There are many things that you learn in school, in work, and just in day-to-day life. But refining those skills shapes you to be a better student and future employee, and will help you to market yourself to future employers.
Skills can be split into two categories: hard skills and soft skills. Hard skills can be described as the technical skills that are job-specific and can be learned more easily. This would include things like software skills, such as the Adobe suite, and the ability to code. Soft skills, on the other hand, come from an entire lifetime of experiences, and how your character has developed as a result of that. This would include being a team player or having a willingness to learn.
The best time to refine your hard skills is right now! As you prepare your resume and apply to jobs and internships, you want to be able to demonstrate to employers that you have the essential skills it takes to be a great asset to their company. The “necessary” hard skills, of course, vary from opportunity to opportunity, so be sure to do your research and know what they are looking for.
So what can you do when you have a hard skill you need or want to have, or would like to improve? For starters, the Internet is filled with websites devoted to the sharing, teaching, and learning of skills, which range from free tutorials to paid online courses. Learning a skill on your own is great, especially because it demonstrates the self-motivation that it takes to really teach yourself. That being said, it is difficult to learn a skill by yourself! Not only does it take a lot of discipline, but a lot of time too. Keep your eye out for every opportunity to acquire new skills or refine old ones. This could be taking one step further in a class to use a program you are less familiar with, or asking a friend or professor to teach you something new. Internships, jobs and research will almost always teach you something new.
Take some time to research what skills are essential or preferable for your field. Look at jobs or internships in your field, and see what skills are listed under the requirements for applicants. And then get out there and learn! Do not be afraid to fail or make mistakes; it is understandable when learning a new skill. Practice that skill every chance that you get by using it for class or individual projects. It is entirely in your hands.
Here are some websites that provide online tutorials or classes:
Link to Code Academy
Link to Adobe TV
Link to Lynda LinkedIn Learning
Link to Skillshare
Link to Alison
If you are interested in learning more about soft skills, check out our Book of the Month, 10 Things Employers Want You to Learn in College.