The academic skills and knowledge acquired during high school and college years build the foundation of a solid career path. Obviously, most students will focus on academic skills and niche learning within their particular field. But is there something more that they can do?
Employers are saying there is. According to a report by the Society for Human Resource Management, employers believe that college students are not acquiring essential soft skills. In their view, college graduates lack critical thinking, interpersonal skills, communication, and even teamwork abilities.
So, what should students prioritize on top of their academic curriculum and acquiring technical skills? Here are some crucial life skills that can be nurtured before/during the college years and further developed later on in life.
Critical Thinking
Are you capable of assessing a situation rationally and coming up with a solution for a particular problem? If the answer is yes, you probably have really good critical thinking skills.
Through critical thinking, you draw on the knowledge and experience you have to come up with actionable ideas. Potential employers value critical thinking because it greatly increases productivity, reduces the risk of error, and enhances the decision-making process.
How to develop critical thinking as a student: There are many ways you can sharpen your critical thinking skills. Participate in class discussions often, even when a topic makes you uncomfortable or uncertain. When you have the chance, ask questions (yes, you can put your professors in the spotlight to generate new ideas and insights). Also, try to go beyond academic learning. If you’re a journalism student, for example, join the college newspaper. This way, you’ll get to address real-life situations and practice in a broader context that expands beyond the world of academia.
Communication Skills
This may come as a surprise, but soft skills such as the ability to communicate effectively are valued in all professional fields, including STEM.
Communication skills don’t just impact professional opportunities; they are important in every aspect of life. People who lack social skills will often miss out on chances to connect, explore and grow that others are accessing effortlessly.
How to develop communication skills as a student: Almost every class can teach you communication skills if you participate and practice active learning. Join the debate club and practice communicating in front of an audience. Take on the task of making presentations and delivering information to the rest of the class in the most convincing way. When faced with teamwork, be an active participant in the project. Don’t shy away from difficult conversations – they are the ones that will give you the feeling of personal growth and accomplishment.
Teamwork and Active Listening
The careers that involve solo work are few. Everybody else needs to master the art of teamwork and active listening. The importance of these essential skills begins during the college years. Being a good team player will give you many chances to shine and learn. Active listening will do the same.
How to develop teamwork and active listening as a student: Be open-minded about working with others and appreciate the working styles that different people bring to the table. Try to get out of your head. Chances are that you feel things should be done a certain way. If you let go of this notion and work on adaptability a little, you’ll reap amazing benefits. Being a good team player also involves meeting deadlines and being happy for the success of others.
Leadership Skills
Is it even possible to learn how to be a leader? The short answer is yes. Some people are natural leaders, but this doesn’t mean everybody else is doomed. Leadership can be learned, and it’s best if you start making such attempts before going to college.
How to develop leadership skills as a student: When given the opportunity to be in charge of a project or a certain aspect of student life that you’re familiar with, take on that challenge. Work on enhancing your communication skills – that’s something all great leaders have in common. Also, learn how to be an active listener so you can identify people’s strengths and delegate tasks accordingly. Participate in student government, join a sports team, or find volunteering opportunities/an internship.
Adaptability
This one skill has been mentioned before, but it deserves a little bit of elaboration.
Most of us can be rigidly set in our ways. That way of handling challenges keeps us from growing and discovering opportunities. Adaptability means going with the flow and changing one’s frame of mind or course of action. It’s very important in dynamic professional environments, and it can also play a great role during college years.
How to learn adaptability as a student: The most important thing here would be to get out of your comfort zone. Challenge yourself in a competition, even if you believe you’re not good enough to win. When feeling stuck or challenged, learn from the experience of others (peers, fellow students, mentors). Be an active observant and take in all of the information that your surroundings have to offer.
Dependability
If you’re recognized as a dependable person, you will get chances to grow. Dependability means being trustworthy and having a strong work ethic. To be viewed as such an individual, however, you will need to practice what you preach.
How to learn dependability as a student: Take on tasks and challenges you know you can deliver on. Work on meeting deadlines every single time. Refrain from making promises that you can’t keep, be it in classroom settings or during extra-curricular activities. Learn the power of good time management and prioritizing your most pressing tasks. And when necessary, learn the importance of saying no. Turning a request down is often a better approach than saying yes and failing to deliver because you have too many responsibilities to juggle.
Soft Skills Are All About Being a Well-Rounded Person
Many students have the wrong belief they need to be super-focused in college. Such an approach isn’t always the one bound to deliver the best results.
While academic work is very important, there’s much more to college life. There are clubs, extra-curricular activities, jobs for college students, and socialization opportunities.
Be open to all, as they’ll give you access to life skills you will need. Soft skills can be acquired in the classroom and outside of it. Keeping an open mind and a positive attitude can do wonders for your growth. Give yourself a chance to learn, even if the particular type of knowledge doesn’t seem all too important at the time.
