Career & Life Essential #1: Become Interpersonal
Strong interpersonal skills are the cornerstone for being considered for almost every job at Microsoft. If candidates cannot interact effectively with recruiters, how will they be effective in communicating with managers, employees and customers?
— Microsoft
Career & Life Essential #2: Appreciate Diversity
It is important for us to hire people that possess an appreciation of diversity because people of different backgrounds – socially, economically, and ethnically – are people that provide a pool of creative ideas that the entire team can draw from.
— Jefferson Pilot
Career & Life Essential #3: Be a Team Player
Lou Gerstner, Chairman and CEO of IBM, said, “Integration is superior to Isolation.” I’ve used this philosophy many times while speaking with students seeking full-time jobs or internships (It’s also at the bottom of all my emails).
— IBM
Career & Life Essential #4 : Manage Adversity
One person a long time ago said that what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. This is true now more than ever.
What sets winners apart from everyone else is how they handle defeat.
— Enterprise Rent-A-Car
Career & life Essential #5 : Communicate Effectively
We seek individuals who possess strong written and verbal communication skills because they will be key attributes in gathering, analyzing and relaying information, and reaching end solutions for teams internally as well as for clients.
— Accenture
Career & life Essential #6 : Become a Person of Integrity
Integrity is important in all aspects of military service because ultimately human life and the future of our country depend on it. A soldier’s word becomes his bond; that is, his integrity becomes part of his service.
— U.S. Army
Career & life Essential #7: Become a Leader
Leadership skills are utilized all day by those with good communication skills, good problem-solving skills, great attitudes, a great work ethic, and those who have developed trust and respect among their subordinates.
–Pfizer
Career & life Essential #8: Connect to the World Around You
Our community is a microcosm of our world of work. Community/Public service demonstrates an interest to be involved and committed to a cause. This gives us more confidence that the person will take ownership and responsibility.
— Smart and Associates
Career & life Essential #9 : explore Your Options and Gain Experience
We have found that those graduates who have explored and worked in professional environments prior to graduation have shorter learning curves than those who don’t.
— PricewaterhouseCoopers
From Becoming The Best Me, 3rd Edition – Bob Orndorff, reprinted with permission