Skills College Didn’t Teach Me — And How I Leveled up at Cox

When I think back to the first few months after college graduation, what stands out isn’t how prepared I felt — it’s how quickly I realized how much I still had to learn.

College gave me a solid foundation. I learned how to research, write, meet deadlines and think critically. But once I stepped into the professional world, it became clear that there were important skills no syllabus had really covered: things like navigating workplace dynamics, finding confidence in my voice and knowing when to ask for help instead of trying to figure everything out on my own.

The good news was that I didn’t have to do it alone.

Learning from others 

One of the defining experiences of my early career was my internship at Cox. I expected to gain hands-on experience, but what stood out most was how much I learned simply by being surrounded by people who genuinely wanted to see me grow and succeed. 

That’s where I began building a network of mentors — not just through formal programs or defined roles, but through everyday interactions. Quick conversations, opportunities to listen in and honest feedback all helped me see things from new perspectives. 

Those mentors taught me lessons I still carry today: 

• How to advocate for myself while staying open to feedback 
• Why listening is just as important as speaking 
• How curiosity can often open opens doors faster than credentials 

More than anything, they showed me that growth doesn’t happen by keeping my head down and working in isolation; it happens through collaboration and nurturing relationships. 

Skills you don’t gain in a lecture hall 

Some of the most valuable skills I picked up early on had nothing to do with technical knowledge. 

I learned how to speak up in meetings, even when I wasn’t sure my idea was the “right” one. I learned how to turn uncertainty into asking thoughtful questions instead of keeping them to myself. I learned how to build relationships that felt genuine, not transactional. And I learned that not knowing something isn’t a weakness. Most of the time, it’s just part of the process. 

Those lessons came from experience, observation and a willingness to feel uncomfortable while figuring things out.  

Leaning into lifelong learning 

Another realization hit me pretty quickly after graduation: learning doesn’t stop once you’ve earned your degree. If anything, staying curious becomes more important in a world where technology is constantly evolving, and new tools and skills seem to emerge almost every day.

Postgrad life taught me that adaptability matters just as much as expertise. When technology keeps changing, being willing to learn and relearn becomes one of the most important skills you can have. 

I’ve leaned into opportunities to keep learning through online platforms like LinkedIn Learning, skill-building workshops hosted by Cox’s learning and development team, coffee chats with company leaders and other free development resources that Cox makes available to employees. Whether I’m exploring how AI can boost productivity or learning how new tools fit into daily workflows, these resources make it easy to stay sharp and adaptable.

What I wish I knew as a recent grad 

If I could go back and offer advice to my postgrad self, or to anyone just starting out, it would be this: 

• Find mentors everywhere. They can be inside or outside your organization, at any stage of their career. The more people and perspectives you learn from, the better! 
• Ask questions sooner than you think you should. Curiosity can build both confidence and credibility. 
• Use the tools and resources available to you. There has never been more access to free, flexible education than there is now. 
• Give yourself grace. Growth takes time, and no one expects you to know everything on day one. 

College taught me how to learn, but my career at Cox is showing me what it really means to grow — through experiences, challenges and the people around me.

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