What "real-life" skills are important after graduating from college?

Question

I work for an organization that seeks to develop college students into contributing members of society. In our programs, what real-life training should we provide to supplement students' university educations? Sometimes budgeting, etc., is just too basic. What do you think is important for students to know by the time they graduate with a Bachelor's degree?

Answer 1

Learning how to work under pressure and tough deadlines. This comes in handy when your director asks you to produce a complicated report for a meeting that starts in five minutes.

Learning how to prioritize. Which task should I do first? The one my director said was due this morning or the one the president of the company wanted right away?

Learning to work as part of a team. "I want to kick this m*therf**king b*tch upside the head" (I scream in my head), but outwardly I smile and say, Yes of course you're absolutely right, I'll see that it gets done right away.

Learning to produce magnificent miracles with a minuscule budget. The constant phrase each year is, "It's cut-back time"

Learning to dress and maintain a professional demeanour. Even though you want to have a drag out, kick fest fight with that b*tch in accounting, you smile and say "Good morning and how are you today" in your chirpiest voice.

Answer 2

Well, I have heard you can't teach common sense so that is out! :) I would like to see college seniors go thru sensitivity training to see the subcultures within large companies: their effects both positive and negative. Team training - so many businesses these days say they are team oriented and that is just a bunch of bull...a true TEAM is unstoppable! How to balance work, socializing and bettering one's skills/knowledge...I don't think learning should ever really stop. How to communicate to all levels of customers - intercompany and clients...sometimes a customer you are serving within your company is the most important customer you will ever have! They can support you or make your life miserable. I also have to agree with anger mgt, and diversity familiarization is very important...

Answer 3

By the time a students graduates with a bachelor's degree.he should be comfortable with most of the details and be able to change them or adapt them to his needs, and situation,He should be confident enough to implement what he has learnt in his innovative and productive way.Life skills such as good communication skills , personality development and basic etiquette should have got instilled in him along with his academic pursuit to make him a complete educated person. Apart from training of his intellect, he should also have refinement of the mind and training of the soul

Answer 4

Interpersonal skills are a most. They need to be able to communicate effectively thorugh out different settings. They need to know how to be persuasive, customer service oriented, how to be a leader, how to teach knowledge, and how to address different audiences effectively. Knowing the math and the science is not enough to fully perform any profession. What do you do with the numbers and formulas if you do not know how to implement them through out a company, how to sell it, how to service the ones who are using it, how do you guide your team,...

I think that when you have good interpersonal skills you will do well on any field, of course... having the knowledge required for that field (like a JD to be an attorey, Med School to be a doctor,...)

There are orther things like how to be creative, organized, and reponsible that are very hard to teach or learn. You are born with them.

Answer 5

I would like to have known how to fill out a tax return and more about high-level personal financial management (retirement savings, investments, etc.) I learned at work that the government can deduct money from my paycheque for savings bonds, and then I pay less taxes than if I had taken that same money and invested it in bonds myself. University gives us the skills to get the jobs, but it doesn't help us know what to do with our money once we get the job!

Answer 6

Students should be given the oppurtunity to intern for college credit at a couple of different places in the community where they can put their learning to use and that would give them a taste for what type of work they can expect to be doing after graduation. (plus if they do a good job, it could lead to employment after graduation).

Answer 7

As an HR practitioner, our graduates can use a lot of help in communication (written, and yes oral communication!) be it in English or in one's native tongue. Another area would be in appropriate human behavior in organizations (from presenting one's self during an interview to proper decorum at work to how not to "burn the bridges" in leaving a company).

Answer 8

I would think that they have already gained follow through skills, the importance of completion of the task at hand and to be timely on all matters in life.
It is good to hear that the young people are concerned with the future and what is needed to be productive.
I am sure many of us here would like to semi adopt one of you all. Good luck and best wishes on your future.

Answer 9

Learning how to deal with authority
Dealing with stubbon, pig headed individuals
How to stop partying and get a job
How to treat others with respect
Teach them to realize older usually does mean wiser

Answer 10

They need to know enough political science to vote intelligently, they need to know enough about the arts to appreciate culture, they need to know about society and relationships.