Does College Prepare You for the Working World?
By JoAnna Wang
I graduated this past May and just started here at Engage PR. I am slowly adjusting to working life, but from what I’ve experienced so far, it doesn’t take long before becoming acquainted with people, and your responsibilities seems natural and even second nature. Maybe not the hours, though the 9-5 grind is typical of work life (I relish the fact that I never had a class in college that started before 11 and almost every semester I got at least a 3-day weekend). It’s still a little mind-boggling to consider myself as an alumna, but I am definitely relieved to have a college degree under my belt. Now that I’m working, though, I find myself questioning what college has really done for me. Does it prepare you for the working world?
The most obvious answer to this question seems to be yes, it does, or why else would we pay thousands upon thousands of dollars for school books, tuition, and a college education?
Surprisingly however, most would agree that the majority of a typical college curriculum does not touch on many facets of working life. Though I cannot deny learning about astronomy and philosophers like Descartes and Voltaire is somewhat interesting (key word being somewhat), the majority of courses are not relevant in the working world, especially in PR. Often times, students realize they are interested in jobs outside their area of study and do not even pursue careers that are relevant to their majors. On top of this, the variety of class schedules on a daily basis makes adjusting to the 9-to-5 work schedule even more difficult. So how is college culture at all conducive to preparing for the working world?
I’ve found the most essential ways college has helped prepare me for working life come from things I’ve learned outside of the classroom. Sure, college enhanced my ability to meet deadlines, write coherently, and work in teams through group projects. But what college did the most was provide an environment in which I was able to learn how to master everyday responsibilities, such as getting groceries, being punctual, and paying the bills on my own. It gave me a sense of independence that translates into my work environment, where I don’t need to be micromanaged to finish my task, and finish it well. And to a certain degree, it makes the level of my work a higher quality because I am acquainted with the higher expectations associated with a college degree. College was a necessary transition where I was able to grow up while still being a kid, and boy, don’t we all need that time to get some of those childish kinks out of our systems before we’re ready to commit to the working life. You live, you learn, you grow.
So if the question is, is college worth it? The definite answer is YES.
We’ve all experienced it – you’re driving on the highway and you get stuck behind someone driving 35 mph in a 65 mph zone – in the left lane no less. You do your best to control your road rage, but as you finally pass the person, you can’t resist the urge to look over and give them your angriest “What the heck are you doing?” face.
Whether on the road or working from a home office full time, telecommuters share some common traits. For starters, we have all at one time answered the phone in a towel…probably not, but it’s possible. Now that I have your attention, I’d like to share some tips that I’ve found helpful in my experience as a telecommuter.
The first time I heard this phrase I was a little uncomfortable. But the term “ping,” which turned out to be another word for “annoy someone again” and not a form of sexual harassment, was the first of many corporate terms I eventually worked into my everyday corporate vocabulary.
What followed was an interesting discussion and mix of ideas. However, I was very surprised that four of the panel’s ten predictions were related to the concept that the mobile phone and emerging “smartphones” will become akin to mainstream computers and replace the desktops or PCs of today.
Let me start by saying that Inside Pitch (Engage PR’s softball team) currently holds a record of 0 and 5. The record is not an accurate reflection of our superior skills when it comes to softball.
With Mother's Day around the corner, I thought what a perfect time to share some good news here at Engage PR! We are very excited that we have two great colleagues expecting their first babies this summer. In a company with just over 20 employees, when two people are pregnant and due within 2 weeks of one another, you have to ask "Is there something in the water?" I'm very excited to have these two colleagues join the world of mommy hood. Right now, moms are the in the minority, so it will be nice to have some more company.
In a strategic meeting this week, a client said something that – combined with something I recently read – led to this post. The client and the EPR team were discussing a few creative opportunities and then moved on to the next topic. Suddenly, the client (who usually likes to power through things) said, “Back up, I have another thought about that.”
By Becky Frost
During a recent trip to Napa, two of my friends and I found ourselves looking forward to a short two-day getaway from reality. However, a getaway can be more difficult to achieve than one might think. Within the first 20 minutes of the drive up, we were each connected to a cell phone, BlackBerry, or worse…connected to both devices at once and engaging in text messaging or mobile email. Ironically, this trip away from reality led me to realize how much we truly rely on our mobile devices as a primary method of communication. 