I'm an engineer with more than thirty years of experience. Nothing could be more "specific" than an engineering education. Yet, speaking as one who did very well both in engineering school and as a practicing engineer, I found that what I learned in engineering school was only coincidentally related to what I have been doing for the past thirty years or so. Here are a few of the important things that I did not learn in school:
1. Synthesis. The engineering process is one of design systems that work well through out the complete range of specified conditions and environments of intended use. Learning to design complex systems that work well on the bench is one thing. Designing them for a broad range of operation is another. Some people who were good students and good at analysis weren't able to design themselves out of a box. But, synthesis is a general ability, and idea generation and systems design is important in all fields, whether you're designing a management system for an HMO, developing a curriculum for a high school course, or planning an exercise gym.
2. Critical thinking. What do the data say and what can one logically conclude from the data? Lack of critical thinking is rife. Just look at simplistic political groups that have all the "answers" on both the right and left.
3. Learning to be comfortable in handling and thinking about complexity and complex systems. Regardless of your specific field, complexity is reality, so you'd better get used to it.
4. Writing. Most engineers I've encountered are poor writers, which is a problem because writing is a critically important part of an engineering career. We write specifications, user manuals, grant proposals, memos, etc. But, writing is important for everyone. Start with spelling, punctuation, grammar, move on to style and graduate to a complete, cogent, coherent draft. Get The Elements of Style. Unless you're careful, writing on the web is typically detrimental to your style.
5. The very practical and economical way things are done in the "real world." I remember, when I began my first job, I started working on a project using what I had learned in school. I was quickly informed that "we don't do it that way here because it would take forever and cost too much. Here's how we do it."
So, even if you think that your "specific" education is preparing you for a secure, safe career, think otherwise. Most of what you learn in school isn't the way things are done outside of school and, what is, will soon be obsolete (as most of your professors already are). With a college or university degree, however, you have the "ticket" (i.e., credentials) to enter a situation where your real learning will begin. You will continue to learn throughout your career particularly if you have "general" skills.
So, the best things you can do are: 1. learn to think; 2. learn to write; 3. learn to learn.
