1. Strong work ethic
- Get to class a few minutes early, prepared with all of the tools you need, and ready to hit the ground running when the professor starts to lecture.
- Show respect and courtesy for every classmate and college employee. You're more likely to get it when you give it.
- Say "please," "thank you," and "you're welcome" every time. People naturally respond more positively to politeness.
- If you are treated with disrespect in any way, seek the help of the appropriate campus employee to help resolve the conflict peacefully. Do not take matters into your own hands.
- If you're having difficulty dealing with challenges in your classes or personal life, ask a professor or college counselor for help.
- Abide by the conditions of each class syllabus--reading assignments, deadlines for papers/presentations, attendance and participation, etc. The syllabus is a contract between you and the professor, and if you choose to stay in the class after receiving it, then you're agreeing to the terms required and are expected to follow them. All of them.
- Respect deadlines and get all of your assignments done on (or better yet, before) the day they're due. If you manage your time properly (see #4 below), then any last-minute crisis that may pop up in your personal life won't be made worse by having to beg your professor for an extension.
- If you make a mistake, take ownership of it, apologize with sincerity, and ask for help so you can do better next time.
2. Positive attitude- Focus on what you're doing well, and be proud of those things. Believe that you will continue to learn, improve and grow. Realize the good things that are happening to you now, and have faith that more are on the way.
- Keep your eye on graduation, but stay focused in the present and be grateful for the opportunity you have been given. Not everyone can or does go to college. You're one of the lucky ones.
- A cheerful disposition is far better received than someone who always complains and wears a scowl all the time.
- Treat everyone with the respect and courtesy you expect in return. ("Do unto others...")
- Communication facilitates mutual understanding between people and builds strong, long-lasting connections and a firm foundation for relationships. It involves being skilled in writing, speaking, listening, and reading. In the workforce, you need to do all four very well.
- Refine, hone and improve your writing skills by keeping a journal, writing for the campus newspaper or writing a blog. Ask for constructive feedback from professors or other college staff whose writing skills you respect.
- Strengthen your speaking skills by taking Introduction to Speech. You will learn the proper way to speak in a way where you are precise, concise and convey the information you wish to share. A bonus: Employers LOVE when an applicant says they are comfortable speaking to groups of people.
- Listen more than you speak. (Weren't you given two ears but only one mouth?) You will be amazed at how much you will learn by keeping your mouth shut.
- If you disagree with an opinion, explain why without attacking the other person.
- It is rude and disrespectful to interrupt, ignore, text or talk when someone else is speaking. Pay close attention to what's going on in class--the information will probably show up on an exam.
- Learn how to effectively use either a planner, time management software or an app. If you've never managed your time in this way, it's time to start now. Ask one of the Learning Center professionals to help you organize and document your academic and personal responsibilities. Learning to rely on your planner will be awkward at first, but over time it will become second-nature. And you'll slap yourself in the head and wonder why you didn't do it sooner.
- Plan to arrive a few minutes early for every place you need to be: class, club meetings, labs, appointments with a professor or advisor, etc. Estimate how long it takes you to drive to campus, walk between classes, etc., and make notes in your planner to remind you when to leave the house, how much time you have between classes, etc. Doing so will gain you an enormous amount of respect from professors and others, because arriving early will show that you value their time as much as you do your own.
- Procrastination is a terrible habit to have. Even if it's "worked" in the past because you still get good grades, submitting projects last-minute (or worse, late) because of improper planning will not ever work in any career. Remember how miserable, anxious and frustrated you were the last time you procrastinated. Wouldn't it be better to be so organized that what you need to accomplish gets done before the deadline? Think of the huge relief and sense of accomplishment you would feel. Your professors (and eventually, your employer) will be impressed.
- Approach any problem with a clear head and take your personal feelings out of it. Ask for help in brainstorming with a professor, college professional or classmates for solution options.
- If you cause a problem, take responsibility for your contribution to it. Blaming the problem on something or someone other than yourself makes you appear immature and irresponsible. Take ownership of what you did wrong, then find and follow-through with constructive ways to solve the problem with maturity and integrity.
- Asking for help when any problem arises (big or small) is a personal strength...NOT a weakness. There are a lot of free services on campus to help get you to your goal.
- Seek opportunities on campus to work on projects with other students. For example, clubs, student government, volunteer organizations and theatre productions would love to have you join them. Many hands make light work.
- When a professor has your class do small-group activities, instead of groaning about corny or stupid they are, use them as opportunities to practice working with others collaboratively. Practice your listening and speaking skills.
- Volunteer for leadership roles when you can, but it's equally as important to work as one of the team.
- No one will believe that you are smart, capable, talented and skilled unless you believe it yourself first. Make a list of your accomplishments, abilities, talents and skills. Remind yourself every day what a wonderful and unique person you are until it becomes second-nature. Note: this is not an exercise in arrogance or being conceited...don't confuse being sure of yourself with being stuck on yourself.
- When an appropriate opportunity arises, share what you know about something you're passionate about, or share your ideas on a specific topic. Show your confidence by raising your hand in class. Research shows that students learn as much about the topic they're studying from their classmates as they do from the professor.
- Be confident enough to ask questions when you don't know something. Raise your hand in class every time you don't understand. This will show that you are confident enough to admit when you don't know something, are willing to learn, and aren't afraid to seek out the correct answer.
- The word "criticism" has gotten a bad rap. If you can view it instead as feedback or suggestions for improvement, then you're less likely to get defensive the next time you receive criticism.
- For example, whenever a professor hands back work you've submitted, the grade you earned and notes written in the margins are forms of constructive criticism...the key word being constructive, which literally means "promoting improvement or development." They are not meant to attack your intelligence, character or ability. Use this feedback to help you construct techniques and skills to perform better the next time.
- Be open to suggestions from others, and listen to what they have to say without judgment. There's a saying that we only learn when we make mistakes, so identify what the lesson is, and make any necessary changes.
- Consider joining professional organizations related to your career and the local Chamber of Commerce. On campus, there's a group called Rotoract, whose purpose is to match students with local professionals who belong to the Rotary. They provide mentoring and advice, and often will provide constructive criticism. There is much to be learned from others who've walked that path before you, and they can perhaps convince you to avoid some of the mistakes they made. These groups also provide many professional development workshops--often for free--and are yet another way to connect with people like you while learning how to become a respectable and respected professional.
- There's only two things that are certain in this life--death and taxes. Everything else is subject to change. Get used to this mindset.
- The graphic to the left shows the qualities an organization looks for in their employees because they are the qualities that the organization itself values. How does this apply to college? Find out what your professor values in a student (the syllabus will tell you) or what a coach values in a team member. Then DO IT.
- When making an appointment with your professor, advisor or other campus employee, remember that their schedules are just as full as yours, so some flexibility is required. Can you meet them during College Hour? Come to campus an hour early? Stay a half-hour after your last class? A little give and take goes a very long way.
- Imagine this: You realize that some of your classes next semester will meet at Center City. You've never been there before and aren't too happy that you have to make the commute from the main campus. You think it sucks, you get all bent out of shape, and want to complain to college authorities of what a stupid idea it is to hold classes downtown in the first place. Adapting quickly to new circumstances is valued by every employer. So when you're faced with something new, or are forced to make a huge change, how will you adapt? Instead of getting all worked up, calculate the time you'll need to get to classes at Center City early. Go inside the new building and get familiar with it ahead of time. Or change your class schedule so you'll take all your classes in the same location.
10. Works well under pressure
- At the risk of sounding like a broken record, meeting deadlines is mandatory and non-negotiable. Deadlines need to be met EVERY TIME. Practice this skill by submitting all of your assigned work before they are due.
- When you're stressed over deadlines and crises that seem to show up when you have the least time to deal with them, two things are happening. One, you haven't managed your time properly; and two, circumstances outside your control have thrown a wrench into what you need to do. When you find yourself in this situation, remain calm. Then, prioritize what has to be accomplished. What do you need to handle first, second, third...? Then do them in order. Ask for help and delegate tasks to someone else you trust. Do whatever it takes to get the job done ON TIME (working in the Library until it closes, working with a classmate to complete a project on the weekend, etc.). Whatever it takes.
These tips are merely suggestions on how to build your soft skills. Use what works for you, and feel free to come up with your own techniques. Changing the way you think and behave will be a challenge, but don't give up. Practice a new skill every day on campus and in your personal life. And when making these changes start to make you crazy, remember this...once you graduate, armed not only with a college degree and perhaps some related job experience, your well-developed soft skills could give you a significant advantage over anyone who's competing for the job you want.
You need an edge. Get the edge.
QUESTION: Which of these skills do you think you do well already, and which ones do you need to work on?
(c) 2011 Robyn M. Posson
