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Based on research undertaken by notable career and professional development organizations such as National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) and PayScale , I have pulled together ten solid skills or attributes that fresh grads should consider having under their belts. These skills will prove very beneficial to you regardless of what path you choose to walk after you graduate.
1. Time management
The ability to make the best use of your time, given a bunch of tasks is a very useful skill to have. You are probably used to
working on about 3-4 different assignments or papers simultaneously and still getting all the work done on time and
well, hopefully. Being able to do this is a good sign that you are getting yourself ready for the real world where you will have to
juggle a couple of tasks and meet quite a number of deadlines. And this is where prioritization comes in. In most cases you won’t be able to complete all the tasks at hand and so you’ll have to decide which are the most important and urgent so you can first focus on those before moving onto the next one. Multi-tasking as we now know actually reduces productive so you want to focus on one task at a time.
2. Interpersonal and teamwork
It is almost impossible to complete a complex and worthy project without having to work with and get along well with others.
Irrespective of where you end up as a new grad, you’ll have to collaborate with other individuals, for example, manager, team
member, business partner, or subordinate, depending on where you end up. If you are having a hard time working agreeably with a team member and will like to enhance your strength in this area, I covered this in a chapter in my book .
3. Communication
The world is always looking for individuals who are able to articulate their thoughts clearly both verbally and in writing. This
skill has distinguished most of the leaders in the industry from their peers. Interestingly, a number of students shy away from
this area, but I challenge you to develop and hone your writing and presentation skills, and I promise you’ll be really glad you
did. Taking courses in writing and speech communication will be a huge step in the right direction (I can attest to this one).
4. Planning and prioritization
There will always be a thousand tasks you can complete in a single day and your ability to prioritize these tasks is critical.
Apparently, that’s because not all of those tasks have the same level of urgency and importance; so you’ll need to determine the
high-value tasks and then complete them before moving onto the next most important tasks. With planning and prioritization,
you’ll be sure to complete the most important tasks first and get the most returns for your efforts.
5. Decision-making and problem-solving
These are valuable skills in any organization especially since problems abound just about everywhere. The best decisions are
usually made based on facts and experiences and not based on guesswork. Besides that, setting yourself apart as a problem-solver will mark you as an invaluable asset wherever you go and will open doors of opportunities for you.
6. Technical proficiency
This is basically the possession of specialized knowledge and skills which will eventually be required in related professional
roles. For example, a computer science major who has good coding and problem-solving skills or a math major who is a whiz
at calculations will be said to be technically proficient in their field. Try not to run away from core courses in your program as
they will equip you with the foundational technical knowledge you require to excel in your field. Engaging in co-op and
internship is a good way to toughen your muscles in this area.
7. Proficiency with computer programs
This may seem surprising, but then come to think about it – in which one industry (as in healthcare, automobile, engineering,
education, and so forth) isn’t a computer in use? The answer is – virtually none. Therefore, apart from learning skills related to
your field, it is a good idea to seek out computer skills that are relevant to your field. Doing this will give you an edge over your
peers who stick strictly to learning only skills in their own field.
8. Leadership
Leaders are known to possess admirable qualities such as responsibleness, diligence, charisma, loyalty, amongst many
others. These qualities are required to advance organizations; hence, the essence of this skill and that’s why the demand for
leaders is higher. Leadership is also a measure of the ability to lead and influence others. A good way to strengthen your muscle
in this area, while in school, is to seek out leadership positions on campus or at the community you belong to, for example, a
church, not-for-profit organization or another societal group.
9. Quantitative data analysis
Simply put, this is the ability to describe an event or occurrence, having studied some numerical representation of such event or occurrence. It is a technique for making sense of data representations. This also entails possessing knowledge of data
analysis software programs such Microsoft Excel, R, SPSS and/or other data analysis tools. Taking courses in Stats and Math can help you hone this skill too.
10. Strong work ethics
With this attribute, you’ll go places because it is very vital to the success of any organization. Possessing strong work ethics comprises the following :
a. Professionalism in the areas of dressing and dealing with others.
b. Respectfulness to others especially in times of intense pressure.
c. Dependability in regards to keeping to one’s word.
d. Dedication to excellence in the completion of assigned tasks.
e. Determination to breaking through hurdles of challenges at work.
f. Accountability for one’s actions with the corresponding results, as well as for one’s mistakes, i.e. no excuses or blame
game.
g. Humility in being teachable while learning from others and leading by example.
Focus on building these skills/attributes especially those that are relevant to your specific industry, and you’ll be boosting your chances of succeeding in the fiercely competitive world out there.
P.S. : for more success tips on student success be sure to check out my book – Be A High Achiever: Achieving All-round Success In College & University.
To your success in the job market!!