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What was the biggest change going from education to work?
I'm curious to know if when you made the transition between the two was the change big. I especially want to know if you felt like the education you received properly prepared you for the change and if so, what about your education do you think prepared you the most for work.
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Lyndsey’s Answer
The biggest change is going from learning/listening mode to application mode. Work is not going to have an answer key and someone checking that you got it “right.” It’s your responsibility to combine your education, experience, and logic to your work and/or do further research or consultation with colleagues if uncertain about the answer or approach. Dependent on the area of work, your skill set may be more important than the content learned and memorized during your education as content quickly becomes irrelevant in today’s world with constant progress in the sciences and changes in trends.
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Eric’s Answer
Emilymae, it is good that you are thinking about the importance of transitioning from education to work. The good thing is that it only happens once! But, there are some steps that you can take to prepare. If you are afforded the opportunity to take an internship, I highly recommend taking that opportunity since it will not only give you some real-world work experience, it will also give you exposure to the professionals with whom you will work and they will be the greatest resource for preparing you for such a transition. The reality is that most university professors have extensive academic experience but little to no professional work experience. If you are lucky enough to have a professor that spent extensive time working as a professional I suggest latching onto that professor as a mentor and resource to answer such questions. There are also many professional societies in metropolitan areas that encourage the involvement of young professionals and even students. I suggest researching to see if there is such a society in your area and, if so, trying to attend their meetings and events.
The good thing about transitioning from education to work is that most employers have taken the same path and, thus, know what skillsets that they can expect from entry level professionals. They will, accordingly, assign tasks that they expect to be manageable by the young professional. It is also important to understand that education should continue past the formal university education. Many professions have extensive education classes that are meant for working professionals. There are also many trade publications and research journals available to continue one's education. It is a good idea to dedicate a couple of hours each week for some form of continuing education. Ultimately, one's university education is simply a stepping stone to a life-long journey of learning. I hope this helps.
The good thing about transitioning from education to work is that most employers have taken the same path and, thus, know what skillsets that they can expect from entry level professionals. They will, accordingly, assign tasks that they expect to be manageable by the young professional. It is also important to understand that education should continue past the formal university education. Many professions have extensive education classes that are meant for working professionals. There are also many trade publications and research journals available to continue one's education. It is a good idea to dedicate a couple of hours each week for some form of continuing education. Ultimately, one's university education is simply a stepping stone to a life-long journey of learning. I hope this helps.
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Mia’s Answer
Hi Emilymae, this is a great question. A little over a year ago I transitioned from university to full-time work & it was an adjustment.
I work 9-5, which initially felt quite strange as in school, classes range from morning to night & studying fits in wherever you prefer. It almost felt like I had to retrain myself to be comfortable working within a designated time frame each day, especially because I previously preferred to do most of my studying in the evening. After about 1-2 months things began to feel more natural, and now I can proudly say that I am productive in the mornings! Additionally, there is a lot of nuance in the real world. The content you learn in textbooks usually provides a good foundation on how to tackle complex problems.
My education prepared me for my role today, moreso in terms of soft skills. For example, juggling 6 full-time courses with many ongoing projects was amazing practice for my job today which often has competing priorities and quick turnaround deadlines. Group projects in school were also helpful in preparing me for collaborating with key stakeholders, which is critical to my day-to-day work. Being organized was something I considered my "superpower" in school, and my techniques were forced to evolve once I started work as my workload increased drastically. Lastly, school taught me critical thinking skills which you will use everyday + beyond.
I work 9-5, which initially felt quite strange as in school, classes range from morning to night & studying fits in wherever you prefer. It almost felt like I had to retrain myself to be comfortable working within a designated time frame each day, especially because I previously preferred to do most of my studying in the evening. After about 1-2 months things began to feel more natural, and now I can proudly say that I am productive in the mornings! Additionally, there is a lot of nuance in the real world. The content you learn in textbooks usually provides a good foundation on how to tackle complex problems.
My education prepared me for my role today, moreso in terms of soft skills. For example, juggling 6 full-time courses with many ongoing projects was amazing practice for my job today which often has competing priorities and quick turnaround deadlines. Group projects in school were also helpful in preparing me for collaborating with key stakeholders, which is critical to my day-to-day work. Being organized was something I considered my "superpower" in school, and my techniques were forced to evolve once I started work as my workload increased drastically. Lastly, school taught me critical thinking skills which you will use everyday + beyond.
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Orla’s Answer
One of the biggest adjustments is the ability to be flexible and approach your new role with an open mind. It will be a period of adjustment to go from absorbing information for class to taking an active role in completing the work required in your new position. Expectations around metrics and behaviors will be set as part of the culture with your new company. Make sure you feel comfortable with those and seek frequent guidance and feedback from your manager to confirm they consider you to be on track with your progress.
With regard to feeling prepared for the workforce, I would say it depends. I believe the educational system needs an overhaul. However, the fundamentals are helpful. Learning how to do research, communicate effectively, be punctual and meet deadlines are all areas that you will have mastered in school and will transfer to the corporate environment.
With regard to feeling prepared for the workforce, I would say it depends. I believe the educational system needs an overhaul. However, the fundamentals are helpful. Learning how to do research, communicate effectively, be punctual and meet deadlines are all areas that you will have mastered in school and will transfer to the corporate environment.
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sheila’s Answer
I think it was a big change and one of the most significant for me was that in the classroom you are learning very small, brief snippets of business problems and discovering very specific solutions that fit. This is not how the real world is like, business problems are very complex and have many different challenges that take a long time to understand before you can even attempt a solution. Just go in with the confidence that you have business solving skills but don't be overconfident. Take a step back and listen and absorb as much as you can when you first start! Good luck.