Bridging School and Work
Once you start working, you’ll notice similarities between work and school. There’s a dress code, you have to be on time, and much like a teacher, your manager assigns you work.
There are differences too. Like the fact that you get a paycheck at work. And, if you’re tardy too many times, they may not want you back.
One other big difference, one that you may not notice right away, is this — school is all about discovering what you can do. While, work is all about proving what you’ve done.
Let me explain.
From the moment you started school, you’ve been surrounded by people who believe you have potential. Potential to learn. Potential to do. The entire mission (with the exception of those standardized tests) has been to teach you how to learn. To teach you how to take what you already know and use it to build connections. Generating even more knowledge. So that once your formal education ends, you can continue learning and doing throughout your life.
Now, employers might tell you that they want to help you realize your potential. They want to be a meaningful partner in your career journey. Give you opportunities to develop skills and realize your dreams. But, that’s not what really happens at the vast majority of employers. Not in hiring.
Why? Because, employers want assurances. They want to make sure you, as a new hire, can “hit the ground running.” So, when employers look at your application and resume, they’re usually doing a close, literal reading of the information.
Have you actually used Microsoft Office, especially Excel? Have you used this exact same customer relationship software? Sure, you may be a developer, but how experienced are you with such-n-such framework?
Never mind that most software is intuitive. That there are incredible similarities between PCs and Macs. That communicating with customers in a restaurant versus a retail store is still pretty similar. Employers just don’t see you as a bundle of transferable skills. They’re looking for a replacement clone. Trying to find someone who has done the exact same work in the exact same way.
It’s a frustrating state of affairs. We tell you that education will help you secure a good job, but then the good jobs don’t seem to care about what you’ve learned. They only care what you’ve done.
So, what’s the solution?
Here’s what I propose. Recognize that most employers speak in a language of achievement.
Throughout school, everyone mostly spoke in a language of learning. What you could become. But, at work, it’s all about prior accomplishments. So, you have to learn to speak that same language. You have to learn to present yourself in a way that demonstrates that you’ve already done the work. That you’ve already “achieved” what the employer needs.
Let’s say you’ve worked with a significant number of spreadsheets. But, your school used iPads. Meaning your experience is with Numbers, not Excel. Rather than say you’re experienced in Numbers, hoping employers believe in your ability to use Excel, describe your experience with specific spreadsheet skills. Highlight what’s similar, not what’s different. Using details about projects you’ve completed.
Or, let’s say an employer needs someone who can post to their Squarespace blog, but you’ve only worked on WordPress. Obviously, what’s important is the content, but the employer will be concerned about the software. So, do some research on Squarespace, and then describe the skills you have that will transfer. Don’t expect the employer to know how similar they are. Show them.
One last example. Let’s say you have customer service experience from McDonald’s, but the employer seeks retail experience. Describe your experience in terms that are similar between the two environments. For instance, you could say that you’ve “successfully deescalated conflict with customers when discounts were incorrectly applied.” Again, leave out what’s different, and focus on what’s similar. It doesn’t matter that your experience is with $1.00 off Big Macs, and not 10% off sweaters. What matters is that you’ve dealt with frustrated customers.
I should point out that dishonesty is not the way to start a relationship with an employer. So, don’t interpret what I’m saying as license to lie. Please, be honest. But, appreciate that employers aren’t looking for potential. For an ability to learn. They want proof of achievement.
And, once you recognize this. That employers and schools speak different languages. It gets a little easier to adapt. To change how you describe yourself. To begin making statements of achievement rather than relying on your willingness to learn.
As much as I wish employers would see your potential, and believe in your ability to learn new skills, I’m simply not going to get them to change before you start looking for work. So, to bridge the gap between school and work, the best advice I can give is to learn a new language. Learn to speak in achievements while continuing to believe in your potential.
