10 Things You Learn in School That Can Help You Find a Job

10 Things You Learn in School That Can Help You Find a Job10 Things You Learn in School That Can Help You Find a JobCollege students probably dont realize it at the time, but the training they receive in college goes far beyond what they learn in the classroom, or within their major of study. Interacting with professors, parteicipating in a class project, and joining on-campus organizations are just a few of the learning opportunities gained in college that transfer to the workplace and can help you find a job. How so?Interacting with a professor can be like talking with your boss or reporting to a company leader. Participating in a group project is equal to working on a team project, and joining an on-campus organization is like joining an industry trade association or networking group.Theres more, too.Steven Patchin, director of career services at Michigan Technological University, and Melissa Wagner, career services advisor at Rasmussen College, helped provide this list of things you learn in school that can actually help you find a job.Here are 10 skills and lessons you learn as a student that can help you finda job (and succeed in the workplace)1. How to Respond to FailureIt could be a failed project, test, a course, or an unsuccessful interview for a job/internship. How you respond, analyze what occurred, learn, improve, and move forward is a crucial skill at every level of ones career, says Patchin. Successfully moving forward after failure shows resilience- a skill every employee needs and every employer covets.2. How to Utilize Available ResourcesRemember when you were a college freshman and you needed to find out where the library was, how to work with your resident advisor, how to understand the role of a teachers assistant, the best way to approach a professor (after class, during office hours, via email), or when to reach out to academic advisors or the college career services center?Its the same when one starts a new job.It can be as simple as fin ding out where the bathroom and break rooms are,figuring out whoto contact for IT support, or who you can rely on for help within your team.Figuring things out as you go is a skill you learn in school that can easily be applied to your professional life.3. How to Step Outside Your Comfort ZoneAs astudent, you may reluctantly join a campus club, attend a networking event, or even go to a party where you dont know too many people. But once you step out of your comfort zone and do it, theres a good chance the experience will expandyour network and social confidence.College students also take electives on subjects completely new to them (a computer science major may explore an entry-level French class, for example). College students may live with a roommate they never knew before, or in a dorm with people theyve never met before.Similarly, a person new to a job is joining a group of people who theyhave never met before, and must now perfasson with them to succeed. Join a club made up of people you dont know, volunteer to take on a leadership role in an organization, or take a course elective on a subject you know nothing about, says Patchin. True personal and professional growth begins where your comfort zone ends. Companies look for those with this courage.4. Networking SkillsMost students come to a residential college leaving their support network- family, high school friends, church members, teammates- behind. They need to rebuild their support system with a new network of friends, professors, TAs,and community members.Recruiters look for candidates who can easily relocate and successfully establish these networks, says Patchin.5. Communication SkillsCollege students are constantly learning how to write professionally and cite sources, says Wagner. College students write emails to professors, carefully crafting them like they will do to managers, clients, customers, prospects, and coworkers. They participate in class discussions- like team meetings in the workp lace. They participate in group projects, and are held responsible for their role/actions.The same applies in the workplace. Students engage in debate and discussion, both written and verbal, and complete project work together, mirroring what will be required from them in the workforce later, says Wagner.Patchin agrees, saying The ability to effectively communicate both verbally and in written form develops throughout a students whole collegiate experience.6. Critical Thinking SkillsThroughout their college career, students are continuously immersed in project work and discussions, asked to write papers, and/or live classroom scenarios where they must analyze, use logic, and critical thinking skills to find a solution. Employers look for employees who can use logic, with analytical skills, and who can critically think through problems to get results.Being able to identify and think logically through a problem objectively is one of the more important skills a student must learn to be successful in school as well as in their career, says Wagner.7. Ethics and ResponsibilityWith exposure to course and institution rules, such as attendance policies or conduct policies on behavior and plagiarism, college students learn to understand and apply ethical and professional principles of conduct.A persons character and ethical behavior can follow them and it is something that is very important to an employer as the employee is a reflection/extension of the company, says Wagner.8. Interacting with Diverse BackgroundsMost colleges and universities are filled with students from different countries, ethnic backgrounds, religions, and cultures. Working in group projects, being in campus organizations, being a part of campus life, with others who are similar, but different, is a great learning experience that applies to being part of a diverse workforce.Todays workforce is diverse, and employers want employees who fit in within a company culture just as much as they wanta person with the right skills. At some point in college, someone will be on a team with a personwho also has different opinions and beliefs. Experience handling these situations is crucial for success in the workplace.Being exposed to diverse opinions and working non-combatively in a team environment, empathizing and considering all angles, will make students a well-rounded job seeker later on, says Wagner.9. Information LiteracyThe ability to locate, evaluate, and effectively use information in the proper context and situation is very critical in a world where information is easily accessible and moves very quickly. This is the essential part of being a successful student as it is the heart of how they ultimately showcase their understanding of key concepts and material, through papers, discussions, or presentations, says Wagner. In the workplace, information and knowledge is used for reports, presentations, white papers, sales collateral, marketing material, and more.10. Digital FluencyB y engaging in online classes and platforms, being exposed to different software and use of various course materials (video, ebooks, virtual labs, and more) college students today are well trained in the digital world.Todays employers look for employees who know how to navigate and utilize technology, and how to use it appropriately in context of the situation. Every college student learns, uses, and applies technology- every workplace requires the ability to use a wide variety of technological resources. Digital fluency is a must.If you think youve picked up these hard and soft skills in school, do your best to highlight them on your resume when you begin applying for jobs. Companies look for all these things in job candidates- and whether you realize it or not, you probably possess them all. And they can all help you find a job.Start Your Job Search