4 ways students can develop entrepreneurial skills

(Family Functions) Today’s students are tomorrow’s leaders. Young people who want to become outstanding business professionals can now gain the knowledge and skills necessary to succeed as entrepreneurs before graduating from high school.

Training in a specific field is an essential step in career preparation, but success depends on more than just academic training. Developing ingenuity and creativity can take young professionals far, and these skills can’t necessarily be learned in the classroom.

If you or a college student are about to take the difficult and rewarding path to economic success, explore your entrepreneurial interests with advice from the experts at Junior Achievement (JA), whose research shows that 61% of teenagers would rather start their own business than work in a traditional job .

Take advantage of your network
Role models can provide immeasurable insight into the world of business and economics, showing what it takes to build a successful and sustainable career. Identify someone around you who can serve as a mentor as you plan for the future. This could be a teacher, a neighbor, someone who attends your church, or a business owner in your community. Meetings and conversations even several times a month can help you direct your ambitions.

Attend Leadership Events
Leaders put their skills into practice. As a student, you can start practicing your leadership skills by attending events that challenge and engage you. For example National JA Summit enables student teams – with support from leading companies such as Staples, Pacific Life Foundation and Chick-fil-A – to demonstrate their entrepreneurial acumen, creativity and entrepreneurial thinking in a competitive environment by pitching their companies to members of Congress.

Through one of four dynamic competitions, Company of the Year competitionstudents start and run real businesses under the guidance of dedicated local business volunteers, develop a concept and launch a product or service that addresses unmet consumer needs and attracts investors to their ventures. By most effectively demonstrating their company’s achievements as well as the personal development of each team member, Flame Guardwhich offers a wide range of fire protection products, was honored this year as JA Company of the Year.

Understand your target industry
It’s never too early to start following important developments in the professional fields that interest you. This may mean monitoring the news and setting search terms to be notified of the latest articles. You can also subscribe to industry-specific publications and join professional organizations related to the field as a student ambassador. Researching the field can give you a stronger idea of ​​how you can become more directly involved as a student.

Expand your education
As a college student, you may have limited opportunities to explore your career field while still meeting your high school diploma requirements. However, you can join (or start) a club to sharpen your focus on areas that interest you. You can also look for ways to learn more about your chosen field outside of school hours by attending camps, seminars, and workshops. You may even find a part-time job, internship, or apprenticeship that will provide more visibility to your future career plans.

Find more ideas to help you grow as a future business leader on me.org.