One set of career skills that we encourage you to develop is interpersonal skills (also known as “soft skills”). These skills allow you to communicate and collaborate effectively with others. Regardless of your discipline or future employment sector, you will benefit from improving a variety of interpersonal skills. Below are just a few examples.
Active listening. According to the Carnegie Mellon University Civility Initiatives, “active listening is about making a conscious effort to hear and understand someone else.” Imagine that you are the listener in a two-person conversation. Focus on what the other person is saying and avoid interrupting or trying to offer an immediate solution. Nod at times to show the person that you are listening. After the person is done talking, summarize back what you just heard and ask clarifying questions if needed (e.g. “Sounds like you are saying… Is that correct?” or “Can you tell me more about… ?”). A goal of active listening is to ensure that an individual feels seen and heard. Active listening is a lifelong skill that can support your wellbeing in the workplace and in your personal life. It takes consistent practice throughout one’s lifetime, so don’t feel disheartened if you’re struggling to learn this skill.
Additional resources:
- Active Listening Skills and Techniques, Indeed
- How Active Listening Can Make You a Better Leader, Forbes
Clear communication. The ability to communicate clearly and concisely is another interpersonal skill. You can improve this skill when preparing presentations. Ask yourself the following questions: Do I need to create an outline first? What are the key takeaways of my talk? Who is my audience (academic, industry, policymakers, or the general public)? Will I need to take out confusing or unnecessary jargon, depending on my audience? If you are using a slide deck, ask yourself if you have too much content on each slide? Finally, practice a few times with friends or peers, to get feedback on your overall talk as well as your pace and body language.
- If you’re interested in honing your public speaking skills, submit a proposal to present at Scholars’ Studio! At this event, you’ll give a 5-min., fun lightning talk to a general audience about your capstone, research, or pedagogy — without using a lot of technical or academic jargon. Proposals due Oct. 20 by 5 p.m. and learn more here. Event in person on Nov. 20, 3 – 4 p.m., UW Seattle.
Being dependable. Another example of an interpersonal skill is dependability. This means that peers and colleagues are able to rely on you to fulfill your tasks and responsibilities. For example, if you are a Teaching Assistant or Research Assistant, you can practice dependability by having conversations with your faculty advisor(s) or mentor(s) about what is expected of you and your advisor in your work roles. You can also practice dependability by meeting deadlines. But life also happens. If you need to adjust your project timeline due to unexpected circumstances, be proactive by communicating with your advisor and peers. Finally, being dependable also means admitting when you’ve made a mistake while working on a project. Communicate this with your supervisor and colleagues, so you can find a solution together. Additional resource:
- Template for an agreement between graduate students and faculty advisor (example of work agreement), Colorado School of Mines
We hope you find these strategies helpful and let us know what has worked for you.
Best,
Graduate Student Affairs
UW Graduate School