Last post we discussed how high impact writing can help land your dream job. Here, we are going to focus in on newly graduated millennials. While an astonishing 87% of new graduates see themselves as prepared to enter the workforce with the skills they gained from their education, hiring managers don’t agree.
A recently released study from PayScale (an on-demand compensation data and software company) and Future Workplace (an executive development firm) shows that 44% of managers feel writing proficiency is the hard skill most lacking among college graduates, and 39% feel presentation skills is the second most lacking.
Communicating on the job is different from the communicating you did at school. You’re not writing or speaking to show your understanding or that you can argue a position in the same way you did while you were in school. Still, once you are working, you’ll find your day is full of communicating: writing emails, having conversations, and thinking critically to move projects forward. Mastering these skills is what we teach.
Here’s some advice to pass on to any new grads you know.
Writing tips
- Some people feel your writing skills have been destroyed by text and instant messaging(IM). That’s not true, of course, but it’s important to match your writing style to your reader. Use IM style when you’re writing to a peer, and standard English when writing to your boss or a client. Be smart about it.
- Not sure what standard English is? For starters, be certain your grammar is correct. If you’re doubtful about a sentence’s grammaticality, turn it into two simple sentences. It’s always better to be simple and grammatical than complex and ungrammatical. Curious about grammar? Learn one rule each month. There aren’t that many, and you’ll probably learn them all in one year.
- Get to the point when crafting your message. Avoid rambling and try not to bury your key message. Look at your message from your reader’s point of view and ask yourself what information would be most interesting and useful to them.
- Writing an email? Make your subject line descriptive so the reader will know what the message is about and what they need to do with it.
- Make your message look inviting. Use whitespace, headings and lists.
Presentation tips
- Video yourself to see your strengths and weaknesses. Do you speak in a monotone? Do you use fillers such as like, um, ah, you know? Do you have any distracting physical habits?
- Rehearse a lot! The better you know your message, the more confident you will be when delivering it.
- Remember you’re the presentation, not your PowerPoint presentation. Avoid a closed captioned deck. If your audience can read along, what the point of presenting?
- Involve your audience. Ask them questions and invite them to ask questions.
- Ensure your words, voice, tone and body language are in synch.
I’ll add the advice I always gave my own kids as they were growing up: always offer a firm handshake, smile, and make eye contact when you meet people.
What’s the best advice you either give your own kids or received from someone you respect?
