The question that each of us can’t seem to run away from once we get into our senior year of college is the oh-so-dreaded: “So what are you doing next?”
Although it’s a seemingly simple question, it’s one that still manages to strike fear in the hearts of even the bravest and confident of college students. It just isn’t that simple to answer!
While some of us will pursue higher education or alternatives to entering the workforce, the reality is that the majority of us will be looking to jump into something full time after graduation.
While some careers are different than others, there are a few skills that you need to have that a college degree just doesn’t get you.
I’m not a hiring expert, but I do know what employers are looking for and what will get you picked over someone else.
1. Social Media
I know you’re probably sick of hearing about the importance of social media in your career, but I’m about to join those voices. Even if you’re not active on all social media accounts, you need to be familiar with how to use social media. You don’t need to be an expert, but you should know the basic ins and outs of what each website is about and the type of content that is used for each medium.
2. Writing
I don’t know how some people make it through high school, let alone college, without knowing basic grammar and punctuation. You don’t want to be the person that makes an embarrassing error in their resume or cover letter — that speaks volumes to potential employers. If you’re careless about this, what makes you less likely to make a mistake in a memo or an email to an important client? The world is becoming more and more about typing and words, whether that’s on a computer or a phone, so get with the program!
3. Problem Solving
While there will be some issues that you just can’t solve on your own, there will be a lot of things you can figure out on your own by just making your own search online. It kills me when people ask questions that they could just have easily looked up themselves if they would have taken the time to do a little research. After all, your boss doesn’t want to babysit you — they will want someone who can navigate the job (for the most part) on their own. Leadership is important, especially in the competitive field of health care.
4. Observation
You would be amazed by how much a little observation will go. If you take a second to stop and look around, you will be amazed by how much you can learn in such a short amount of time. Taking a breath to just listen does wonders. When you observe, you will be more likely to find things that need to be fixed, could be improved or even find an answer to a problem!
What do you think about the skills I’ve listed? What would you add to this list? Let me know in the comments!
