Real-World Skills They Don’t Teach in College (and How to Learn Them)
A college education can craft skills and create opportunities for great success. Unfortunately, costs have risen more than 1200% since 1980. This is making it prohibitively expensive for some. And for others, college isn’t even teaching the necessary skills they need.
However, though a college degree is helpful in attaining some jobs, it is no longer a requirement for success. These days, skills can be learned from many online sources. And first-hand experience at any job will help hone both professional and personal expertise. College can be one source of prowess, but not the only one. Here are several skills you can learn on your own.
Complementary Life Skills
Most life skills are missing from American high schools and colleges. Sure, we can all Google how to bake a cake or change the fitted sheets. But, what about the in-depth lessons that we didn’t gain on our own? Sometimes, life skills fall through the cracks, but they need not stay there.
Financial literacy. Few schools teach personal finance skills. Accounting and economics may help. But did your Economics 101 professor show you how to build a personalized budget? What about the quickest way to pay down student loan debt? Probably not. And, how can you safely build credit without understanding the difference between APR and APY? Financial literacy can save you money (sometimes tens of thousands of dollars), while unlocking a world of opportunity. From budgeting to investments, understanding finances allows you to make positive financial decisions. And, you’ll avoid common but brutal financial mistakes that others fall into.
Self-sufficiency. Being handy is an overlooked skill. Have you ever thrown away an item just because a part fell off? What if you could actually fix it? You can! And there are no pre-existing skill requirements. Take a look at some YouTube tutorials for any specific skill. Changing a car tire? It’s there. Growing a garden? Tons of videos. There are even online calculators to help you figure out how much you’re saving from doing the work yourself. Do you need to paint a room? Online paint calculators will tell you how much, how to paint, and what kind to use. Whenever you can, do it yourself.
Home and car maintenance. Along with self-sufficiency, understanding home and car maintenance are essential life skills. Even if you never fix a single item, it is important to understand how things should be maintained. And many maintenance skills are much more intuitive than you might think. For instance, proper filter replacement will save money on heating bills. Changing the oil regularly in your car will extend its lifetime. You don’t need to be a “car person” to know how to get the most bang for your buck. If you own a home, knowing how to make it accessible for you is imperative. You can start by adding a thermostat that you can control from your phone. Or, you can learn how to modify a front step for a ramp. Why search for a dream home when you can do it yourself?
General Professional Skills
Technical skills are essential, but one should never neglect soft skills. These general professional skills revolve around personal and professional competency of self. In other words, they’re about maximizing your professional personality to achieve the best results.
Many times, these general professional skills come from repeated exposure. Improving your collaboration skills usually requires you to team up with a coworker. However, there are several skills that one can work on themselves while simultaneously bolstering one’s personal competencies.
Communication. Even in an era of remote work, communication skills are vital. Getting a point across with succinct detail is a valuable asset for any professional. Plus, one needs to understand how to communicate with others to grow. Active listening is just as important as engaging in the discussion. Networking, making deals, and asking for details are crucial skills for most industries, especially for personal growth.
Assimilating feedback. This is the other side of communication. Growth comes from understanding our flaws, and feedback can always lead to personal insight. Of course, we hope that all criticism is constructive. And though it is not always the case, applying the pertinent criticisms is an important skill. Using feedback as a tool to strengthen existing skills is an often underused art. Plus, employers look for individuals that can rapidly adapt to feedback.
Self-advocacy. This builds upon communication and feedback. For many, self-advocacy is essential for a prosperous career. Constructive and respectful feedback should be accepted, but always know your worth and your rights. Ask for the accommodations you need, involve trusted coworkers and managers, and explain your intended career path. Be confident and set forth your goals and expectations.
Time management. Without the structure of college, many find their time management skills lacking. Self-accountability is thus key in these situations. Finding a way to organize goals and create a schedule will reduce stress and maximize your productivity. Of course, your personal life doesn’t need to revolve around productivity. Still, the same skills can help ensure your personal appointments are met.
Core Technical Skills
Technical skills are in high demand across every industry. Because of this, almost every tech skill has websites, apps, and tutorials dedicated to teaching proficiency. There are even online courses that offer guided and self-paced lesson structures.
Almost all skill resources are available online. Accessibility is always easiest from the comfort of your own home. Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) are free sources of excellent study. Higher education options also exist, such as Coursera and EdX. These resources combine curriculums from the world’s best universities.
Coding: This includes instructions for computers, apps, and devices. Coding is needed by every industry, from data science to computer animation. There are abundant online sources to learn and master any coding language.
Graphic design: This is not just an area for artists. Graphic design skills can influence nearly every aspect of business, from emails and marketing to creating menus and branding for landscaping companies. And with today’s tech, existing art skills aren’t required to start honing your design chops.
Sales: Sales expertise impacts both professional and personal skills. Learning how to connect and communicate with people is a key aspect of making sales. As well, it happens to be a driving force behind greater self-confidence and success.
Writing: The written word is crucial for the Internet age. Entire personas exist solely in the digital universe. Knowing how to communicate and tell a story with words will help set you apart from the rest. Plus, the job opportunities that come with skillful writing are excellent. Copyblogger and Copywriting Masterclass are a couple of online courses that deliver impactful writing skills.
College can be great, or it can be a waste of time and money. Why not take the time and focus on yourself in ways that you can control? Set up a schedule for self-improvement. Concentrate on all aspects that you’d like to enhance. A good mix of life skills, professional skills, and technical skills will set you apart from your peers. And, they’ll help you achieve the most out of your life.
Ann Lloyd