Navigating the transition from an environment of higher education to that of the workforce can daunt current and potential college students.
Without forward-thinking and proper planning, students may fear walking out of the classroom setting and into the interview process. The desire to stand out in a sea of applicants with similar educational backgrounds raises questions, including: What are employers really looking for from graduates? How can students take an early and proactive approach to prepare for this?
According to a report by Georgetown University on Workplace Competencies, five key competencies are ranked in high demand across the labor market. These are Communication, Teamwork, Sales and Customer Service, Leadership, and Problem Solving and Complex Thinking.
Knowing how speak about those competencies and providing examples of learning and/or experience to employers will be a game changer for students on the job market for the first time. This means that both current and potential college students would benefit from taking a more active position in their pursuit of education.
Incoming students can work with academic advisors and faculty to determine where in the curriculum those competencies are learned and mastered; and they should engage in very deliberate conversations with advisors to make sure that general education courses (or other non-major requirements) that focus on, for example, communication and teamwork skills, are selected to meet those competencies.
There are a few key things that potential or current students should keep in mind to enhance their path to success when entering the professional world after college.
Utilize Career Centers
Career centers are an available resource for students to leverage when looking ahead to their time in college, or before exiting higher education and moving out into the workforce.
When visiting a career center, students can learn how to explain how their educational work could be discussed with potential employers during an interview process, or with putting together a resume.
(All of USMSM’s university partners have career centers, and all students enrolled in USMSM programs can take advantage of those services for free!)
Build a Portfolio of “Evidence”
What students may lack in professional experience, they can offset by showcasing an outstanding piece of material that ideally meets a wide variety of desired competencies.
Students may not realize that they will have chances to display the quality of work they’ve created during their college career. But by saving a high-level research paper (even in an unrelated field), an important speech or presentation, or a team business proposal, students can leverage this portfolio as “evidence” of their work, which they can share in a job search or with potential employers.
Craft a Deliberate Curriculum
Majors include not just major-specific courses for focused or niche knowledge development, but two additionally important elements that need consideration.
- General education courses which provide broad-based learning and core components of the exact skills and abilities employers are looking for.
- Highly deliberate construction of the curriculum by faculty who are subject experts and know how best students can develop in their majors and meet employer expectations.
According to a report by the Association of American Colleges and Universities, there are a wide variety of factors that play into employers’ views of what dictates workforce preparedness amongst recent graduates.
For institutions of higher education, it’s key to structure a student’s curriculum to mold a robust and broadly prepared potential hire, one well equipped to handle an array of situations with core competencies such as complex thinking, teamwork and communication.
But it’s up to students to translate that learning into a good interview, and ultimately to leverage that into employment. Students should speak with their faculty about what they should know and how they can best show what they have learned to potential employers.
As the competitive landscape of the workforce shifts, it’s vital for students to stay informed of the diverse skill-sets that employers are seeking in a hiring process. Key to success in a competitive field, moreover, is understanding the future of the field, being prepared to be a continuous learner, and knowing how to share that hunger with any prospective employer. Asking about or doing research on what constitutes career-advancement opportunities such as promotions, increased earnings or longevity in a field of study, is good practice. Employers will be glad to know a recent graduate--a potential employee--has taken the conscious effort to prepare for the work in a carefully curated college experience and is both immediately well prepared and looking forward.