Carrying over college study habits to the real world

Not all of what you retain from college involves late-night parties. Some of what you use to learn and survive for those four years can be extremely valuable to your first job.

Here are some skills that can be carried over from you textbook days to your first job:

Long-term thinking
While most classes have a daily component, some of your project-based classes can be extremely useful once you're at the job. Being able to balance short-term and long-term projects is key, and many employers are looking for candidates that understand how to structure these assignments. For example, the experience of keeping up with the readings during a project-based class (where you weren't required to take constant quizzes) can help you work independently on a work-related project.

Curiosity
"Willingness to continue learning is important," says Patricia Simpson, career services director at the school of chemical sciences at the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign. "Some students think when they get out [of college] they'll know everything but you have to have the ability to learn new things on the job." With so many skills for each position needing to be learned once you've started the 9-to-5, staying excited about the new experiences and duties you'll encounter is key to landing your first promotion.

Being a newbie
Joining a new job is somewhat akin to entering your first year of college, Simpson points out. "When you're a freshman, you kind of have to pay your dues and not take things too personally, I think that's important as a new hire as well," Simpson says. When you start, think back to the difficulties of learning a new culture during first year in college - comparing the two experiences can be help keep you motivated to succeed.

Getting involved
Just as studying wasn't the only thing that proved important during college, your day-to-day work won't be the only important thing at your job. Recent grads need to "get involved in their workplace, it's not just about productivity," Simpson says. "Focus on gaining acceptance, respect and credibility by being willing to go above and beyond." Get to know coworkers by taking part in offsite volunteer opportunities, heading up special projects or attending after work happy hours.

Understanding how you learn best
Since most college learning environments are unstructured, many students take the opportunity to learn about how they retain information. Analyze your college achievement to figure out how you were most successful. For example, was your best college essay written in two-hour increments? Take those tricks with you into your new learning environment, suggests Ray Angle, director of university career services at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill.

Time management
While coming up with a time-management system can seem like a constant struggle, your college years should have helped. Understanding what has and hasn't helped as you navigate your courses can be applied to what's required in the office, says Angle. "Basically, you need to find or create a task or time management system that works for you - whether it is electronic or on paper," he suggests. "You should know your system, strive to perfect it and make sure it is reliable." Adjusting to a new schedule can be difficult and time off will seem scarce, so these previously learned skills are bound to come in handy.

As you enter the workforce, keep in mind that you'll never be truly prepared for your job. It will often feel completely different from college life, with greater expectations and harsher consequences. It's important to keep in mind that it's not only book smarts that you gained from school but also skills that will help make you a successful employee. Also remember that not all employers are created equal, and it's still important to pick the right fit, says Angle. "As you leave college to begin working, you should understand the culture of a potential employer to make sure that the work environment continues to foster your success."