Before you know it, four years of college have completely flown by and you’re walking across that stage to get your diploma. Time has truly flown by and you might not have any idea of where it went. I graduated last August to get my bachelor’s degree, but I still have a year and a half before I get the chance to walk into the real world as Dr. Premont. Graduating from college is exciting, but also nerve-racking because it’s an unknown change of events. Luckily, you can prepare for graduation by mastering these 10 skills that’ll help you in your life and in your future career.
Learn how to do your taxes correctly
Doing your taxes correctly is super important because if you do them wrong, you can put yourself in a bad place. When you’re in college and working a part-time job, you have a higher chance of actually getting all of the money back that was taken out for taxes. So it’s basically like an extra pay-day for you! But once you graduate and get a big boy or big girl job, you’ll end up having to pay into the system, instead of getting cash back.
If you’re uncomfortable doing your taxes the first time around, I highly recommend you pay someone to help you or doing them yourself online with the help of an online guide. I’ve used TurboTax in the past, which is super easy to use, and there’s even an app so you can do your taxes right from your phone. They explain everything step by step with examples and pictures, so you know exactly what numbers to put where.
Learn how to make your own appointments
Once you become 18 years old, it’s really important for you to take your health into your own hands and start making your own medical appointments. I promise you that receptionists and any other healthcare professional will not judge you or make fun of you for any problems that you are having. Your health should be your number one priority. You only have one body for the rest of your life so it’s important to take care of it. Plus I know for me I’m trying to live until I’m in the upper 90s so I can be a sassy grandma one day.
Learn how to do your laundry
Regardless of who you are, you’re going to have to wash your own clothes at some point in your life. Your parents aren’t going to be washing your clothes forever so it’s definitely a necessity to go ahead and learn how to do it while in college.
You might even want to switch things up and find laundry detergent that best fits your needs. I’m not too picky about laundry detergent but if you do have sensitive skin or a sensitive nose, then there are brands out there that can accommodate your needs.
Learn how to use your credit card responsibly
Last month, I talked about how to build credit as a college student and the importance of using your credit card responsibly. But just in case you haven’t read that post yet (which you totally should), your credit card can either benefit you or destroy you. If you have a crappy credit score, you’re going to end up having a hard time finding an apartment to rent to you or even purchasing your dream home in a few years.
One of my tips to build a great credit score, that way you’re not in that predicament after graduation, is to use your credit card responsibility and only for monthly bills. That means that every month you pay off the balance on the card by the due date. By paying off your credit card consistently, you’ll show future lenders how responsible you are and that they don’t have to worry about you repaying your debts.
Learn how to create a resume
Regardless of what you want to do in your career, you’ll undoubtedly have to create a resume at some point. It needs to be chic and appropriate for the job that you are applying for, so be mindful of that when you are creating one.
The best advice that I can give is to have one resume that is a work-in progress where you can write down everything that you’ve done, including volunteer work, and one that you can change up depending on the job you are applying for. That way you keep your original resume that has your entire history on it and edit the second one to fit the job that you are applying for.
Learn how to write a cover letter
This one goes hand-in-hand with creating a resume because creating a captivating cover letter is just as important as your resume. Not all jobs will require a cover letter, but it’s always in good measure to send one over right along with your resume. Because it’s not something that every applicant will do, it’ll make you stand out in a crowd full of applications, especially if it’s your first job after graduation.
A cover letter is a letter that highlights why you would be a good fit for the company and what you bring to the table as well as your knowledge about the company that you are applying. Most cover letters are brief and to the point. If you have a good cover letter, I promise you the interviewer will take a chance on you and look through your resume, even if you aren’t the best applicant out of the bunch.
Learn how to manage time effectively
Time management is such a useful skill to master because it’s something that you’ll have to do in your future career and for your personal life. College is filled with an endless list of distractions, from college parties to club meetings to social media, but you have to be able to say “no” to somethings. The best way to overcome any residual procrastination from college is to plan your day ahead of time.
I love using my Erin Condren planner to help me stay organize while also allowing me to plan out my week so that I can get everything done on my to-do list. Another great idea is to simply turn your phone off or on silent so that when you’re writing an essay or doing an assignment, you’ll be able to stay focus on the task at hand.
Learn how to speak in front of a crowd
For some people public speaking can be their greatest nightmare, but it’s a valuable skill to have, if you want to grow in your career. I won’t lie I used to be terrified of public speaking but by practicing and putting myself into positions that require me to speak publicly, my speaking has gotten so much better. I’m no means a professional, but I’ve slowly built up my confidence to not be terrified of presenting a project or speaking in front of a classroom.
Most jobs require that you interact with other professionals so learning in college about how to communicate your ideas and to collaborate with others is important for your professional and personal life. Don’t forget that your outfit can really portrays who you are and wearing an outfit that makes you feel confident will leak into your presentation, making you feel just as confident in front of an audience.
Photos by Brailey Johnson Photography
Learn how to network and build relationships
College is literally all about networking and building relationships with people that you wouldn’t normally meet anywhere else. So utilize the opportunity to really branch out of your comfort zone and stay connected with those people throughout your college career. When I was a freshman in college, I meet a lot of people through Instagram, which a lot of them I’ve stayed connected with over the years. But you can use whatever platform that you use the most to start building your network.
It’s especially important to meet people in your industry or career field that you are interested in. You never know who might be deciding your fate in an interview one day so stay connected and play nice with everyone you meet. You can even add your professors to your LinkedIn account if you were able to talk with them on a regular basis.
If you have recently graduated college, what are some tips or skillsets do you wish you had mastered before you graduated? Or if you are currently in college, what skills are you planning to master this year that’s going to help you in your personal or professional life? Let’s have a chat in the comments below!
You may also like: How to Build Credit As A College Student, How to Decorate Your First Apartment On a Budget, and the Millennial’s Guide to Time Management
