That said, a person with poise and with leadership and teamwork experience may be able to bypass the dreaded HR department and create his/her job opportunities much higher up the food chain. But that is really a personalized case of sell, sell, sell.

We already have scads of well-educated liberal arts graduates who could turn their hands to any number of jobs and execute them brilliantly. But those people are considered unqualified by our nation’s employers. After 200 years of industrialization, we’re back to being hired as “hands.” If I know a certain computer app and you don’t, I get the job even though you might be superior as a team leader, an organizer, or an analytical thinker.

This schooling, coupled with the scattershot of odd jobs (pizzeria manager/cook, office clerk, drugstore clerk, security guard, construction) I had before settling down to a career has given me a broad skill set.

I also believe that life consists of a continuing learning process. That learning can come from so many sources, but the key is to keep doing it.

What I need? A prod. I’m in a comfortable job but there’s little chance for advancement.

1. Writing Skills

2 Basic Bookkeeping Skills

I have found these two skills to be invaluable in just about any professional, social and personal situation I have been in. Writing well is not only shows communication skills, it also shows ability for clear reasoning and intelligence.

Regarding bookkeeping…understanding basic of budgets, income, expenses, equity and liabilities is essential from running a household to a big business.

Keep the good information coming.

On top of this, PhD-school will build such niceties as persistence, frustration-tolerance, and due to it being a 100 hour a week deal, nobody really has any time to develop an appreciation for spending money, which incidentally is good, since they won’t be earning much of it anyway, but I digress.

A warning: I think the technical proficiency should not be ruled out or considered less important. There are few things worse than working with/for a clueless “soft-skill only” colleague/boss. (The jargon-loaded MBA type; think Dilbert cartoons).

I’m also with ManVsDebt in that I think integrity and character is extremely important (more so that cleverness). A lack of integrity means that you can’t trust this guy’s numbers. It usually means that the person will do things that are good for him but not optimal for the organization (put out wrong reports, etc.). This means additional work fixing the problems left in the wake of such a person. This is particularly troublesome with today’s job hopper/shoppers who move on before their sh*t hits the fan. You actually see this often even in scientific research. In that regard “fake it until you make it” is a soft-skill attitude (which I really really hate) and this is why I think such “values” (or lack thereof) should be excised by demanding a certain level of technical proficiency (which can’t be faked).

Baker, I’d like to know more about this. I understand your premise that integrity is important (I agree wholeheartedly, although the world-weary cynic in me pipes up that I’ve seen *plenty* of places where the slimebags got ahead consistently, J. Edgar Hoover style), but I’m curious about how interviewers screen for it. In all the interviews I’ve had or been in, the questions revolve around background, skills, knowledge, and ability to think under pressure. How do you ask about integrity? The only thing I can think of is a question in the Dorm Counselor process of what is a major regret I have had in life. Your comment is intriguing me as much as it puzzles me.

Thanks!
-Lia Michel

Then, in college I took a course in “business writing” which was entirely optional, but turned out to be a wonderful investment. In software development and computer consulting this paid off big time, because I had to do reports constantly.

This all leads me to the thought that the classic liberal arts curriculum is actually quite valuable. In the past I just thought it was for the snooty rich types who had no specific need to earn a living.

Good post. Something else which is transferable: the ability to spell correctly.

Sorry! ;-)

I would also add that once you get good at the soft skills, you have to also PRACTICE them. in grad school, i took a course that made me present every week. by the end, i was a pro. Now, 5 years later? I suck at it again. :(

The good news is that it is never too late to develop and nurture them.

I am involved in another org and am now a very experienced teacher. My teacher didn’t put me in front of a class and say ‘take the whole class for an hour’, he just had me teach one or two beginning students for a few minutes, and as time went on gave me either more beginners or more experienced students to work with. After that, he had me take the full class for 5-10 minutes, then increased the time from there. This approach gave me the confidence to talk in front of people, plan a lesson for various levels, and eased me into teaching.

Unless you already have some experience with running things, try to work on the sidelines first. Instead of running for treasurer, run for a board member position, or simply do something small and learn the ropes. Take notes (if only mentally)- how do the people in charge do things, what do you think could be done better and how?