I have found out there are countless reasons why people attend college. The main one being that most employers want to hire people who have earned degrees. Having a college degree is the best way to gain a competitive advantage in today’s working world.

Although college doesn’t guarantee you a job in your dream profession, it is you best shot at making your future brighter. My experience tells me that nearly everyone has the desire and possesses the ability to earn a college degree in their desired vocation.

How does a potential employer look at your degree? They see that you can set a goal and are willing to put in the hard work to achieve it. They see you as a person who is serious about getting a job and holding onto it.

A degree is an indication of accomplished and employers look at this as an indication that you are a disciplined person who can handle new and different challenges.

Your degree is a record of academic success. Employers look at this in a positive light because it shows that you are the kind of individual that will be an asset to their organization.

Employers are looking for people that are able to keep up with new technology. Your college degree is that assurance.

Employers know there are things you should learn while earning a degree. These items will be an asset to their organization, they are:

1. Acquiring a work ethic

2. Physical skills from being healthy to typing

3. Verbal communication skills

4. Written communication skills

5. Ability to work with people and in teams

6. Learning how to influence others

7. How to research on a variety of levels from interviews to record keeping

8. Use of computers

9. Asking and answering the right questions

10. Solving problems

Employers will also look at your overall experience, which includes not only your studies but activities as well. Get experience through internships and volunteering. Join a professional organization. By participating in different extra curricular activities you will develop skills that can help you in your future job.

They look at your social life; i.e. clubs and organizations that you were involved with. It is important to develop leadership experience and volunteering in your community can do this. The more things you do, the better rounded you will be, it shows your wiliness to get involved and that you were looking to make a contribution.

Employers are looking for people with problem solving skills. These can be achieved by putting yourself into situations where you hone these skills whether in school clubs or by working at a job.

By taking classes in management, for instance, that doesn’t necessarily qualify you for a management job. Employers will look at the experience you have had in organizations and in jobs to see how you will qualify when it comes to placement in a management position.

Working experience, no matter whether full or part time, will teach you the following things that are of real value to any future employer.

1. Gain work experience

2. How to interact with other people

3. Scheduling – how to be on time

4. Working as a team

5. Working with difficult people, gossips

6. Learning how to take instructions

7. Your ability to learn new skills

8. How to cope with the real world

9. Taking criticism

10. Being willing to undertake new challenges

11. Shows you have persistence

12. Learn to receive and give directions

The truth is that any work experience you have will be the key to realizing what kind of job you end up with and what kind of pay you will get. Make sure that you include any of these experiences on your resume. Remember that you’re selling yourself. Make yourself valuable to your future employer.

What can you do to give yourself the edge?

Figure out what you want to do. If you want a job in a particular industry, gather all the information about that industry that you can. Talk to people who work in that industry and use networking opportunities to advance your chances of success.

Stay open to all opportunities. Don’t close yourself off to other opportunities in other fields or in just one area. Prepare yourself for any and all possibilities. If you’re weak in a particular area, do whatever you can to improve it.