Journal of K-12 Educational Research 9 Research Question 2 (RQ2) What social and emotional skills do business managers perceive high school students need for career readiness? The second research question examined what SEL skills business managers think high school students need for career readiness. Business managers drew from their personal experiences hiring, training, or supervising recent high school graduates who work for them. Business managers feel like graduates tend to have good selfawareness, but they need to know how to align their areas of strengths and weaknesses with their desired place of employment or career field. Social awareness was also referenced as an area of strength. Many business managers stated that their recent high school graduates keep them aware of current events and happenings in the community. Business managers expressed that graduates have strong technology skills and social media competence that helps them be more socially aware and accepting. The Commitment and Manageability themes were generally referenced as an area of weakness. Business managers expressed that graduates who join the workforce need to be coachable, mature, and have basic customer service skills. Business managers stated that some customer service skills have to be taught or are acquired over time, but basic skills like handshaking, eye contact, smiling, attentiveness, and positivity should already be proficient from the onset. The most referenced SEL skill by business managers was Initiative and Work Ethic. Business managers place high importance on recent high school graduates having good time management skills, being organized, putting forth a good effort, and being self-disciplined. Business managers stated that they expect employees to show up on time according to the schedule, meet deadlines, and fulfill commitments. Research Question 3 (RQ3) What social and emotional skills do military recruiters perceive high school students need for military readiness? The third research question examined what SEL skills military recruiters think high school students need for military readiness. Military recruiters had experience recruiting and partnering with recent high school graduates to enlist them in the military. Military recruiters stated that recent high school graduates seem to care for the world and want to make the world a better place for all. Other military readiness SEL skills referenced by military recruiters were considered areas of weakness. A distinct culture, a structured hierarchal system, and heightened pressure and stress are part of the military setting. Military recruiters stated the need for graduates to control their emotions, lean on purpose and goals, have grit and a willingness to learn, and understand their every decision’s immense impact on others. Business recruits made many references to the followership skills needed to succeed in the military. Graduates need to be willing to submit to their leaders and trainers, be open to learning new ways of doing things, and not let their ego affect their actions. All military recruiters stated that successfully completing boot camp is dependent on mental strength, positivity, resilience, and optimism. Having a team attitude and building positive relationships helps recruits thrive in boot camp. Military recruiters considered boot camp as having an essential role in building the needed SEL skills in new enlistees. Many recruiters reference specific things they do with potential enlistees to prepare them for success in the military, like making a budget, physical fitness, and building relationships and a sense of community among those going through the enlistment process at the same time. Research Question 4 (RQ4) What social and emotional learning skills should be included in a college, career, and military readiness framework for educators? The fourth research question aimed to consolidate the research findings from RQ1, RQ2, and RQ3 into one comprehensive CCMR SEL Framework. Data analysis for RQ4 also resulted in Cross-cutting SEL Skills, which are the SEL skills needed for post-secondary readiness in all three areas. The Cross-cutting SEL skills were Communication Skills, Growth Mindset, Relationship Building, Resilience, Responsibility, Self-Awareness, and Social Awareness. Despite the need for some improvement, the main area of strength agreed upon by all participants was Social Awareness. Participants believed recent high school graduates had respect for diversity, openness to
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