6. Writing for the workplace
Regardless of which college major you pursued, you probably had to write. Research papers, scientific reports, English papers, and the like. But most academic writing is worlds away from the writing you’ll be doing in the working world.
One of the best examples? Email. So much communication takes place through email. And in your inbox, MLA citations don’t matter. What matters is being able to communicate in a clear, concise, professional, and personable way. This also applies to memos, reports, and cover letters (so you can get the job in the first place!).
7. Selling and negotiation
Good things come to those who hustle! How to sell your ideas and yourself is something not taught in college, but you’ll miss great opportunities if you lack the skills and confidence to put yourself out there. You get that dream job by selling yourself to a hiring manager. You get startup investors by selling your vision. You negotiate a raise by selling yourself to a higher-up.
8. Leading a team
In most college classes you don’t get the chance to lead a team of people. Sometimes you can when working in a group project, but usually group projects turn into an awkward sharing of responsibilities (and sometimes one person ends up doing all the work because they care the most about getting a good grade).
True leadership involves knowing who you are and what you stand for, being able to delegate wisely, maintaining integrity, and having the ability to listen to and work alongside others.
Just because they weren’t taught inside the college classroom doesn’t mean you can’t master these career-boosting skills. And once you do, you’ll be well on your way to a successful career―no matter what industry you’ve chosen.
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