Skills you Need to succeed as a Fresher
Author: Adan Khan 2 min 41 secs
There are skills that help you think, communicate with people, and reflect on your experiences. We will talk about some of these skills that will help you kick start your university a fresher.
Communication
The ability to communicate effectively is one of the essential skills for the workforce. No matter the job or field, communication is required both inside and outside the organisation. Getting yourself across many people and showing a genuine interest goes a long way, even if there is no immediate response. It shows that you are enthusiastic about the topic a supervisor is an expert at, and by expressing your interest, they might even ask you to join any of their current projects they are doing. Improving your communication will support you outside of your university, forming emails for research opportunities, applications for a role in a society you wish to be part of, and even building your CV. If you need to improve on your communication, check out our article where we break down communication.
Teamwork and Collaboration
Most jobs or roles in a university society will require teamwork and collaboration between employees and colleagues. You must have the ability to work in a team structure. When you enter a workforce, you need to learn to think beyond yourself and your desires and towards the organisation’s common goals or company you are working for. It would help if you recognised that you are not the only one working on a task. It would be best if you appreciate that you can support the team with the skills you specialise in and your input while also utilising your expertise by being in a collaboration.
Professionalism
The shift from high school to college and even to the workforce can be a big adjustment for most young adults like yourself. You might have already been doing a part-time job during the summer; however, once you enrol into higher education, there is a higher level of expectation expected from you. There is a different level of professionalism required to be met by you, and you may even be judged from it. The responsibility and self-management needed to be successful at work, all the while juggling your course can be different and challenging from what you are used to before. The key to professionalism is forming good work habits and sticking to them in the long run. Things like being on time, being responsible for your work, and organising are essential in professional settings and will make you better prepared for the working environment after graduation. If you need help in forming habits, check out our blog on it here.
Self-management and Initiative
Employers and supervisors want workers who have at least some degree of leadership qualities. This does not mean that you will need to be a leader of a project, but it does not mean you should possess specific skills that show leadership potential. This means that you should show your initiative and self-management skills. Self-management in a university environment and in the workplace includes the ability to plan, organise and prioritise your work and studies. You can show your potential by improving your communication skills and then show proof of your words by showcasing any of your past activities, which allowed you to display leadership skills.
Being Critical and Creative
Critical thinking is the ability to make an evaluation of something by assessing, analysing and examining the issue or topic. It requires not just accepting what is but looking further for other possibilities. On the other hand, creative thinking is a way of looking at problems or situations with a fresh perspective and suggesting novel or non-traditional solutions and ideas. A combination of the two will help tackle any situation and make sure all avenues to the possible solution or how an answer should be is covered. This is exceptionally vital in the long term. It leaves an excellent impression on employees and supervisors, increasing your chances that they might even contact you in the future for new opportunities.