Five things students should remember if they want a good job

AboveTop UniversitiesDr. Rafis Abazov, visiting professor at Al Farabi Kazakh National University - KazNU (Kazakhstan) shares advice with students.

1. Study hard but don't forget to practice soft skills

A short survey of students at the Ban Ki-moon Institute for Sustainable Development at KazNU showed that 74% of respondents believe that soft skills are very important for career success after graduation, while the rest believe that technical knowledge is more necessary.

The survey results reflect today’s reality and the need to balance academics and soft skills. This is not an easy problem to solve. Dr. Rafis Abazov believes that technical knowledge is still highly valued, but we cannot therefore focus on improving our scores and ignore learning soft skills.

He recommends that students spend at least 25% of their time developing skills that will help them in their future jobs.

2. Some skills can be applied in many fields

Every industry has a very specific and well-defined set of essential skills, but there are also some skills that are universal and applicable across many industries. For example, project management skills. In fact, you will see many job descriptions asking for this skill because more and more companies and organizations are building their jobs and activities around specific projects.

3. Continuously improve communication skills

Communication skills are becoming increasingly important to stay competitive in today’s and tomorrow’s job market. While most people may claim to have communication skills in one form or another, effective communication in the modern age still has its own rules, techniques, and scientific principles that promote success.

You can have a great idea, but if you can't communicate it to your friends and colleagues, it's wasted. For example, the first 50 iPhone prototypes failed and continued to fail until the creative team learned how to communicate better.

American billionaire Warren Buffett emphasizes that learning communication skills such as public speaking is one of the top skills for success, not only in the business world but in every field.

4. Advanced technology skills are needed

Digital skills are becoming increasingly important as we use and rely on new technologies such as social media, gadgets and artificial intelligence. Recent trends show that many large corporations and even government agencies are adopting information and communication technology as their primary mechanism.

In this environment, having basic computer knowledge is not enough. Employers require graduates to be able to use the Internet effectively for work, handle everything proficiently on Microsoft Office and many other digital technology-related skills.

5. Emotional intelligence cannot be easily replaced by technology

Many business leaders are increasingly talking about and valuing emotional intelligence, despite the fact that employees use computers and communicate online more than ever.

Emotional intelligence helps you control your emotions, create appropriate emotional relationships, and communicate fluently with work groups. Using emotional intelligence appropriately will create a positive working environment.

By practicing and developing the above skills, you can be more successful in personal interactions, from attending job interviews to creating a positive emotional environment for the team you lead.