Sweet Briar College students often overlook the relevance of their liberal arts education to the world of work. While Sweet Briar's primary purpose is to provide its students with a well-rounded education—rather than training them for one specific job—many of the skills developed in the classroom have direct bearing on success in the workplace. Throughout their years at Sweet Briar, students are required to develop and refine their writing, speaking, and research skills. These skills are fundamental to career success. Part of what distinguishes a liberal arts education is its breadth of exposure to different disciplines. Students must learn to write and speak clearly about and conduct scholarly research on topics outside their majors. The ability to adapt to different environments, to understand viewpoints different from their own, and to comprehend unfamiliar information is important in many careers and essential to job advancement (e.g., promotions and raises). Another advantage of Sweet Briar's liberal arts education is that, because classes are small, students are often assigned projects requiring them to develop and improve their writing, speaking, and research skills. Your peers at larger institutions seldom have the opportunity to give in-class presentations or to receive comments about the style and content of their writing assignments. Sweet Briar's smaller classes allow students to take essay exams—not just computer-scored tests—that develop their ability to formulate arguments and support them with evidence. Sweet Brair students often underestimate the value of their education and their opportunities to develop job-related skills and, because of this, they are also often unable to sell their skills to potential employers. To become aware of the skills you are developing, reflect on the assignments you have completed in your classes and use the following lists to compare what you are acquiring with what will be expected of you in your future job.