Our time as UofT students mainly consists of studying for our next exam, finishing a 1000+-word essay, and rushing to Starbucks before an important lecture. Throughout the school year, many of us also begin to find our interests and join extracurricular activities to prepare ourselves for the future. Given that we are constantly surrounded by bright-minded peers and bombarded with graduate school deadlines, it is no surprise that many of us succumb to the implication of high grades and success.
However, when graduation day arrives, we suddenly begin to realize the harsh reality of the working world. Focusing on understanding mandatory courses is not an obstacle anymore, and every student is struck with a different situation. As employers start to value practical skills over theoretical knowledge, the knowledge of different software and applications is now becoming more important than ever.
In order to establish yourself as a competitive candidate in the job market, recognize that university is the perfect time to build your network and skills. The qualifications and knowledge required for an employee vary between industries; however, possessing several technical skills will definitely help you leverage your experience for a good career. As you progress through your university journey, try to master one of these software platforms (other than Microsoft Word), before you graduate:
Adobe Photoshop
During your university career, you might discover that a creative field may be your calling. The transition from a theoretical to an artistic position will be easier for an individual who knows Photoshop proficiently. In fact, over 90% of the world’s creative professionals use Photoshop. For students trying to pursue technical careers, the mastery of Adobe Photoshop will still come in handy for future hobbies. For example, hobbyist photographers constantly use the software to edit and retouch their photographs. Even if Photoshop may seem intimidating to learn, the software is versatile and applicable to many environments.
Adobe Illustrator
A myth that many of us have heard is that Adobe Illustrator is a drawing software for artists. Even if the word “illustrate” is associated with cartoons and portraits, the software itself is much more multifaceted. Knowing Adobe Illustrator can help students format their assignments, including lab reports, essays, and discussions. Due to its flexible nature, photos can easily be placed between paragraphs and a variety of fonts can be used for the intervening text.
Microsoft Excel
This software is virtually used in every industry and office position. Studies have shown that approximately 750 million people around the world use Microsoft Excel. For students who want to work in banks or technology companies after graduation, learning and practicing Microsoft Excel to complete school assignments is extremely important. Although the software is complex due to its multiple functions and buttons, it is extremely convenient for calculating and categorizing data.
Canva
Throughout university, you may be expected to design a banner or logo for one of your projects. Even if you are enrolled in a writing-intensive program, there is a chance that you will stumble upon a design project; this scenario also applies to the working world. Therefore, it is important to know how to whip up a design as quickly as possible, regardless of your specialization. A perfect trick to do this is by using Canva, an online website with generated designs and templates. Fortunately, Canva is relatively easy to learn and master for a person with little to no design background.
QuickBooks
Although QuickBooks may seem like a specialized software for accountants, the platform is regularly used by many people during tax return season. Every year, a tax form from the University will be presented for the student to complete. If an individual knows how to use QuickBooks, they will be able to file their taxes efficiently without turning to an accountant. Even if the learning curve is steep, students can practice and attend workshops to prepare them for those dreaded tax documents.
Having knowledge of different software to accomplish various goals will allow an individual to experiment more with their hobbies, interests, and career paths. After graduation, students run into the uncertainty of finding the right job and industry. In order to minimize the amount of self-learning required for a particular software, it is best to start your learning journey in university. Even if learning different platforms may be overwhelming at first, remember that these four years in university will pass by quickly. After all, lost time will never be found again.
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