Generalizing Skills Developed During Undergrad into the Workplace

by Gemma Ortega

As an undergraduate student I developed two main skills that were critical to my success: time management and social skills. These skills were essential as I juggled many responsibilities and talked to peers and professors. Now that I have graduated, I am beginning to see how these same skills generalize into the work place. In the work place, I am responsible for completing specific tasks using only 40 hours a week and while collaborating with colleagues. Nourishing these skills as a student paid off in the long run because it made my transition into the workplace feel seamless.

As a student, time management is a determinant for success. Before I learned how to manage my time, my days felt chaotic. I had a habit of waking up 30 minutes before I had to be at school, skipping breakfast to make it on time, and having no plan for what my day would look like. This affected my work quality and my overall well-being. By reading books on productivity and learning about different time management strategies, I was able to take back control of my days.

Now that I am in the workplace, time management continues being a critical component for success. Because I developed these skills as a student, I know how to set my days up for success. I do this by waking up well before I need to leave my house to make it to work on time, having a balanced breakfast that energizes me for my days, and beginning each week by planning what each day will look like. Because I learned these time management skills as a student, at my current job I have been able to focus on learning new skills specific to my work responsibilities.

Although I quickly realized that time management was important, I overlooked the importance of social skills at the beginning of my undergraduate career. I was a student who sat at the back of the classroom and tried to attract as little attention as possible. At the end of class, I quickly rushed out and made my way to the library to find a quiet and isolated place to work. This left me feeling alone and unsupported in my academic journey. To connect with other individuals who were on a similar path, I joined the Interactive Measurement Group (IMG). In the IMG I learned the importance of collaborating with others and asking questions that will bring me closer to my goals. I worked on asking other lab members questions related to my educational and career goals. Through these conversations, I discovered that I enjoyed mentoring others and decided that it was a main career goal of mine; thus, I worked to build the social skills I would need to mentor others.

During my time in the IMG, I learned about collaboration, active listening, and conflict resolution. These social skills continue being important to practice in the work place. Because I worked so hard on not being ashamed to asked questions as a student, when I arrived at my new job, I was not afraid to ask for clarification on concepts I did not understand. This allowed me to quickly grasp the main components of my new position. As an employee who learned my role quickly, I was given the responsibility to mentor others. Skills such as active listening and conflict resolution have allowed me to build strong relationships with my mentees. Through collaboration, my mentees and I can successfully identify what obstacles they are facing and how we can overcome them. The use of social skills has allowed me to form strong working relationships with others and has helped me reach milestones in my career.

Take the time to nourish time management and social skills as a student. Doing so will set you up for success in the workplace. By using your time effectively, you will have more time to focus on developing the specific skills needed for your career. By practicing social skills regularly, you will form strong connections with those around you. My main piece of advice is to spend your undergraduate career developing these skills that so that you can focus on building the career you desire once you enter the workplace.

Gemma joined the Interactive Measurement Group in the Spring of 2021. During her time in the lab, she has learned how to analyze data in R, SPSS, and Jamovi, has learned advanced statistical techniques such as confirmatory factor analysis, and has led two poster teams who ultimately presented their research at conferences. She has also been involved in substantial leadership and mentoring. She has given multiple workshops, mentored other lab members formally and informally, and was our Lab Manager for a full year. Gemma graduated in the Spring of 2022 from UNLV with a B.A. in psychology and minors in neuroscience and addictions treatment. In the future, she hopes to pursue a master’s degree in social work.