Students around the world spend a considerable amount of time and money acquiring knowledge necessary to excel in their chosen field of work. Being an accounting major I was confident I was ready for the challenges that lay ahead of me as I entered the working world. I call myself naïve for not realizing the difference between a mistake in an accounting exam and a mistake in a client's accounting books. Here are a few things schools should teach students before they graduate:

Knowledge is not the same as wisdom

For many young professionals who confuse the two, allow me to clarify what I've learned about wisdom and knowledge since starting my professional career. In a nut shell, knowledge is merely having clarity of the facts and truths that come with understanding a subject. Wisdom in simple words is the ability to use that knowledge in the best possible way. Knowledge of the subject matter would help you pass an exam at school but it will never ensure success in the real world. The most successful people I know learned to use their knowledge as well as their soft skills, like emotional intelligence, to get things done. It's important to know something, but more important to know how to use it to your advantage.

Being kind is important, but being right is more important

At school, I was always told being kind is more important than being right.  Soon after I started working, I realized that if I live by that theory I'd soon be looking for another job. Entrepreneurs, managers, or CEOs don't care how you're getting things done; they care that the job is done properly. After all, they hired you to solve the problem. Here are some words of wisdom to all future graduates particularly when dealing with third parties: cut to the chase and reassure them that they know what you want and when you want it done. Beating around the bush will only land you in deep water later on.

The importance of an audit trail

Once you're out of the school, you'll realize how important it is to leave an audit trail. It's one of the things I learned the hard way. There could be times where people commit to you and end up not following through with it. The only way to save your face in front of your boss is to keep track of your correspondences. Let's just say when the blame game starts, you stand a better chance of winning your case if you have an audit trail.

It's extremely important to have an understanding of the work environment before deciding on the employer to work for. You need to keep in mind that you'll spend about 33 per cent of your week at work. If you're an accountant, your hours could range somewhere between 50-80 hours a week during a busy season. The only way to get through is to love what you do and who you work with.

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Sharique Khan is a motivational speaker and a blogger. He blogs at Jobpostings, Canada Pakistan Professional Association, and at shariquekhan.com. He hopes to continue inspiring people through his writing and helping them succeed in their endeavours. You can reach him through email at shariquekhan@dal.ca or connect with him on LinkedIn.