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Career Learning
| Archives Troy Behrens' previously published columns |
Troy Behrens, Ed.D.,
is executive director of SMU's Hegi
Family Career Development Center. He writes "Career Learning"
for SMU Parents online. |
 |
What Employers Want New Graduates to Know
Last week, I posted an article about 16 critical soft skills to help interns succeed on the job this summer. This week, I would like to introduce you to Nancy Barry, a prominent author and Dallas icon. Nancy has a new book that targets the critical soft skills every recent grad must know about and ultimately master. Please enjoy Nancy's tips for your new graduate.
Congratulations! This is an exciting time for your entire family as your son or daughter graduates from one of the finest universities in the world – Southern Methodist University. I know you are incredibly proud of their many accomplishments.
As parents, we want to do everything we can to help our children succeed in life. One of my passions is helping twentysomethings be successful in their careers. In my newly released book, When Reality Hits: What Employers Want Recent College Graduates to Know, I share the secrets to success. Based on 25 years of experience in the corporate world, I tell recent college graduates what managers want them to know and don't have time to tell them.
The key to success is learning and mastering "soft skills." Why are they so important? Our success is measured by our attitude, not our aptitude. If you look at any job description, you'll see it lists the qualifications for the position. In addition to a degree and perhaps some years of experience, the rest of the job description lists "soft skills," such as the ability to communicate on a professional level, business etiquette savvy, how to build and nurture relationships and more.
During my corporate career, I always said if someone has a positive attitude, sees everything as an opportunity, has a great work ethic, is dedicated, creative and passionate, we can teach them how to do anything.
So, what exactly do managers want recent college graduates to know? Here's a sneak preview of what's inside the book.
Tell the truth, even if it's scary.
Think about people who have lied to you over the years. How many lies did it take before they lost your trust? How many lies did it take before it was hard to believe anything they had to say? I've known people who would tell a lie even if the truth sounded better. Once you start telling little lies, it leads to telling big lies. There will times when you want to lie. You're scared. You may think your career is on the line. But if you always tell the truth, no matter how painful it might seem at the moment, you'll be glad you did.
Your life is a series of presentations.
If standing before a group making a presentation terrifies you, you're in good company. It terrifies most people. You're going to spend the rest of your career making presentations, whether it's one-on-one or in front of a thousand people. Effective presentation skills distinguish successful professionals from everyone else. If you're going to be successful in your career (and you are), you need to get comfortable with public speaking. Remember the three P's of great presentations skills: preparation, passion, and practice.
Become a "go to" person.
If you want to stand out above the crowd, and be loved by every manager you work with, become what I call a "go to" person. That's someone who is known for having a positive attitude, meeting deadlines, and always following through on commitments they've made. They more you do, the more you'll get to do.
Be aware of what drives your boss crazy.
Every manager has a list of pet peeves. You should avoid doing anything you know is going to drive your boss nuts. Oh sure, there are days when it would be fun to do something to send him or her over the edge. But if you want to have a successful career, I wouldn't go there. You'll want to ask your boss what drives her crazy, so you'll have a complete list of things not to do. (The book includes the Top 10 things that will drive your boss crazy!)
Never pass up the opportunity to make someone's day.
When you see a kid with a lemonade stand, do you stop because you're thirsty or because you want to make a child's day? Never pass up the opportunity to make someone's day. Find it in your heart to do something special every chance you get. Life is all about giving. When you give of yourself, you end up getting so much more in return. One of the keys to building strong relationships is making people feel special. Go out of your way to let people know you appreciate them. Consider doing something special when they least expect it.
Graduating from college and starting a career is exciting and scary, all at the same time. At this point, recent college grads don't know what they don't know. In their defense, how would they know, until they are in the workplace? My goal in When Reality Hits is to shorten the learning curve. Autographed copies can be ordered from my Web site. I'd love to hear what you think about the book or this column, so please e-mail me your comments at nancy@nancybarry.com.
Again, my heartfelt congratulations! And while you're celebrating the success of your son or daughter, also take the time to give yourself a pat on the back. They couldn't have done this without your love and support.
Nancy Barry is a motivational speaker and author who firmly believes "soft skills" are the key to success in life and business. Learn more about Nancy at www.nancybarry.com.
>> Learn more at the Hegi Family Career Development Center online.
