Where higher ed falls short
College doesn’t cover key workplace lessons
College is good for a lot of things: learning responsibility, improving communication skills, being exposed to differing viewpoints, enjoying bad carbs — to name a few. It is not, however, always so great at preparing you for the modern workforce. Here are seven things you likely won’t learn in college that help you to succeed in the real world:
1. How to find a job
You find most jobs through people, not job listings. In fact, sociologist Mark Granovetter discovered that about 80 percent of people he polled said they found out about jobs through weak ties (i.e. dog walker, friend’s former boyfriend, social media acquaintance).
I can corroborate this. Almost every job I’ve ever snagged has been through the friend of a friend, which means starting a job search any other way is pretty inefficient.
The lesson: When job hunting, do not spend most of your time on Indeed and Monster (rookie mistake). Instead, spend it reaching out to your network. Write emails; go on LinkedIn and message relevant people; have lunch with useful people; talk to everyone. Social media is your friend, so post on Facebook and let everyone know what you’re looking for. Always include parents and family friends, as they’re more likely to know people higher up on the totem pole.
2. How to interview
figure, but I was unprepared.
The lesson: Research the average salary for the job you’re interviewing for before you get on the phone or go in for the interview. Use glassdoor.com. Ask around. Then role-play the conversation with someone you trust.
4. How to build alliances at work
with someone you trust and practice being concise and confidant. Then take deep breaths and just do it. (And if you’re a woman, read “Knowing Your Value.” It’s one of the best things I’ve ever done for my career.)
6. What to do if/when you get fired