little more than an expensive piece of paper. There are many real life skills you can earn on the job, and off it, that can make the education you get in graduate school more effective and make you more attractive to employers in the future. Time Management While it seems that managing your time wisely would be a no-brainer, many people struggle with this aspect. If you can learn to set priorities in your personal life and on the job, you can save your valuable free time and make yourself an asset to your employer. Consider setting goals on a daily basis and balancing your work time so you can work more efficiently and effectively. Preparation Skills No matter what aspect of life, the often quoted Boy Scout motto “be prepared” is a rule that all should strive to incorporate. Whether it’s having all your information prepared for a meeting or having an alternative plan for a “rainy day,” preparation can be the difference between success and failure. Utilizing Online Tools According to a survey by Bentley University, 58 percent of employers felt as though new college graduates were not properly prepared for the business world. To offset this, you need to be aware of many tools online that can be beneficial to your success. That doesn’t exactly mean hopping on Facebook every 15 minutes, but know that by finding the proper websites, such as LinkedIn, you can market and network yourself, and also find new avenues to promote your employer’s business. To get ahead, look into taking a basic coding or web design class to at least familiarize yourself with digital tools. Be Ethical and Striving for Integrity Having ethics and integrity is something that not every individual deems a top precedence in his or her life. An MBA can open many doors in the business world, but having integrity is an intangible asset that can make you more attractive. Regardless of the circumstances, never put this aside for anyone or anything. Stay true to yourself and take the time now and again to consider whether the choices you make are the right ones. Be a Team Player In the workplace, in school, and in your life, being a team player can be beneficial. It teaches you to deal with people in order to reach a common goal, regardless of lifestyle or personality. Enabling yourself to deal with a wide variety of people can also help you figure out what your greatest skills are and which ones need to be improved. If you are still on the fence about whether or not to attend graduate school, make sure that you strive to make yourself as valuable as possible in and out of the workplace. Not only will this make you more attractive to potential employers, but it will help you excel when you do decide to take the next step in your career by earning an MBA.