Description
Book SynopsisThis practical, easy-to-read guide shows you how to master the critical skills needed for school, work, and life.
Table of ContentsPreface
1 University as Preparation for a Great Job
What’s university all about?
What to expect after graduation
Will I get a well-paid job?
How to select courses
Mature, returning, and part-time students
What job-related skills can I learn in my courses?
2 Skills for Success at School and Work
Oral presentations
Group work
Being a proactive professional
Using numbers
Taking notes
Getting yourself organized
3 Prospering in the Classroom and Workplace
Exams, a fact of life
Strategies for multiple-choice exams
Strategies for written exams
The usefulness of essays
Writing for the academic reader
How to organize an essay
The basic structure of an essay
Essay writing as a process
Common essay-writing errors
Lab reports and similar assignments
The last word
4 Strengthening Your Critical Skills
What are critical skills?
Communication and critical thinking
Strengthening your critical skills
The limitations of narrative
Contextualizing information
The significance of theories
Theoretical levels and forms
Practical tips to help you on your way
5 Active Listening and Active Reading
Passive listening
Active listening
Active reading
Reading at an academic level
Perfecting your skills
6 Researching a Topic
Rules of thumb for researchers
Two research strategies
7 Practical Problem Solving for School, Work, and Life
Why applied problem solving is so important
Problem solving as a process
Step one: defining the problem
Step two: discovering causes
Step three: establishing solutions
Step four: making a choice
Step five: implementation
Step six: benchmarking and evaluating
Step seven: remaining vigilant
Problem solving as a life skill
8 Creative Problem Solving for Life and Work
Relation to problem solving
The rigid structures of the mind
Creative problem-solving techniques
Creatively reconfiguring the problem
Maximizing creative solutions
The right environment for creative thinking
9 Finding and Getting the Great Job
The importance of networking
Resumes
The cover letter
Networking and the information interview
The real interview
Decoding interview questions
Interview styles
References
After the interview
10 Managing Social Media
Five rules for social media
Social media and relationship building
Branding yourself
Internet dating as metaphor
11 Success at Work and Beyond
The first job
Staying sharp
Dealing with the transition
Graduate, professional, vocational, and on-line education
Further success
Notes; More Resources
