College Grads: 3 Tips To Improve Work Readiness
You may have just received a college degree, but that doesn’t mean you’re prepared for the workforce. There’s a lot to be learned in the transition from graduate to professional, including some important skills that can set you up for a successful and fulfilling career.
Soft skills
In a classroom, you gain valuable knowledge, but some qualities that make a person competitive in the workforce aren’t taught in a classroom; rather, some behavioral skills (aka, soft skills) are either intuitive, or learned and developed over time. It could be an ability to communicate and interact well with other people. It could be an ability to have empathy, showing an understanding of other people’s views and feelings. Maybe it’s adapting to different roles, solving problems, managing time, and being organized.
Here are some tips to help you become more prepared for the workplace, gain the attention of potential employers, and perform well wherever your purpose takes you.
Practice communication skills (speaking and listening)
Your ability to communicate, whether through speaking or writing—or even body language—will greatly impact your success. It’s the first impression a potential employer will have of you (hello, resume), followed by over-the-phone or in-person interviews. Practice public speaking, research best practices for crafting a resume, attend professional workshops, and ask for guidance from mentors. There are plenty of opportunities to hone your communications skills.
Strong communication also involves listening. Practice being an active listener. While someone speaks to you, focus on what they are saying (not on how you’ll reply). Pause after they speak. Ask them to clarify something if you don’t understand. Let them know you understand what they said to you. Don’t rush in to respond or interrupt someone who is speaking. If you’re in a meeting, take notes. Be intentional about learning what others are communicating to you. Active listening helps you understand, learn, identify problems, resolve conflict—and build trust and strong relationships.
Develop your work ethic.
Employers want employees who work smart—and hard. A strong work ethic will take you far. To develop good work ethic, try to always be on time or early to your workday, appointments, meetings, etc. Be professional in the way you dress and in your attitude. Be positive. Respect others and yourself. Practice self-care, such as getting enough sleep and relaxation in your off time so you can bring 100 percent to work. Use your time wisely so you can get tasks done quickly and efficiently. (It may help to set alarms and create reminders.) Stay focused on your long-term goals, train yourself to be persistent and follow-through on projects. Strive for excellence in everything you do.
Be adaptable.
“The measure of intelligence is the ability to change.” This famous quote from Albert Einstein is a great reminder of the importance of adapting to change. When you’re able to learn new skills, new processes, and adjust to new ways of doing things, it allows you to deal with difference situations quickly and efficiently. The workplace is always evolving to stay competitive. The quicker you can adapt, the easier it’ll be for you to face any change that comes your way. Try to make optimism your default; you may even find that instead of worrying about change, you look upon it as exciting. After all, change leads to innovation.
Many employers, such as Centreville Bank, offer mentoring, internships, and other programs to students who are entering the workforce.
Soft skills
In a classroom, you gain valuable knowledge, but some qualities that make a person competitive in the workforce aren’t taught in a classroom; rather, some behavioral skills (aka, soft skills) are either intuitive, or learned and developed over time. It could be an ability to communicate and interact well with other people. It could be an ability to have empathy, showing an understanding of other people’s views and feelings. Maybe it’s adapting to different roles, solving problems, managing time, and being organized.
Here are some tips to help you become more prepared for the workplace, gain the attention of potential employers, and perform well wherever your purpose takes you.
Practice communication skills (speaking and listening)
Your ability to communicate, whether through speaking or writing—or even body language—will greatly impact your success. It’s the first impression a potential employer will have of you (hello, resume), followed by over-the-phone or in-person interviews. Practice public speaking, research best practices for crafting a resume, attend professional workshops, and ask for guidance from mentors. There are plenty of opportunities to hone your communications skills.
Strong communication also involves listening. Practice being an active listener. While someone speaks to you, focus on what they are saying (not on how you’ll reply). Pause after they speak. Ask them to clarify something if you don’t understand. Let them know you understand what they said to you. Don’t rush in to respond or interrupt someone who is speaking. If you’re in a meeting, take notes. Be intentional about learning what others are communicating to you. Active listening helps you understand, learn, identify problems, resolve conflict—and build trust and strong relationships.
Develop your work ethic.
Employers want employees who work smart—and hard. A strong work ethic will take you far. To develop good work ethic, try to always be on time or early to your workday, appointments, meetings, etc. Be professional in the way you dress and in your attitude. Be positive. Respect others and yourself. Practice self-care, such as getting enough sleep and relaxation in your off time so you can bring 100 percent to work. Use your time wisely so you can get tasks done quickly and efficiently. (It may help to set alarms and create reminders.) Stay focused on your long-term goals, train yourself to be persistent and follow-through on projects. Strive for excellence in everything you do.
Be adaptable.
“The measure of intelligence is the ability to change.” This famous quote from Albert Einstein is a great reminder of the importance of adapting to change. When you’re able to learn new skills, new processes, and adjust to new ways of doing things, it allows you to deal with difference situations quickly and efficiently. The workplace is always evolving to stay competitive. The quicker you can adapt, the easier it’ll be for you to face any change that comes your way. Try to make optimism your default; you may even find that instead of worrying about change, you look upon it as exciting. After all, change leads to innovation.
Many employers, such as Centreville Bank, offer mentoring, internships, and other programs to students who are entering the workforce.