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JA Alumni Armed with Greater Confidence for Workplace Success |
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NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release: JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT ALUMNI ARMED WITH GREATER CONFIDENCE FOR WORKPLACE SUCCESS Survey Reveals Competitive Edge for JA Alumni over Non-JA Program Participants. Colorado Springs, Colo. — With unemployment still hovering at 10 percent in the U.S., competition is fierce in the job market, whether one is trying to climb the corporate ladder or attempting to find a job. A recent poll conducted by Junior Achievement (JA) of JA alumni and adults who did not participate in Junior Achievement found that 92 percent of JA participants had confidence that they could successfully compete in a business environment, versus only 45 percent of non-JA participants. In other words, more than twice as many JA alumni were confident they could compete in a business environment as compared to non-JA alumni. Junior Achievement instills confidence and the entrepreneurial spirit, and gives students a competitive career advantage. According to the survey, 74 percent of JA alumni reported that they were confident they could start their own business, versus 41 percent of the comparison group (non-JA alumni). In fact, 20 percent of JA alumni reported owning their own business versus 7 percent of non-JA participants. Fifty-nine percent of JA alumni said that JA helped them identify their career paths. The base skills and confidence that Junior Achievement provides to students help plant the seed for business prowess at a young age which, with a good education and further fostering of those skills, can help those students blossom into savvy business people. Ian and Jeremi Karnell are Junior Achievement alumni and are the co-founders, and chief executive officer and president, respectively, of One to One Interactive (www.onetooneinteractive.com), a Boston-area digital holding company. They credit a good deal of their current success to their Junior Achievement experience, saying, "Junior Achievement taught us the nuts and bolts of running a business, such as writing a business plan and managing the bottom line. But more importantly, we gained the confidence and experience that taught us when and how to take risks, how to motivate and lead, and how to make a living doing what we love. We've stayed engaged with JA so we can help the next generation of entrepreneurs succeed." "It's rewarding to see students experience Junior Achievement and getting enjoyment as they learn. More importantly, it's great to see those students grow up to be successful professionals, make a name for themselves and hopefully re-engage with JA as a volunteer or donor," says Jack E. Kosakowski, president and chief executive officer of Junior Achievement USA. "Junior Achievement helps students see the relevancy of their education, by equipping them with the tools to better compete with their peers or make the leap to start their own business." Beyond on-the-job success, Junior Achievement builds those core skills that enable professionals to better compete in a globally competitive environment. An overwhelming majority-85 percent-of JA participants report that JA strengthened their problem-solving skills, 87 percent said JA improved their decision-making, 80 percent said that JA improved their critical-thinking abilities, and 83 percent report JA strengthened their interpersonal communication skills. As job candidates and entrepreneurs continue to strive to distinguish themselves amongst their peers, Junior Achievement is more essential now than ever before. Find out more about JA's K-12 programs, and how to donate or volunteer, at www.ja.org. Methodology About JA Worldwide® (Junior Achievement) -30-
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