What Students Don’t Learn About Work in College

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I agree with a previous comment writer that no. 4 is only partially true. Among new employees, overly casual writing seems far more prevalent than overly formal writing. Some write business letters as if they were texting their friends. That's inappropriate, and writing most definitely counts at evaluation time.

W of CA 8:02PM February 22, 2012

Thanks, especially for items 6 and 8. It amazes me how stubbornly immature some young (and NOT so young) employees can be with regard to dress codes. Sure, some workplace rules are draconian and unfair, but so far, no one is asking employees to wear shackles (unless you consider the door badge the equivalent). It is what it is. It pays you money to keep a roof over your head. If you can't tolerate it, go the entrepreneur route. I'm completely sympathetic to the Occupy movement, but not all employers are the evil 1 percent. I many cases, they're just trying to get a job done, and the more employees there are, the more it gets to be like herding cats.

EMW of TN 6:34AM December 06, 2011

Number four is half-true. Having the ability to write conversationally when needed is great but formality in business communication can be required at times, especially in a cover letter. Nobody wants to see Basic English, which is pushed in many universities by the way, in a cover letter. Also, what did you study at university in which critical thinking and considering multiple points of views were not required?

Shane of NY 1:23AM November 26, 2011

True. What makes the workplace forget from where someone comes? The influence of making money and a mission, and not making mistakes comes in to play and that's why it's abruptly different. Also, the workplace newcomers enter may include others who have been out of school much longer and/or may have had less schooling/more working experience and there is a disconnect. Workers can still care though, you just have to get moving.

Lessie of FL 3:30PM November 24, 2011

I second #7 -- experience is really valuable. When I hired entry-level people at a marketing agency, I could choose from applicants who had two, three, or more internships. At the high end, a friend had eight internships in her field before she graduated, each with quantifiable achievements!
All things being equal, I prefer to hire a new graduate who's already moved up the "working at a company" learning curve. Someone without any experience might be passionate, but there's no track record for evaluating them.

Karl Sakas of NC 9:34AM November 22, 2011