"Candidates should have good communication skills, be well-organized, be able to work as part of a team and be effective problem-solvers."
These are some of the qualities that appear again and again on job postings.
If you're just starting out you might be scrambling to figure out how you measure up to the qualifications.
If you look closely, chances are you've already got these skills through your academic experience.
"I've gained various skills from my work history at companies A, B and C. Oh yeah… I also have three years of academic work."
New students aren't the only ones who forget about all the skills they have acquired from school. Even after gaining some work experience, more experienced students tend to focus their cover letters on their job history with only a quick reference to their years at school. In doing so they're selling themselves short.
So what exactly are the skills and abilities you are acquiring from class that are important in the workplace?
Teamwork skills
Potential employers want to know you can work productively with others to reach an objective.
Remember those class projects and papers? Team projects demonstrate flexibility and a willingness to contribute toward a common goal.
Strong communication skills
Any class presentations demonstrate you can communicate your ideas effectively to an audience.
Your written assignments also help you to develop these oh-so-important skills, and teach you how to convey your ideas clearly to your supervisor and co-workers.
Good communication skills also mean you are more likely to ask for help when you need it.
Organizational skills
These skills demonstrate your ability to sort information, keep track of important details and stay focused.
In each academic term you take notes, research and collect information from various sources and sort and maintain your schoolwork to stay on schedule and meet deadlines.
Being organized also shows you are ready and will be better prepared to follow instructions.
Problem-solving skills
Although your supervisor will be available when you have questions, you'll probably do a fair amount of work on your own.
As a student, you get a lot of practice in your assignments and exams identifying problems and risks, evaluating situations and finding productive solutions. You'll make yourself valuable to employers with your problem-solving skills.
Writing cover letters can be daunting, especially when you are less confident about highlighting your skills. Instead of breaking into a sweat trying to figure out how to make that job selling shoes or serving lunches sound like you're a dynamo, don't sell yourself short - take inventory of your scholastic experiences.
You're learning more than facts and figures at school - you're also learning skills valuable in today's workplace.
Anita is a Communication grad of Simon Fraser University in beautiful British Columbia, Canada. Originally published in Communique, SFU's Communication Co-op newsletter. Used with permission.
Related reading:
