It’s that time of year again — graduation! Unfortunately for many students getting their degree doesn’t necessarily guarantee a job. And this is about the point when you’re ready to full-on panic because graduation is right around the corner and it seems like everyone else has already found their dream job. The good news is that you probably bring a lot more to the table than you think.
Your skills are not limited to your degree. Unless you studied computer science or engineering, your day-to-day work is likely to look pretty different from what you studied as a student.
Here are some skills you probably already have that employers are looking for.
Working on a team: Almost any job you choose will require you to work with other people to get things done. You’ve probably already practiced this a lot whether in group projects in your classes, in student groups you’ve been a part of, or even working with friends to organize a surprise party for a friend.
Problem solving: Have you ever had to figure out how to approach a loosely defined task? Perhaps you’ve written an essay in response to a vague prompt, put together an event for a student group, or figured out how to move past a roadblock by working with your college’s administration. This is an incredibly valuable skill. Most likely you’ll start with a loosely defined project and be responsible to figure out what’s important to focus on and how to get it done. You’ll need to break down the problem, understand the goals and how they may differ for different stakeholders, think through what it will take to execute, and then get it done.
Project management: Have you ever planned a conference, organized a dorm event, or planned a flash mob? If so, you’ve learned to how reach out to different people at the right times to get things done. You’ve learned how to figure out which pieces of the project need to get done at what time and made sure things ran smoothly through the end. You’ve probably discovered that last minute problems always come up, and found a way to solve them on the fly.
Balancing multiple projects: In many jobs you’ll be working on several projects at the same time. If you took several classes and were part of different student groups while in college, you’ve probably already developed a way to keep on top of different projects that occasionally have competing guidelines.
Learning new skills: Most employers will (or should!) understand that as a recent college graduate there will be some job-specific skills you haven’t developed yet. Many of these you can learn on the job. In college you are constantly learning new skills and picking up new ways of thinking about problems, so you’re well prepared to pick up new things on the job. Digital is quickly changing many industries and introducing new competitors so the ability to learn and adapt is more important than ever.
What else might you bring to the table?