Being in ‘study mode’ doesn’t mean you can’t start working on the professional skills that you’ll need in the workforce – you’ll thank your future self!
Using LinkedIn Learning is a great way to develop these skills that will be very valuable for you while you’re studying and to employers that you are looking to impress.
Here are two courses I have completed in the last month and ones you should have a look at doing too.
Learning From Failure
A lot of stuff happens at uni, and sometimes things can go wrong or you just don’t understand and your studies may suffer. But you should never be scared of failure – it should be encouraged.
Success is seen as an achievement, but it’s the ‘failures’ that stretch you and leads you on the path to success – you need one to get to the other.
The sad thing is that the ‘fear of failure’ is so deeply ingrained in our culture. We are taught to aspire to a particular level, for example in high school we had an ATAR to reach, or a distinction or HD, and if we didn’t get there we would be sad because no one wants to lose.
Embrace the gloom and doom of failure, it is necessary and normal.
The simple thing to remember is – Try – Fail – Learn – Succeed. You can do this as many times as you want and you’ll find that you’ll succeed in what you want. It’s like cooking – you try and fail with a recipe, and after a while, you figure out the best way to make a cookie.
Owning your mistakes and asking for feedback are great attributes that employers look for, and if you keep working towards success, it shows perseverance. And you’re relatable. Humans make mistakes – own them.
Delivery Tips for Speaking in Public
It’s one of my least favourite things to do and I know for a fact it is for many other people. And it is something that will happen both at uni and out in the workforce so it is best to be prepared.
Public speaking can be terrifying, but it doesn’t have to be.
There are a few things you can do to make it less terrifying – maybe even enjoyable.
Preparation is key
- Practise aloud – there is no point just reading your notes if you’re just going to be talking to people.
- Simulate the conditions in the room – elevate your heart rate. If you practise when you’re calm in front of no one, your preparation could go out the window when you are in front of people.
- Remember that you are there for the audience, so record yourself and see what you will look like from their perspective.
Show your passion
You are presenting to your audience, so make it fun and something they want to pay attention to.
Show your passion and own the space – tell them why you love talking about the topic you are presenting.
Make eye contact with your peers, if you show that you are paying attention to them, they will pay attention to you.
The presentation itself
Certain things can happen in a presentation like a shaking leg or stuttering mid-way through a word. You can stop this by redirecting your energy away from those areas.
Be confident, warm up your body and your mind. You may not be confident but just act it and people will believe that you are.
And finally, try to remove filler words like ‘um, uh, mmm’. Just take a second to think about what you are about to say. It will make you sound more professional and will keep your audience more engaged.
Start your LinkedIn Learning journey with me and develop your personal and professional skills today.
