KadaAsk: What are the most underrated skills that you think can help advance a career?

Hey ka-Kada! Happy Sunday!

I’m Nicole, a 4th year student. As I’ll begin my OJT this year, I was just wondering, “What are the most underrated skills that you think can help advance a career?

Would love to know your thoughts~ :grin::pray: Thank you!

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Knowing how to network in specific fields !

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I believe knowing how to network and communicating helps a lot!

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I’m not sure if this is underrated but I think knowing how to listen actively is often overlooked. It’s helpful in building rapport, avoiding miscommunication, etc.

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Most underrated skill for me is knowing when to say NO to opportunities. :))

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Hi there, Nicole! Vlad here. I’m currently a Computer Science student doing an online internship. I believe an underrated skill that you can work on to advance on your career would be effective communication.

Effective communication isn’t just about speaking well, it’s about actively listening, asking the right questions, and clearly expressing your ideas. Take the initiative to start conversations and build your network. As you begin your OJT, don’t be afraid to connect with mentors, colleagues, and fellow interns! Your network can be really valuable in the long run! :sparkles:

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Hi Nicole! I’m currently a third-year student, and I believe an underrated skill is building your network and connections. It’s something that I’m working on now because I’ve realized how valuable it is for personal and professional growth.

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taking initiative even if you will fail. You are the director of your career - raising your hand to opportunities can help you ask for the things that will fuel your leadership journey

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Balance! High grace and high patience! If you have high standards, ambition, and passion, then balance it with high grace and patience. Whatever you’re aiming for, but most especially if you’re aiming high, give yourself the time and space to process, regroup, and recover when you fail and make mistakes. If you push yourself hard therefore you must support yourself as hard. :yin_yang:

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Hi Nicole! Great question. Koach Michi here. As someone who has done a lot of hiring in the past and who currently manages a team, the things I notice that really set people are:

PROACTIVITY: People who really go the extra mile and take ownership will always go further.
LEARNING AGILITY: I love working with quick learners who dive headfirst into a challenge and are not afraid of whether or not they “know how to do it” – they just learn as they go and they are not afraid to learn something new.
UNDERSTANDING BIG PICTURE OBJECTIVES – the best members of my team know what the organization is trying to accomplish and can connect what they are doing to that big picture, so they know what is most important when producing the output or presenting their recommendation.

Hope this helps! :slight_smile:

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How you present yourself online is just as important as face-to-face interactions, especially if you work remotely and your online presence is the only thing your team/client has access to! Also something I’m still learning :slight_smile: Making sure you have good lighting, being extra responsive, and you obviously don’t wanna be emailing with silly emoticons like :> when time doesn’t call for it lol!

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Hi, Nicole! Jas here. As a fellow 4th-year student-intern majoring in Marketing Management, I’ve noticed that two of the most underrated yet crucial skills for career growth are Adaptability and Passion.

Navigating the corporate world, especially as a first-timer, can be challenging. That’s why the ability to quickly learn, unlearn, and adjust based on industry changes is crucial. Through this, your communication skills will naturally improve, allowing you to build strong networks, become more resourceful, and foster personal and professional growth - enhancing both your intelligence and emotional quotient. Furthermore, passion keeps you grounded in your mission and goals.

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Never being afraid to fail! I think fearless execution is the secret to driving results

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From my OJT experience, I can say that it is important that we stay curious and eager to learn. Through that we would gain more knowledge and experience, opening up more opportunities for us to grow. I also think that these skills should be applied not only for career advancement but also expand into other aspects of life. This helps us tap into a growth mindset eager for continuous learning :blush:

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