Previously published under title: A practical guide to getting a great job after university, 2003.

Issued in print and electronic formats.

Includes bibliographical references.

Preface

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

About the Authors

"Going to university is an exciting time of life that involves many things: learning, meeting new people, making decisions, building relationships, and gaining greater independence. But getting a university education can also be a source of undue stress. What courses should I take? What program should I choose? Will I get a job after graduation? It’s easy to become discouraged when you don’t see what relationship studying Plato, Shakespeare, or Sartre has to the real world. -- How to Succeed at University (and Get a Great Job!) shows that the best preparation for success at life and on the job is succeeding at university. Oral presentations, teamwork, meeting deadlines, overcoming challenges, locating information, explaining events, writing well, and dealing with people in authority are essential in any professional job. These same skills are also vital for becoming a strong student. This book gives you advice and strategies, along with real-life examples, on how to improve the skills that guarantee success at school, work, and in life. More than that, by mastering these easy-to-learn skills, you will also have time to enjoy all the other benefits that a university education provides. -- This practical guide is meant for university students and graduates, college and high school students, as well as instructors, guidance counsellors, and parents. By answering many of the questions that students and recent graduates have about succeeding in their courses and in their post-school careers, this book shows that the path from university to the real world is straightforward and exciting if you know what you are doing. -- This book will show you how to: Develop strong communication skills; Select the right courses and choose a program; Organize and manage your time; Write essays and prepare for exams; Take notes in classes; Adapt to changing circumstances; Problem solve; Develop positive attitudes; Manage social media; Prepare a powerful resume; Shine in job interviews; Succeed in your career. -- An excellent resource for university, college, and high school students and graduates, as well as instructors, guidance counsellors, and parents." (Publisher's Website)