Life and Work Skills for Young Professionals

Oftentimes, the skills we learn for work translate into skills we use outside of work as well. There are so many critical skills we could and should learn, but the most “important” ones will probably vary depending on who you ask.

Shana Lebowitz created a great list of 24 Life Skills Every Adult Should Master Before Turning 30, so we’ve highlighted a few of the best. These skills are important for both work and life outside of work, so take notes!

• Accepting feedback gracefully: This one is very important. It’s easy to take feedback personally, especially if you haven’t been in the “adult” world for very long. We’ve all been there, and we’ve all had to adjust. Remember especially in a professional environment that feedback isn’t personal, and it’s meant to help you. In fact, a supervisor or colleague who tries to help you with feedback usually wants you to stick around and grow. Otherwise, they wouldn’t be investing their time in you.
• Apologizing sincerely: Being in a situation where you have to apologize, especially at work, never feels good. However, the best to recovering from a slip up is apologizing in an authentic way. Learn when to admit you were wrong, and assure your supervisor that you’ve learned from the situation. Stay humble.
• Empathy: Emotional intelligence is is an important component of working with others. Remember that everyone’s perspective is not the same as your own, and everyone has different experiences. Try to see things from others’ perspective.
• Creating (and maintaining) a budget: Making a budget is a logical thing to do regardless, but sticking to it is also very satisfying. It feels good to be on top of things, and will cause much less stress than not having a spending plan.

Photo by Green Chameleon on Unsplash