Of course the basics are important, says Larry Haugen, human resources and training manager for Graham Manufacturing of Mason City, but today’s students, heading toward jobs in the work world, also need new skills such as collaboration and problem solving.

Future employees of Haugen’s company must be collaborative, but also able to work individually without a high level of supervision. They must able to analyze situations, be open-minded about change and able react to change.

Haugen suggests schools showcase the great jobs available right here in Iowa—often right under their noses.

“There’s some world-class companies here that offer great careers,” Haugen says. “Sometimes we drive by them everyday and don’t see them for what they are.” Schools can help by making sure students are exposed to jobs available in their own communities.

Haugen is the latest subject of an interview that continues an Iowa Future series capturing the perspectives of Iowa business owners and managers who employ many Iowa high school and college graduates.

Iowa Future anticipates that school leaders, school board members and others may want to show selected videos at service organizations, to faculties, and in similar venues to get the real-world voices heard as part of discussions on school improvement.

In this interview, Haugen answers questions that include:

• What is the work of your company?
• How has Iowa’s changing demographics affected your company?
• What skills are important for future employees of your company?
• What can schools do to help your company remain competitive and operating in Iowa?

Although the videos are being introduced one at a time, links to all interviews are collected in the Iowa Future Toolkit under the heading “Business Leader Interviews.” In addition, all will be housed on the Iowa Future channel on YouTube. This interview and all the interviews in this series may be used with a brief three-question discussion guide. Download the “Business Leader Discussion Guide” as a pdf.

Larry Haugen, human resources and training manager for Graham Manufacturing of Mason City, answers questions from Troyce Fisher, director of Iowa’s cohesive leadership system.