School does prepare you for the real world — and a job

As a soon-to-be graduate, how many times have you thought /said “why do I need to learn how to (fill in the blank) conjugate a sentence/ use the quadratic equation / memorize the preamble to the Constitution”? No one is going to ever expect me to use those skills in the “real world”.

Nope, cannot argue with you on that one. The requirement to ramble off “We the people…” will probably never arise. But that does not mean that school is a worthless endeavor.

After you graduate, you will be expected to find a job. Let’s face it…you will have bills, and you will desire to live at/above a certain standard.

This means that you need to bring to the table skills that employers want. It is as simple as that.

What employers DO want are people who can solve problems. No one wants to (or will) hire an apathetic person who is not inquisitive, who is not willing to learn new skills, or who is not focused on learning more about the industry they work in.

Let’s face it, the more skills and knowledge you have, the more marketable you will be.

And that is what school teaches you….how to acquire skills. It does not necessarily teach you the skills you will use every day. So in high school, you may use the quadratic equation, but what you are ultimately learning is how to take a certain equation (a process or a tool) and use it to solve a particular problem. The fact that it is a problem you could give two hoots about is irrelevant. And that is how the working world works. You will be expected to recognize issues and use a variety of processes and/or tools to overcome those issues.

But that is not all. School is the gift that keeps on giving. The study habits you acquire during your education provide you with the ability to focus, a powerful recall (remember preamble to the Constitution?), and the ability to put things into context and recognize issues as they arise.

These are skills that you will carry with you to each and every job, and these are the skills that employers will hire you for.

So, as graduation approaches, understand that you bring valuable assets to the table. Package them up, present them (on your resume) and learn to highlight them (in the interview). If you need help, Snelling is here. We know what employers are looking for, and we can help you put your best foot forward.