by Kathryn R. Smith

Created on: January 24, 2007   Last Updated: September 10, 2009

The education system is designed to give students the knowledge and skills necessary to become functioning, contributing members of society. The United States requires education through the secondary level (graduation from high school) and social standards reflect that value. Post-secondary or "higher" education (meaning ANY education after High School), though valued almost equally socially, is a completely optional step, giving students a narrower, more specialized set of skills to help them become functioning, contributing members of society.

It is a widely-held belief that not having a college degree inhibits a person's ability to successfully navigate in society, specifically in the employment sector. I think the emphasis on a college degree lies not just in the information gained in pursuit of the degree, but the process of getting the degree. The college experience provides people with unique experiences that make them more fit to navigate in society; it also provides weakness and liabilities unique to that group. Following is a countdown of what I perceive as a few of the skills and characteristics developed in college that make someone more fit to navigate in the real world in their social and work lives. This list, mainly aimed at recent college grads, can be extended to include not-so-recent grads as well.

Competitiveness. Professors and bosses can be demanding (if not downright finicky) people! Impressing a boss is a lot like impressing a professor. Despite what you know or learned, in many cases, if you can't regurgitate it in a format that pleases your boss/professor, you fail. College does a good job of instilling a need to "stand out" in students. Students gain the drive and direction to stay "ahead of the curve", and to accept the fleeting nature of recognition by the boss. People that have been through college also know how to accept constant careful scrutiny of their work; they're used to it.

How to listen/take notes. The former college student and the office kiss-ass (which may/may not be the same person) are the ones most likely to be perched on the edge of their seat scribbling furiously in an 8x11 notepad during meetings. The constant fear of "is this going to be on the test?" carries over from college and transfers to "is this going to come up later?". Having that information handy when "later" arrives may give the note takers and good listeners an edge over their competition.

How to take full advantage of available resources. From computer

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