjoy working with B.A. graduates because of the broad scope of their thinking -- they realize that there’s more to life than just business and they view business within the context of a larger community.” Statistics show that an increasing number of students are choosing to undertake liberal arts studies. While enrolment in several faculties declined last year, enrolment in UBC’s Faculty of Arts increased 5.5 per cent. Dr. Wisenthal says that a successful career is a by-product of a liberal arts education. “Although we are all concerned about employment for our graduates, the spirit of an arts program lies not so much in specific career training but in the desire to be educated, to enrich oneself through learning. Whatever our students may go on to do in their later lives, they will have broadened their thinking and developed the powers of their minds.” ; Mark Reder, president of the Arts Undergraduate Society, says he is sometimes questioned about the kind of job his studies in political science will guarantee. “I’m not sure what I'll be doing after | graduate, but | think a B.A. is more than specific studies in political science or English or Asian Studies .... In five or ten years | may have forgotten the details of Indian politics or what Rousseau said about democracy, but | will remember how to ask intelligent questions and where to look for the appropriate answers. That's what Arts is all about.” ” Some opinions on the B.A.... “It is obvious from three surveys in the last year, in terms of the business world, the generalist education is the most preferred for business management. CEOs would rather have someone with a broad understanding of the world and a broad appreciation of a number of fields than those with a narrow perspective.” -- KYLE MITCHELL, senior partner, Dunhill Consulting Group. “In a university education, even if a degree doesn't provide you with a specific discipline, it teaches you how to think. In this day and age, we are in an era of generalists. A B.A. provides a better general background than other more specific disciplines.” -~ BRUCE PEPPER, president, Vancouver Board of Trade/World Trade Centre. “Areas where the B.A. is most in demand are sales, marketing and administration. We are starting to find that our clients are becoming more particular in their requirements. If two candidates are otherwise equal, the one with the B.A. degree would have the edge.” -- BILL SCHULZ, partner and co- founder, Holloway, Schulz & Partners, Inc., Employment Recrulters. And then again... “The B.A. is the equivalent of a small albatross around your neck. Its devastating liability increases as one approaches the Ph.D. A Ph.D. is a large albatross.” -- FRANK OGDEN, futurist and president, 21st Century Media Communications, Ltd.