Students should focus on Durable Skills

What used to be called "soft skills" are now a "durable skill set" and something no college student should graduate without acquiring. What is a durable skill set? These are the skills or attributes that will help you be successful in any career you pursue. In all reality, these are the skills we should all strive to attain...

According to America Succeeds, some of the most impactful skills include: collaboration, leadership, critical thinking and creativity. This is not all of them, but definitely having these will set you apart from others who cannot demonstrate their mastery of such skills. One I would like to push is having a "growth mindset," or in my words, always seek to learn something.

How do you know if your college or program is preparing you adequately? First, take a look at the course objectives and desired outcomes. If any durable skill is listed, it should be connected to an assessment in the course. These assessments can be referenced in interviews or in some cases, detailed on a resume. Resumes often provide employers with a snapshot of a candidate's training and credentials - tailor yours to the job announcement (more on this in a future post).

Next, prepare a 10 minute presentation about the company you are applying to and how your background fits the needs of the vacancy. This is great practice for selling yourself and also gives you an idea of where any holes are - what skills do you need to improve or even acquire? Use PowerPoint or any other popular presentation method to demonstrate your capabilities - focusing on fit. According to Forbes, 44% of HR professionals hire an applicant with strong durable skills over an applicant with superior hard or technical skills.

Finally, keep track of the work you do in your college courses or your career program. Maintain a tracker of deliverables and the impact. What qualities do they reflect? Highlight these in cover letters or resumes. Most importantly, when requesting a reference, suggest your recommender uses specific examples to demonstrate your skills fit the job you are seeking. A good reference with strong durable skills will help you in this competitive market.

Pre-College Leadership Seminar at the University of Notre Dame

Looking for an amazing opportunity for your rising senior? This pre-college leadership seminar at the University of Notre Dame is for academically talented students who wish to expand their leadership skills. Students will be immersed in the campus experience from July 20-July 31, 2024. Might be something to work on while we are all trying to stay warm today! Details here

Deadline: January 22, 2024

Monday Minute: FAFSA Updates

If you are one of the families having difficulty completing the new FAFSA form, you are not alone. Many families are reporting difficulty accessing the new form and finishing it without some sort of glitch. The Department of Education is aware of the issues and has set up a "waiting room" to handle the website traffic and delays. If you are in the process of completing the form and experience some sort of challenge, access the waiting room feature and all of your information will be stored until the form re-opens or the glitch has been resolved.

I am hearing concerns from families who have committed to an early decision without knowing their financial standing. At this point, I recommend speaking to the financial aid office and verifying you can back out of your agreement if the financial aid package offered is insufficient. Most schools are understanding of the situation at this early stage and are facing their own debacles with administering institutional aid in the absence of a clear picture of committed students. The FAFSA is required for many schools as a way to assess needs-based institutional aid - without the data, financial aid offices are delaying offers.

The good news is that you are not alone in having difficulty filling out the new FAFSA. The Department of Education has announced that colleges will NOT receive the information until late January. I'll keep you posted here with any FAFSA updates, but you can also review the DOE website here.

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