If schools are to remain useful to students, they need to teach public speaking to increase students’ ability to succeed in the workplace. A national study of students taking public speaking classes found that 20 percent have very severe anxiety about public speaking (Allen 18–30). For some of these students, the anxiety begins the moment the students are assigned a project involving public speaking. If students in college feel nervous about delivering speeches in a classroom, how are they to succeed in careers that will inevitably require public speaking in many forms: delivering a speech, giving a presentation, or training new employees? In 2001, a Gallup poll discovered the second greatest fear to Americans is public speaking (the first being the fear of snakes). In many jobs, public speaking begins even before the job is offered; students may find that they must speak, not just sufficiently but eloquently, in front of an interview panel. Most job positions and careers require oral communication skills (Hamilton 4). Michigan State University conducted a study of 479 employers from major companies, government agencies, and nonprofit organizations. Oral and written skills were ranked first and second, respectively (Patten 95–115). Those with the skills and willingness to use public speaking skills are also more likely to take advantage of opportunities that may lead to promotions. As an individual becomes more active in one’s career, community, and hobbies, the opportunities to speak publicly increase (Hamilton 2).  Public speaking skills are not only useful for getting the job, but in many cases, it is essential to keeping and moving up in a career. In 1987, AT&T and Stanford University identified one question that predicted a person’s earnings. It was “Do you enjoy giving speeches.” Those who answered yes had the highest salaries (Sandholtz 10).
