Top skills for jobs that schools don’t teach you
A school education system should teach students professional skills to help them in their job life. Unfortunately, schools in Bangladesh still do not prepare the students with sufficient abilities to fit in a workplace. Instead, they are still teaching in an outdated curriculum contingent on memorisation and little creative practises specific to academic textbooks.
Since the lessons remain confined within classrooms, educational institutions have not been able to instil the necessary knowledge among students. Hence, they are unprepared for the competitive professional world. Vital skills such as creative writing, communication, teamwork and personal finance management remain unlearned. As such, students struggle to fit into workplaces of many industries, including but not limited to the corporate sector, development sector, academia. On the other hand, there is an upward trend of high school graduates and university freshers trying to join professional workplaces early to craft a better profile for themselves.
Since educational institutions are not preparing their students properly, it falls upon them to take the initiative. By acquiring the necessary skills, students can fit into a workplace and enhance their overall growth. While many skills are industry-specific and are not transferable across workplaces, some top foundational skills apply in most career paths.
Creative writing
Although the updated national curriculum module includes a creative, subjective question-answer section in exams, most questions are recycled or are in the same pattern. In most cases, the classroom lectures and the exams do not offer thought-provoking creative practises and writings. It limits the quality of writing in students. Although not as crucial for clerical or STEM-related jobs, this is a vital skill for popular jobs such as copywriting, grant writing and any academic positions. Learning this skill is also a timely decision since soft skills such as creativity and writing generally decrease over time.
Digital application management
At an age where smartphones and other electronic devices have become integral to our lives, digital device usage in academics is a necessary component. During the pandemic, the shift towards online classes has hinted that it is likely that practises of digital application usage will increase in the future. It is critical to learn the use of essential software, such as Microsoft Office Google Suite (Docs, Sheets, Slides) for online work. Learning to handle a tech-integrated workplace is necessary for online collaborative work, so this is a skill that many employers will expect. Furthermore, it is crucial to promptly use professional platforms, such as Zoom and Google Meet. Although many students are more acquainted with this in urban areas, many remain disenfranchised in the suburbs, rural areas and even cities. This skill is crucial across most workplaces such as the private job sector, multinational corporations, academic sectors and more.
Teamwork
Working in teams can bring out the best in everyone. The structures of professional workplaces focus on teams working across departments. Unfortunately, our education system does not include adequate drills and practises for group work. Essential practises such as group assignments and discussions are usually absent. Instead, most tasks in schools are assigned on an individual basis. Many students do not learn teamwork skills such as effectively communicating within a team and actively listening to others in groups while collaborating with different-minded individuals. Teamwork is a skill that students need to acquire to be good team players in their workplaces and make the most of themselves and their teammates.
Time management
A job life comes with many different responsibilities, deadlines and commitments. Time management means planning things, setting your trackers for them and sticking to that. Unfortunately, our schools do not necessarily teach us how to manage our time effectively. Giving school exams on time and some occasional assignments on deadlines is not enough to practice time management. It is a soft skill that is necessary across most industries. There are various ways to manage your time - some do it manually, some through digital apps such as Todoist and TimeTree. The modality you choose to measure your productivity can vary as long as you effectively manage your time.
Basic finance
Understanding basic finance is necessary, whether for daily housekeeping or any job. Schools have no academic lessons or practise regarding this. Whether it is managing daily finance, tracking spending, having savings, etc., fundamental finance skills are compulsory. Financial literacy is critical because it provides students with the knowledge and skills to manage their earnings efficiently. It is essential for students who want to become entrepreneurs, as they need to maximise their potential economic growth and substantiate their start-ups. This skill is a must for both personal and professional lives.