We develop two types of skills: Technical and Professional. Technical skills are those required to do a job. They’re how a person turns raw input into the output that their customer wants.
Journalists turn events into stories. Engineers turn requirements into specifications. Poets turn words into art.
Professional skills, on the other hand, are those required to do any job. Communication, organization, time management, and project planning are just a few examples. Without these, we wouldn’t have a place to employ our technical skills.
Colleges focus on teaching technical skills.
Why? First off, college professors are subject matter experts. They’re supposed to be the best when it comes to the niche technical skill that they’re experts in. And since colleges are run by promoted professors, the curriculum is designed by a committee of people who all think their niche topic is critical. Every professor has a pet topic and finds a way to work it into the curriculum (leaving less room for professional development).
Second, technical skills are easier to measure. At least they are for the professors who are tasked with writing the exams. I’m not sure how I would write an effective “leadership” exam, and so I don’t. I know very well how to test someone on the First Law of Thermodynamics.
Just because it’s not on the exam doesn’t mean it’s not important.
If you search the web for “what do employers look for?” you will find lists of professional skills, not technical. Why? Because people with your degree AND professional skill are hard to find. And this is today’s secret:
Grow in professional skills and you’ll always be ahead of the competition.
If you’re feeling behind, Midterm Rehab is a workshop to help you get started growing the professional skills you need to succeed.You’ll identify the areas to grow and pick activities to be sure that you’re growing in the right direction. You’ll make a plan to use your time and money effectively so that you can focus on developing your career and having fun as a student.
Visit www.intentionalacademy.com or email rehab@intentionalacademy.com for details!
