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Develop Your Transferable Skills

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AboutUsCarolBy Carol Horner

Feeling pressured to pick a college major? Even in high school, you’re likely feeling the push to find your destiny. It’s tough to do that when you are still discovering so much about yourself and the world around you. You may not be close to making a decision but, believe it or not, you can begin preparing yourself for getting into college and your career beyond even without knowing what road you’ll take.

Now is the time to develop transferable skills – these are skills that you will apply in every job you do. Every potential college admissions officer or employer will look for you to have these abilities. These skills will help you land that first job and continue to serve you well through your career. Here’s a list of what I consider to be the most critical transferable skills:

Be a Good Communicator: Even though we think of speaking abilities when we see the word “communication”, don’t forget writing and listening are essential elements too. No matter what the nature of your future job, you will always need to interact with people. Even those who sit behind a computer all day must communicate effectively. Your ability to convey a concise message, make eye contact, be an attentive listener and connect in a positive way with everyone you encounter will ensure your ultimate success. You can do this now: Take a public speaking class, take a writing assignment on your school newspaper, take an office in a club where you have to get up and address an audience, ask for feedback when you are talking with friends or family – ask them to give you their opinions about the effectiveness of your speaking and listening skills. Observe others who excel in communicating and read, read, read!

 

Be a Good Team Player: Focus on the goal, understand your role and cooperate with those around you to work toward the collective mission. This also means, putting personal opinions aside and focusing on what needs to be accomplished for the group even if it’s not what you would do on your own. Even if you think you’ll get a job where you can work individually, it will never happen. You’ll never be an island, so be sure you are ready to co-exist and co-work. You can do this now: Join a sports team or be a member of a school club where you work on a project with others. Notice the beauty of cooperative activities where everyone is contributing the best of their skills and talents.

Have Impeccable Manners: Your public image is about to make a debut and in many cases you only have a few minutes to make a good impression. By now “mom” has provided you with the basics but it’s time to develop finesse in your dealings with others which will make future employers take notice. Learn how to greet others properly; give a confident hand shake; dine with grace; dress appropriately; know how and when to write a proper thank you letter and more. Don’t forget computer etiquette is important too. Remember that there is a human on the other end of any email you send – be sensitive to how others will receive your message. Proper etiquette will set you apart from the crowd. You can do this now: Take an etiquette class over the summer from a private coach, community center or through an area resort.

Develop Lateral Thinking & Problem Solving: No, this isn’t an algebra lesson. It’s all about higher thinking – what separates us from our pets! Lateral thinking refers to the ability to come up with creative solutions. Creative and perceptual thinking is something you can do that a computer just can’t. Imagine that! Analyze, evaluate, look around corners, and go beyond traditional logic. Challenge what’s always been done and improve on the current status. All of these skills help you deal with conflict, difficult people and business challenges. Employers want to know that they are getting someone who can deal with anything that comes along. If you’re a great problem solver you’ll be valued as a trusted employee and even a great leader. You can do this now: Read more about Dr. Edward de Bono – the creator of the term “lateral thinking” – and his ideas about how to develop creative thinking. Take an unpaid position in a field of interest and learn more about dealing with everyday challenges in the work environment. It won’t look bad as a first entry on your resume either!

[This article originally appeared in Today’s Teen, a publication in partnership with south Florida’s Palm Beach Post.]

 

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