The Same Skill That Helps Students Get Into College… and Get Hired

Imagine your student is in a job interview. The interviewer says, “Tell me about yourself.”
 
Does your student answer:
 
“Um, I’m a senior at XYZ University and … um…”
 
OR
 
“I’m a senior at XYZ University studying economics, and over the past year I’ve been really interested in how businesses make decisions. I’m interested in this job because…”
 
The reality is, Answer B is more likely to result in an offer. However, many students are not taught to share their accomplishments so directly. 
 
One thing is true across both college admissions and the workforce: Once an applicant has demonstrated that he/she can do the work, the ability to explain their accomplishments is often the difference-maker. In both admissions and hiring, decisionmakers want to understand candidates’ actions, impact, and thought process: what they did, why they did it, what they learned, and how they will contribute to their college/workplace.
 
Am I saying that humility is bad? No, not at all. However, students should not “let their work speak for itself” in either college admissions or in their early career because they will simply be passed over for someone who communicates their experiences more effectively.
 
The college admissions process is a fantastic time to begin practicing the skills of self-advocacy and communication. During this process, students need to ask their teachers for letters of recommendation, describe their activities on the Common Application, and possibly even complete an interview. These are often the first time they are asked to “brag.” However, “bragging” can be reframed to connecting the dots for the reader, who simply wants to know what your student did, what he/she learned, and how he/she will contribute to their future college campus.
 
Whether your student ultimately attends Harvard, Penn State, or another university, he/she will need to interview for internships (and even club positions), ask professors for help, and communicate effectively with future managers in the workplace. College admissions is just one of the first times students are asked to practice those skills.