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Making the Most of College—and the Start of Your Professional Journey

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Mon Feb 04 2013

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This is part one of a series of articles in which Cassie will share tips on how students and young professionals can develop the skills needed to succeed in the workplace.

“After all, what is education, but a process by which a person begins to learn how to learn?”  Peter Ustinov

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Recently, I asked T+D Editor Ann Pace permission to share her article “Preparing Today’s Youths for Tomorrow’s Workplace” from the December 2012 issue of T+D with a former professor from my professional branding class in college. I thought my professor would appreciate the content and want to share it with her current class. The response from ASTD was, “Of course. But would you also be interested in writing about your point of view on the blog for ASTD Higher Education Community of Practice?”

I will admit that I never expected to have something of mine published in any form. But over the next several weeks, I have the honor of sharing my thoughts on how students and young professionals can develop the skills they will need to succeed in the working world.

So before we jump in, let’s consider the point of college.  Why do we spend our time and hard-earned money on an education?  Most students would answer something along the lines of “Because I have to.”  I propose that there is a higher purpose for taking the educational plunge and committing 4+ years of your young adult life to higher education. The purpose of college should be to gain the professional skills necessary to make it in the real business world.  In other words, preparing youth for the workplace—exactly what the T+D article discussed.

Personally, I feel the Ms. Pace did a great job of pointing out some of the most critical points of youth leadership development.  I would like to supplement those points with some examples and tips applicable to the educational experience.  Whether you are a professor, instructor, dean, or otherwise involved in a student’s life (and are reading this blog), please encourage students to think about the following issues: 

Employers are finding a lack of critical soft skills among those entering the workforce. According to the article, “…more than half (54%) rank leadership or executive-level skills as the number one soft skill gap in their organizations.”  When I was in college, I figured out very late that the true point of getting an education was not simply to graduate.  My last semester in school, I joined a student organization called SIFE (recently rebranded as Enactus).  I didn’t just join; I jumped in with both feet and led a project, called Rising Phoenix, which taught women at the Crisis Center basic job-searching skills, such as resume writing, dressing for success, and so forth.

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It was through this project that I discovered the true point of education for me.  As cliché as it might sound, I realized what I wanted to do with my career: be a trainer. SIFE and Rising Phoenix showed me that I had what it took to lead my peers and to teach others skills vital for their success.  I would never have learned those things if I had not stepped up to the leadership role. 

The number one most critical competency for the next decade is self-motivation and discipline. Taking the initiative to lead a project, rather than just going to class and squeaking by with the bare minimum, looks so much better on your resume. And let’s face it: that is usually the main reason people get involved with a student organization or extra-curricular group of any kind.  

I have always been willing to go above and beyond for what I believe in.  Throughout my childhood and early adulthood, I volunteered countless hours to mission trips and soup kitchens, but I never thought that any of my volunteer work would be directly related to my choice career. 

My advice is to everyone is DO NOT volunteer or get involved with a student organization just so you have something “extra to stick in your resume.” Get involved with something that compliments and develops the skills you need for your desired career.  For me, that was training and development.  Talk with your Career Services Office or Student Life and Leadership Office on campus to find out what student organizations exist on your campus and when and where they meet. Then choose accordingly—affiliate with the student organization that will help you hone your skills as a leader for whichever profession you see yourself in. I promise you will be glad you did. 

In my next post, I will discuss who can help students and young professionals develop skills to succeed, as well as the mutually beneficial mentor-mentee relationship.  For now, remember this: In the beginning of my educational journey, I had no idea that I would end up as a corporate trainer.  Without the things that I am going to present over my next few posts, I never would have made it here.

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