In the Tough Twenties series, I'm interviewing young adults, answering questions submitted by listeners, and sharing resources and tips related to thriving in young adulthood and beyond. Whether you're an adolescent or a young adult in your twenties, or you're parenting a young adult, I know you'll be encouraged by this series.

In this episode, I chat with summer camp directors Andy and Alison Moeshberger. Each year they interview, hire, and train two hundred young adult counselors, so they have a lot of great insights on the skills and traits that lead to success at work for young adults. 

We discuss:

The benefits of working at a summer camp, such as gaining responsibility, decision-making skills, and leadership opportunities. They also discuss the accelerated learning opportunities, the rapid feedback system, and the development of relationship skills due to the face-to-face communication and round-the-clock community and communication.

The importance of being coachable, be receptive to feedback and view feedback as an opportunity for improvement rather than a personal attack.

How the best employees are flexible, open minded, and willing to work through the discomfort of challenges and learning new skills. 

The mindset shift that young adults need to make when transitioning from a school environment to a professional setting. They note that in school, competition and high grades are often emphasized, whereas in the working world, soft skills and relational skills are most valued. 

<p data-pm-slice= "1 1 ["aiblock",{"prompt":"","preview":false,"block":{"id":"blk_01HH0QJ1KZ70YNX8CF66M2GW4Y","status":"succeeded","type":"detailed_synopsis","selected_variation":0,"variations":["In this episode, the speakers emphasize the growing importance of collaboration in the modern world and how being a good collaborator is crucial for success. They highlight that working as solos is no longer the norm, and the professional landscape now revolves around collaboration. The speakers note that while degrees and specific skills are important, employers are more concerned with whether an individual is pleasant to work with and can effectively collaborate with others.\n\nTo illustrate this point, the speakers provide examples of counselors being hired by renowned engineering companies despite lacking internships. These companies recognize that individuals with degrees already possess the necessary skills, and what they truly value are people who can thrive in a collaborative environment. The episode emphasizes that the ability to work well with others and be a good collaborator is highly valued in today's world.\n\nFurthermore, the speakers discuss the significance of relational skills and soft skills in job interviews and long-term career success. They emphasize that employers often prioritize these skills over academic achievements or technical expertise. In some cases, employers don't even ask for transcripts or resumes, as they are more interested in finding individuals they want to work with.\n\nOverall, the episode highlights the shift towards valuing collaboration in the modern world. It emphasizes the importance of being a good collaborator, having strong relational skills, and being able to work effectively with others for success in the professional world.\n\nIn addition, the speakers stress the importance of being flexible in terms of one's self-concept and capacity to learn new skills. They note that when interviewing young adults for jobs, employers often prioritize soft skills and relational skills over grades or resumes. The speakers highlight the significance of adaptability and openness to learning, as these qualities are highly valued in the workplace.\n\nThe speakers also discuss the mindset shift that young adults need to make when transitioning from a school environment to a professional setting. They note that in school, competition and high grades are often emphasized, whereas in the working world, continuous learning and growth are key. They encourage individuals to be receptive to feedback and view it as an opportunity for improvement rather than a personal attack.\n\nAdditionally, the speakers emphasize that being coachable is a crucial trait for success in jobs. They explain that being coachable means being willing to listen to feedback and open to making improvements. They stress the importance of setting aside pride and acknowledging that nobody is perfect, but everyone has the potential to learn and grow.\n\nOverall, the episode highlights the significance of being flexible, open-minded, and willing to learn new skills. These qualities are seen as essential for long-term career success and for standing out in the job market.\n\nIn this episode, the guests discuss the importance of soft skills and relational skills in job interviews and long-term career success. They mention that when interviewing young adults, employers are often more interested in their soft skills rather than their grades or academic achievements. They emphasize that employers are looking for individuals who are pleasant to work with, good collaborators, and reliable in fulfilling their commitments.\n\nThe guests also mention that even in skill-related jobs, employers prioritize hiring individuals who have strong relational skills. They highlight that companies value employees who can work well with others and contribute to a collaborative work environment. The guests use big-name engineering companies as an example, explaining that these companies are not solely focused on a candidate's degree or technical skills, but also on their ability to work effectively with their colleagues.\n\nThe episode suggests that soft skills and relational skills are essential for long-term career success. The guests emphasize that individuals should focus on developing and improving their relational skills in any job or capacity. They mention that being a good collaborator and having strong interpersonal skills are crucial in the modern world, where teamwork and collaboration are highly valued.\n\nOverall, the episode highlights the significance of soft skills and relational skills in job interviews and long-term career success. It suggests that individuals should prioritize developing these skills alongside their technical or academic qualifications to enhance their employability and thrive in their careers."],"configuration":null,"prosemirror":[{"type":"rootblock","content":[{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"type":"text","text":"In this episode, the speakers emphasize the growing importance of collaboration in the modern world and how being a good collaborator is crucial for success. They highlight that working as solos is no longer the norm, and the professional landscape now revolves around collaboration. The speakers note that while degrees and specific skills are important, employers are more concerned with whether an individual is pleasant to work with and can effectively collaborate with others."}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"type":"text","text":"To illustrate this point, the speakers provide examples of counselors being hired by renowned engineering companies despite lacking internships. These companies recognize that individuals with degrees already possess the necessary skills, and what they truly value are people who can thrive in a collaborative environment. The episode emphasizes that the ability to work well with others and be a good collaborator is highly valued in today's world."}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"type":"text","text":"Furthermore, the speakers discuss the significance of relational skills and soft skills in job interviews and long-term career success. They emphasize that employers often prioritize these skills over academic achievements or technical expertise. In some cases, employers don't even ask for transcripts or resumes, as they are more interested in finding individuals they want to work with."}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"type":"text","text":"Overall, the episode highlights the shift towards valuing collaboration in the modern world. It emphasizes the importance of being a good collaborator, having strong relational skills, and being able to work effectively with others for success in the professional world."}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"type":"text","text":"In addition, the speakers stress the importance of being flexible in terms of one's self-concept and capacity to learn new skills. They note that when interviewing young adults for jobs, employers often prioritize soft skills and relational skills over grades or resumes. The speakers highlight the significance of adaptability and openness to learning, as these qualities are highly valued in the workplace."}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"type":"text","text":"The speakers also discuss the mindset shift that young adults need to make when transitioning from a school environment to a professional setting. They note that in school, competition and high grades are often emphasized, whereas in the working world, continuous learning and growth are key. They encourage individuals to be receptive to feedback and view it as an opportunity for improvement rather than a personal attack."}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"type":"text","text":"Additionally, the speakers emphasize that being coachable is a crucial trait for success in jobs. They explain that being coachable means being willing to listen to feedback and open to making improvements. They stress the importance of setting aside pride and acknowledging that nobody is perfect, but everyone has the potential to learn and grow."}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"type":"text","text":"Overall, the episode highlights the significance of being flexible, open-minded, and willing to learn new skills. These qualities are seen as essential for long-term career success and for standing out in the job market."}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[