Education & Career Trends: 5 job and life skills you don’t get to learn in college

Edition: December 29th, 2021
Curated by the Knowledge Team of ICS Career GPS

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• Excerpts from article by Ashley Cobert, published on themuse.com

You’ve completed all the required coursework, amassed a huge amount of knowledge, and finally earned your diploma/degree. But has your new qualification really prepared you to enter and successfully navigate the real world challenges?

Unfortunately, many colleges and universities don’t offer ‘courses’ in getting a promotion, working with a difficult boss, and making your way through the office dynamics.

Even if your college years did teach you how to juggle multiple projects, manage your time, and create an Excel sheet — all workplace essentials —the real world is full of many more surprises that you won’t figure out until you get there.

Here are some job and life skills that you will need when you begin your professional life:

1. Working with People

• People skills are, perhaps, the most important skill-set that you’ll need.
• You’ll have to learn how to deal with the subtle social aspects of your office culture and the people who make it that way: the receptionist who will appreciate a hello in the morning, the colleague who takes offense to too many questions, and the manager who shoots your ideas down every single time!
• You won’t just be working with your peers any more, you’ll need to understand how people from all generations and backgrounds operate.
• Plus, your group won’t dissolve at the end of the semester—it will be there, day after day, year after year, so no matter what, you’ll need to get along with them.

2. Understanding Competition Dynamics at Work

• If you were an athlete or the star debater at school, you’re probably used to ‘fierce competition’.
• But when money and career advancement are on the line, competition can be taken to a whole new extreme.
• Whether it’s for clients, promotions, or just being the boss’ go-to person, be prepared for people to push and compete like you’ve never seen before — and be ready to have to push and compete right along with them.

3. Taking Responsibility Every Day

• Unfortunately, it’s not typical for jobs to let you choose your schedule, which means you’ll have to be on time every single day — oversleeping has many more repercussions than a stern look from your professor!
• Your new responsibilities will extend far beyond those early mornings, too.
• You’ll be accountable (solely, in some cases) for work, projects, meetings, and numerous emails.
• If you miss one of these or mess something up, you won’t just get a bad grade that can be made up for later with extra credit.
• Remember, your work will affect others, and it will affect your company’s business.

4. Making Professional-level Presentations

• Giving a presentation in front of a class can help give you some public-speaking practice, but learning how to present effectively in front of a boss or client is something else entirely.
• You’ll need to learn how to sell an idea, not just explain it.
• And while you’re doing so, you’ll need to dodge questions, interruptions, and differences in opinion, all the while keeping your cool and being able to pick up where you left off without skipping a beat.

5. Handling Feedback Gracefully

• If you got a ‘B’ on a paper, you might be ecstatic — especially if it was a tough topic and if the professor is known for his harsh grading.
• However, in the business world, you’ll have to listen to the feedback you’re given, figure out what it really means, and constantly make the effort to do better next time.
• On the flip side, when you do an exceptional job at work, you don’t get the satisfaction of that extra + on top of the A.
• Instead, you may have to wait the better part of the year to find out if you got that promotion.
• Dealing with feedback — and sometimes the lack of it — means adjusting to a whole new way of being evaluated.

How can you get yourself ready for this world of the unknown?

You can’t know everything about a workplace until you get in there and get your feet wet, but learning some of these skills and lessons before you start your first job will prepare you and help you excel much more quickly.

1. Try and experience as many office settings as possible prior to graduation. Navigating a full-time job will come much more naturally if you’ve had even a little work experience. Get an internship, a part-time job, or even volunteer.
2. You can also take specialised classes on business and business etiquette. But to really prepare yourself, don’t just listen to the teacher. Look at each class discussion or case study logically, and ask yourself how you would handle it in real life.
3. Talk to as many people as possible, and try to find a professional mentor. Someone you admire and who has real-world experience can prepare you for an office environment and help you navigate new situations you encounter.

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(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in the article mentioned above are those of the author(s). They do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of ICS Career GPS or its staff.)

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