College Lessons That Will Boost Your Job Search

Of course, all those hours spent in lectures and studying for finals matter when it comes to landing your first professional job. But some of the best lessons you’ll use in the real world didn’t come from a textbook. They came from living the college experience.

Now it’s time to take what you learned on and off campus and apply it to your job search. Here are three lessons every graduate can lean on:

1. Adapting to Different Leadership Styles
   Remember that first week of college? You might have met “Dave,” the relaxed biology professor who told you to call him by his first name and made learning fun. Then later, you walked into psychology and met a professor who preferred to be called Doctor and expected grad-level focus.
   
   You quickly learned how to adjust to different leadership personalities, and you’ll need that skill on the job, too.
   
   How to use it:
   Every boss, manager, and interviewer will have a unique style. When you walk into interviews or start a new job, be yourself but stay observant. Read the room and adjust your communication style as you get to know how others operate.
   
   
   
2. Tackling First-Day Nerves
   By the time you graduated, campus probably felt like home. But when you think back, moving into a dorm, meeting new roommates, and sitting in lecture halls full of strangers was probably intimidating at first.
   
   Those jitters will show up again during interviews and on your first day at work. The good news? You’ve handled it before.
   
   How to use it:
   Do what worked back then: take it slow, meet new people, ask questions, and stay curious. Build a network of peers in similar situations, jot down what you learn, and keep growing. A little preparation and patience go a long way.
   
   
   
3. Holding Yourself Accountable
   College taught you to manage life solo.  Whether it was doing laundry and cooking meals to balancing deadlines and your out-of-the-classroom commitments, to successfully graduate, you figured out how to juggle it all.
   
   That self-discipline will serve you well during your job search.
   
   How to use it:
   Set a schedule and stay on track. How many jobs will you apply to each week? How long will you research a company before applying? Block out time when you feel most focused and confident. And just like in college, find an accountability buddy who can check in and keep you motivated.
   
   

Your degree is important, but these real-life lessons are the secret sauce that will help you stand out and succeed in your job search.