IB Learner Profile Attributes Mirror Skills Employers Seek

Forbes magazine, along with the Economist, Harvard Business Review, and Foreign Policy magazine are my favorite periodicals as they provide an education on some of the most important issues facing the world and challenge my own thinking and ideas about leadership.

Schools and school leaders regularly grapple with whether or not their educational institutions are adequately preparing their students for the jobs of the future. Traditional degree programs and career paths are likely to change significantly in the coming years and schools must adapt in order to stay relevant and produce competitive graduates. 

As we consider our two IB Learner Profile attributes for this edition of the ISD Messenger, Thinkers and Communicators, I immediately remembered a Forbes article from August that outlined the skills employers are looking for. The Forbes Coaches Council article titled “15 Skills Employers Seek in 2022” detail the need for empathetic listening, modern communication acumen, critical thinking, public speaking, and data analysis skills. The IB’s emphasis on such skills is tremendous preparation for life after grade 12 as these attributes are flexible and adaptable to all careers and situations and are likely to always remain in demand. Students who demonstrate IB Learner Profile attributes are typically the most successful students academically and, based on what employers are looking for in future graduates, these same students are likely to carry that edge into their future.

Chris Boyle
Secondary Principal