Thursday, October 29, 2015

Seven Survival skills all students need to succeed in a global economy

We may be the high school students or the college students or an adult who is preparing for the further career. Our working environment will drastically change within a few moments and that would be totally new for us than our predecessors. Today, technology is an integral part of all the people’s career. For any field technology plays the vital role for the development. From business to medicine, from farming to housekeeping and in all aspects the computers are the part of the culture, communication and completion of business-critical tasks. No matter which profession you are involved and which area you are interested, increasing your computer proficiency with standard applications, operating systems and programming languages and design skills will help your employers to see that you’ve got the skills they are looking for.

1.      Critical thinking and problem solving: Critical thinking is a skill that has been picked up in the popular media as a trait that most savvy employers know applicants need to demonstrate today. When you can frame the right question about a particular issue- whether it's how to complete a project within budget and on time, how to reduce the cost of overhead, or how to improve customer service in your department- you have a better chance of arriving at an effective solution. The short form of critical thinking and problem solving could be simply "Think for yourself". But don't forget to consider various perspectives and factors before you solidify your approach.
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.      Collaborating across networks and leading by influence: Today, technology makes it possible for us to work collaboratively on projects large and small. You might work with others as part of a large shared project, as part of a small team, or on a document or task you develop with peer. Some companies use project-based work teams to complete business-critical tasks; for example, a team might come together with members from different departments to produce the annual report, plan an event, launch a new campaign, or design a new web site. Other companies use established teams regularly to support business functions. The marketing team, for example, is responsible for all messaging and marketing, or the tech team provides all training and support for office staff. The other aspect to this particular skill is the level of influence you can have within your collaborative groups. Working with your network and leading through influence are grassroots mobilization efforts that you can demonstrate at a local level. By demonstrating the way in which you influence your team in a positive way, you can show leadership skills that fit you for the teams of the future collaborative instead of top-down, egalitarian rather than authoritarian.

3.      Agility and Adaptability: The only thing that is constant is change. How you respond and adapt to change can be the difference between taking competitive advantage of opportunities in the marketplace and clinging to outdated ideas that ultimately get you nowhere. When you can show an employer that you are agile enough to take advantage of new ideas and adapt to changes in the overall game plan, you demonstrate that you are willing to be flexible and act in the best interest of the team. Knowing when you particular situation calls for adapting and when it calls for staying the course can be a tough call, because change sometimes means survival, sometimes growth, and sometimes loss. Knowing how to read the situation and determine which action to take may or may not be your call-but being willing to adapt your approach for the good of the group is. None of us has a crystal ball, and the nature of business requires that we continually analyze results and adjust the course as needed. The trick to agility and adaptability is to keep the best interest of the company in mind and be willing to align your best efforts as needed toward the end.

4.      Initiative and Entrepreneurialism: You might be a good critical thinker and have the ability to adapt to your surroundings, but if you don't take the initiative to share and implement your ideas, a company might be missing out on the best you have to offer. Showing a prospective employer that you take initiative in an appropriate way and that you have a spark of entrepreneurialism about you-meaning you feel some sense of ownership in your project, your team, or your department indicates that you are a dedicated worker who commits to the overall effort. Taking initiative means that you can see clearly what your priorities should be and take the necessary action to reach your goals. Your coursework in school is one example of how you can show initiative, because you planned your courses, managed and completed projects, and worked with fellow students. You can also show initiative through volunteer projects, previous work experience, or personal development skills or hobbies you've invested your time in.

5.      Effective oral and written communication: Being able to communicate your ideas clearly in a way others can understand is a core skill in every industry. Every employer want to hire employees with good communication skills that enable them to write well, speak clearly, and create presentations that help others grasp key concept. Organizing your thoughts logically will help you clarify what you want to say and present information in a way that makes sense to your audience. In today's texting world, shorthand phrases (lol, btw and imo, for example) are the norm, but in written business communication, a more formal style is considered professional. Demonstrate your written abilities in communication by sharing examples in a portfolio; be sure your resume is well-written and includes no grammatical or spelling errors.

6.      Accessing and analyzing information: Knowing how to get your hands on the information you need to complete a task, finish a project, or make a business decision is an important skill. Having access to good data is the lifeblood of a business. How can you make a good purchasing decision, for example if the inventory numbers are wrong? How can you lunch a new product when you don't have the specifications that describe it? How can you send your new catalog to potential customers if your database isn't working properly? Demonstrating your ability to research information both online and using traditional resources will be a plus in your job interview. But knowing how to find the information you seek is only half the battle. With the volumes of data there for the picking how can you separate the reliable information from the rest? Being able to analyze the data you find and put it in a framework that helps others see what you see is a vitally important skill.

7.      Curiosity and Imagination: Curiosity and imagination much more than work skills tend to frame your overall approach to life. Do you find that you wonder about things you don't understand? Perhaps you'd like to know how something works, think of ways to improve processes, or imagine new products or services you've never seen before. The workplace needs you! Early in their education, students are encouraged to be creative and draw, write, paint and develop their own forms of expression. As students get older, they learn to focus on achieving measurable goals, making certain grades, and completing projects. Being able to do both tap into your creative abilities and put it in a logical, goal oriented framework is a great skill that your employer really needs. The marketplace needs not only bright, analytical minds, but also creative, curious minds. When you are in touch with your own sense of curiosity and imagination, you are aware of the large and small things in life. You can focus on details but also see larger possibilities. You might, for example, notice that your department's reporting process isn't working smoothly, and you get curious about it.


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