Introduction

As a university student, your primary focus is your academic pursuit, but your success will depend heavily on your ability to develop life skills that are not taught in textbooks. Life skills are abilities and skills that you can use throughout your life, including after graduating. In this blog article, we outline ten important life skills for university students. Beyond the Books: 10 Important Life Skills for University Students

Introduction

The journey acquiring a university degree is an opportunity to build lifelong skills that will help you navigate the complexities of life beyond campus. It’s more than acquiring knowledge from textbooks and earning good grades. University life presents an opportunity for you to develop life skills that will help you succeed both personally and professionally.

The purpose of this article is to highlight ten essential life skills that university students should develop. These skills include time management, goal setting, decision making, communication, critical thinking, leadership, stress management, financial management, interpersonal skills, and self-care.

1. Time Management

Time management is crucial for university students because it allows you to balance your academic, social, and personal life effectively. You must learn how to manage your time efficiently to balance your academic requirements, work commitments, social activities, and personal development.

To improve your time management skills, try the following techniques:

• Create a schedule and plan your activities
• Prioritize your tasks
• Eliminate distractions
• Set realistic goals
• Take regular breaks Benefits of Good Time Management Skills Improved performance, less stress, improved quality of work, increased productivity, more free time.

2. Goal Setting

Goal setting is the process of identifying, setting, and achieving objectives. University students who set goals are more likely to accomplish what they want in life.

To become an effective goal setter, try the following strategies:

• Be specific and write your goals down.
• Use SMART goals: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-based
• Break your goals into smaller pieces
• Take action towards your goals Steps to Achieve the Set Goals
• Plan: Set a plan and outline your goals
• Persevere and stay positive
• Visualize yourself achieving the goal
• Measure progress and adjust accordingly

3. Decision Making

Making decisions is a natural part of life. However, understanding the process of decision-making is critical.

The process of making a decision involves the following steps:

• Identify the problem
• Gather relevant information
• Brainstorm potential solutions
• Choose the best course of action
• Evaluate the outcome Common Mistakes in Decision Making
• Analysis Paralysis – overthinking the problem
• Hasty decisions – not considering all options
• Confirmation bias – selecting only information that supports our decision

4. Communication Skills

Communication skills are essential for university students and beyond. It is not just about talking but also how to listen to others, express your thoughts, and receive constructive feedback.

Verbal and nonverbal communication involves:

• Tone of voice
• Body language
• Facial expressions
• Eye contact
• Hand gestures Techniques to Improve Communication Skills
• Practice active listening
• Ask for and give feedback
• Prepare and practice public speaking
• Seek to understand other points of view

5. Critical Thinking

Critical thinking is the ability to think independently and logically. It entails the identification and evaluation of evidence, arguments, or claims.

Characteristics of critical thinkers include:

• Logical and analytical thinking
• Convergent and Non-Convergent thinking
• Open-mindedness
• Curiosity
• Attention to detail
• Effective communication Steps to Enhance Critical Thinking Skills
• Ask questions and seek answers
• Consider different perspectives
• Challenge assumptions
• Evaluate evidence
• Apply knowledge and skills

6. Leadership Skills

Leadership skills are essential for university students who want to be successful in their personal and professional lives. As a leader, you must be able to communicate effectively, manage conflicts, and motivate others.

The following traits are common among successful leaders:

• Visionary
• Empathetic
• Confident
• Adaptive
• Decisive The Role of a Leader
• Set direction and focus
• Influence, inspire and motivate
• Promote positive changes
• Build and maintain strong relationships

7. Stress Management

Stress can interfere with your academic performance and overall wellbeing. Therefore, it is crucial to learn techniques to manage stress.

Techniques to Manage Stress

• Exercise and physical activity
• Mindfulness and meditation
• Healthy eating and lifestyle habits
• Seeking counseling when necessary The Negative Effects of Stress
• Reduced academic performance
• Anxiety and depression
• Physical effects such as sleep problems and headaches

8. Financial Management

Financial management skills are essential for university students because it prepares them for the real-world practicalities of managing money.

The basics of budgeting includes:

• Identifying income sources and expenses
• Creating a budget plan
• Tracking expenses Tips for Effective Financial Management
• Live within your means
• Avoid debt
• Invest for the future
• Establish an emergency fund

9. Interpersonal Skills

Interpersonal skills refer to the ability to interact effectively with others. Interpersonal skills are critical for success in personal and professional relationships.

Building and Maintaining Relationships Involves:

• Active listening
• Showing empathy
• Communicating effectively
• Managing differences and conflicts
• Developing trust Resolving Conflicts Effectively
• Listen to separate interests
• Address the problem, don’t attack the person
• Create win-win solutions

10. Self-care

Self-care involves focusing on your physical, emotional and mental health to maintain wellbeing.

Techniques for Self-care

• Exercise and physical activity
• Eating healthily and getting enough rest
• Pursuing hobbies and passions The Benefits of Practicing Self-care
• Improved mental and emotional health
• Reduced stress and anxiety
• Increased self-esteem and confidence

Conclusion

In summary, life skills are crucial to personal and professional success for university students. These ten important life skills for university students outlined in this article include time management, goal setting, decision making, communication, critical thinking, leadership, stress management, financial management, interpersonal skills, and self-care. Developing these skills will help you navigate through university life successfully and beyond. Check out 7 Super Powers University Students Must Have To Succeed

FAQs

1. Why are these life skills important for university students? Life skills are essential for university students because they prepare them for the practical aspects of everyday life such as managing finances and interpersonal relationships.
2.  How can a student develop these skills? University students can develop these skills by focusing on personal development, attending seminars, and workshops, seeking feedback, and deliberate practice.
3.  What is the significance of practicing self-care? Self-care is critical for maintaining physical, emotional, and mental wellbeing, which enhances productivity, performance, and overall quality of life.
4.  Can lack of these life skills affect academic performance? Yes, lack of life skills such as time management, decision making, and stress management can affect academic performance.
5.  How can one measure their progress in developing these skills? Measuring progress involves taking note of particular skills, setting goals, evaluating the effectiveness of actions taken, and seeking feedback.

While you are here, check out this article 13 Life Skills That Are Not Taught At Schools

Either you are a college student or a recent graduate, finding a job requires unique efforts combined with specific skillset. This article provides 21 Tips For Students And New Graduates To Find A Job

21 Tips For Students And New Graduates To Find A Job

1- Create a Formal Resume

A formal resume is the foremost important thing that you would have to do in order to search for the job. Even if you do not have industry experience, yet preparing your resume should always be your starting point. Check out this page containing 20+ Student Resume Examples. Even teen resume tips and examples are available there to get you started.

2- Consider Diverse Industries

While searching for job, do not limit yourself to a specific industry. While some of the jobs are industry specific (robotics engineer, medicines etc.) however there are many other industries that provide diverse jobs such as Finance, Accounting, Procurement, Human Resource, Facilities Management, IT systems and so on. If you are a student, you may consider small adhoc (short term) jobs such as Parking assistant, airport guide, research analyst, school services assistant, packing assistant, Receptionist, Cashier in a shop, Nanny and so on.

3- Consider Task Rabbit

A Task Rabbit is a person who performs home related jobs in the community such as grocery pick up from store, packing and assembling, tire replacement, garden cleaning, mounting and installation, takings kids to nearest garden and many others. Check out this detailed article How To Earn Money By Becoming A Task Rabbit.

4- Consider Work Life Balance

If you are a student, your prime focus is study not money, so do not compromise on the quality of study due to job timings. You may be able to earn some extra buck however it will be a long term loss for you due to poor grading that you may get because of giving more time to job and less time to your studies. For most of the countries, job hours per week for students are already defined. If you do not reside in such country, its your own responsibility to keep your life schedule in control.

5- Try to Find The Job That Is In Line With Your Passion

A dream career is the one which is inline with your passion. When your passion becomes your profession, you will bring excellence in your career. You will happily spend more time to learn and excel which eventually constitutes towards your professional growth. However at the start of the career, you need to be very open minded to explore diverse career options. You need to take opinions from different teachers, parents and other professionals in order to choose your field of career.

6- Join Google and Yahoo Groups

Join Google and Yahoo groups where recent jobs are posted by the hundreds of recruiters. There are several other forums, Facebook pages, WhatsApp groups where long term and short term jobs are posted. Keep an eye on such platforms.

7- Stay Active on Professional Portals

Make sure your LinkedIn profile is up-to-date. Join job related groups and get connected with hiring companies. LinkedIn has become one of major resources for recruiters to reach relevant professionals. Send private emails to ALL of your contacts and ask them to consider/forward your resume for new job in their company.

8- Narrow Down Your Preferred Companies List

Make a list of companies of your domain. For example you can search on google by the words “list of telecom companies in middle east”. Visit their website and apply. I know several people who were contacted within a week of applying online. 

9- Get Social

Get social. Make new professional friends on twitter, Facebook and Digg and Blogger. Try to spread your current job status as much as possible. You never know which of your online friend refer you to someone for new job.

10- Find A Job Next Door

Search for the local companies and try to visit them in person. Although this is not an effect way of getting job in most of the metro cities but you never know when your luck knocks your door. This article is about 21 Tips For Students And New Graduates To Find A Job

11- Join Human Resource Forums

Join online job forums and HR related website where people like you are sharing new tips and  recommending new companies. Make sure you have a fantastic profile picture. Checkout this AI based student headshots service.

12- Promote Yourself with Blogging

Market yourself as much as you can. Give comments on HR forums specially LinkedIn. If you are good at writing, start a blog and include your blog address in your resume. Google’s Blogger provides free blogging platform which is very easy to understand and use. I started my blog  paradigmwisdom.blogspot.com free of cost and run it for a couple of years. Later, I purchased a domain dailytenminutes.com and linked my blog with the domain. Now my website is producing adequate amount of money through guest posts, promotional content publication, Google AdSense and Affiliate Marketing.

13- Consider Low Profile Companies

Search for low profile companies. There are several companies which are usually less known to public but providing services to major companies. Sometimes they are referred to as sub-contractors or out sourced companies. Search online with these key words (sub contractors, outsourced, subcons etc). Exposure in small companies is bigger that large companies

14- Tell The World That You Are Searching For Job

Contact all of your on-job friends in different companies by phone & email again and again. Keep reminding them to assist you in finding your new job. Spend 30 minutes everyday to reach out new people on all professional platforms, in your vicinity, in your friends circle and so on. An aggressive yet polite approach should help you finding a job quicker.

15- Check Out Saved Visiting Cards

Do you keep the ‘Visiting cards’ of people you meet? if yes, it’s time to check all those visiting cards and contact those friends/ professionals through email/phone. If you do not have any visiting cards being a student, check with your parents and ask them to contact their professional contacts for your job

16- Launch Yourself As a Digital Freelancer

According to Reliablesoft, Freelance digital marketing is the name given to marketing professionals who offer freelancing services to clients. Digital marketing freelancers usually work from home and help companies with various digital marketing related tasks. Training – Digital Freelancer. Here is an outstanding training from Udacity on Digital Freelancing. If you can afford it, will be of great value since this training has been developed by Udacity along with some of the industry leaders such as Google, Facebook and leading universities.

17-  Get Registered With Recruiting Companies

Every country has several leading recruiting companies. Unlike past, there are now dedicated companies who specialize in internships, student jobs and short term job options. Try to use different search queries in google such as “Internships in Florida” “Airport Assistant in Dubai” “Expo2020 jobs for students”

18- Read Local Newspaper

Read news paper daily (online and printed version both). Classified sections contain new jobs. If there is a library near your place, visit and read it. If that is not possible, subscribe to your local national newspaper for a couple of months. Newspaper not only will give you job options in classified section but will help you increase your language vocabulary.

19-  Consider Working In International Market

Some new graduates directly take the leap of faith and try to launch them in international market even without any prior professional experience. With good academic record and online trainings/certifications, these graduates are able to successfully secure a job in international. Some graduates visit their uncles or cousins in another country and search for jobs.

20- Polish Yourself

If you can manage, try doing free diploma and certifications to upscale your resume. Check out some companies like Alison | Free Online Learning with Certificate & Diploma Courses for this purpose

21- General Guidance

• It is advises to refresh these tips every couple of weeks and keep working till you get what you are looking for.
• You may get a job quickly or it may take a lot of time to sign your first job contract. Do not get dishearten or depressed. Life is mixture of good and bad timings. With every difficulty, a delightful time always comes. Your depressed approach might result in deficiency in your efforts.
• Time to time read optimism articles to keep your pace high. Visit dailytenminutes and enrich your mind and soul by giving daily dose of happiness, positivity, professionalism and optimism.
• Adjust your finances by reducing your daily expense. Spend carefully but don’t deprive your family members from their rights J
• Keep learning and keep polishing your skills. Refresh your knowledge. Read interview tips. This will be required in your next interview.

All the best !