Skills for Success

U.S. universities offer an array of opportunities to help students develop crucial career skills for greater chances of employment. (Photograph courtesy University of Southern California)

Choosing a career path marks just one milestone on the road to a gratifying professional journey. As students prepare to actively pursue their dream jobs, how can they guarantee they are well-positioned for success?

Cultivating the right abilities can help them become memorable, competitive candidates for the right opportunity. Organizations around the world have worked hard to identify the most vital abilities that many employers look for, and American universities help international students develop these skills to compete in the global job market.

The Pearson Skills Outlook report, which compiles key “power skills” valued by an employer, has found that companies seek candidates with proficiency in communication, leadership skills, attention to detail, and the ability to collaborate closely. Additionally, employers value candidates who demonstrate an understanding of customer needs and behaviors.

Ariadne Cheng, associate director for international student career engagement at the University of Southern California (USC) says that in addition to communication and collaboration skills, the National Association of Colleges and Employers’ annual report lists critical thinking, professionalism, and equity and inclusion as particularly important skills for job seekers aiming for positions with American companies.

Amplify your abilities

Choosing the right classes is a crucial first step in building employability skills. Courses on the art and mechanics of writing, for example, can help boost communication abilities, while hands-on lab classes can cultivate teamwork and attention to detail.

Jerusha D’Souza, a Mumbai-based entertainment and technology lawyer who earned her master’s degree at USC, says cultivating good listening habits helped widen her understanding of her subject. “Most master’s programs attract a diverse international cohort speaking different languages,” she says. “The more I paid attention to people from different parts of the world during class discussions, the more I realized the nuances of the points they were making and understood unique points of view that might have never crossed my mind.” D’Souza says that living in different countries with different legal systems helped her gain valuable insights into how the same situation can be dealt with in many different ways, helping her develop critical thinking abilities.

According to Cheng, critical learning can happen outside of university classrooms too. U.S. universities offer a huge array of clubs, student organizations, internships and cultural exchange opportunities that can help students learn to communicate, collaborate and grow as leaders.

“Don’t get so focused on academics that you forget to experience the U.S. college life,” she advises. “Yes, academics are important, but many of the skills employers seek in new graduates are gained by exploring your interests, taking on leadership opportunities and stepping out of your comfort zone,” Cheng adds.

Aryaman Meswani from Mumbai is a student of finance, management and systems engineering at the University of Pennsylvania. He says that while his classes have helped him develop communication, collaboration and other skills, the university’s “pre-professional environment makes you want to hone those skills a lot, too. The clubs, the recruiting process, awareness of recruiting on campus, the presence of companies, the way peers interact—all of that.”

Personal connections

Personal connections that students make at American universities with people from different backgrounds can also help them develop important skills and build crucial professional networks, says Cheng. “Multiculturalism constitutes a significant aspect of the American college experience,” she says. “Opening yourself up to learning about different cultures and backgrounds can broaden your perspective and enable you to communicate more effectively with different people, find new angles to solve problems, and become a better colleague and friend to your peers.”

Cheng’s biggest piece of advice to international students seeking to cultivate their employability skills? “Go to your college’s career center early and often,” she says. “Consider pursuing an on-campus job working at your university career center, where you can learn first-hand about all of the different career resources and opportunities available to students at your school.”

Michael Gallant is a New York City-based writer, musician and entrepreneur.

---

Click here to sign up for the free SPAN newsletter: https://bit.ly/SubscribeSPAN

---

---