Networking Tips: 5 Unique Traits of Adult Learners

More and more people are choosing to complete degree programs… and not directly out of high school.

Out of the 18 million undergraduate students in the country, 33% of them are over the age of 25 and 22% are over the age of 30, according to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). And the NCES projects an increase of 20% in the enrollment of students 25 and older by 2020. We know many of you, our CSU Global students, fall into these groups. The traits and skills of non-traditional adult learners are often very different and potentially more valuable than  those of younger traditional students. Adult learners have years of life experience that serve to increase their maturity, broaden their worldview, and ultimately make them more responsible and conscientious employees. In this post, we encourage you to review your unique traits, and to add them to your resume, LinkedIn, cover letter, and discussions with future employers. Going back to school while you have other serious responsibilities shows that you possess soft skills that are important to employers. In addition to what you are learning in the classroom, be sure to highlight the following traits: Goal-oriented: You are going back to school with a specific goal in mind. It could be finishing the degree you started years ago, learning new skills to change career paths, or challenging yourself to learn new things. Whatever your goal, going back to school later in life shows a purposefulness behind what you are doing. Even after graduation you will continue to set goals to make your  investment worthwhile which will translate into work and professional life. Persistence: Some of you have been working to complete your degree for many, many years. Life may have gotten in the way, or you haven’t had the time or resources to complete your program quickly, but you are working toward your goal at your own pace. Instead of throwing in the towel, you know that every little bit counts, and that it will pay off in the end. Persistence is a highly coveted, and hard to find, trait in an employee.The ability to advocate for yourself and your projects, and to make every effort to reach your goals despite setbacks, is an attractive trait in any business. By highlighting your educational journey you can demonstrate your drive, ability to work through obstacles, problem-solving skills, and the way these traits would help a business succeed. Real Life Experience: Whether or not you have years of professional experience in your chosen field, being in the working world and experiencing the twists and turns of life brings maturity and life experience. These experiences are invaluable and cannot be taught. They bring another level of diversity, maturity, and insight to a team, which is very valuable to employers. Ability to Prioritize: For many adult learners, time is at a premium. Fitting in school is no easy feat, but you are able to prioritize and delegate responsibilities in order to complete everything that is important to you.  Identifying what needs to come first, and working from there, is an important skill, both personally and professionally. With organizations continuing to run lean, employees wear many different hats and hold many responsibilities. The ability to prioritize is key for success. Self-Investment: Going back to school and investing in yourself shows confidence and commitment. It shows that you take pride in yourself, and want to improve your skills to be a better person. Our world is constantly changing, and employers want employees that are willing to learn and constantly improve. CSU Global holds semi-annual programmatic advisory board with industry professionals, and soft skills are constantly identified as a key aspect of hiring new employees. These are skills that should not be overlooked or underestimated.  Be proud of going back to school, and weave these skills throughout your resume and conversations. Believing in yourself, promoting your hard work, and demonstrating that you are a confident and committed person will only lead to more success in your future!