College is good for a lot of things: learning responsibility, improving communication skills, being exposed to differing viewpoints, enjoying bad carbs — to name a few.

It is not, however, always so great at preparing you for the modern workforce. Here are seven things you won't learn in college that will help you to succeed in the real world:

1. How to find a job

You find most jobs through people, not job listings. In fact, sociologist Mark Granovetter discovered that about 80 percent of people he polled said they found out about jobs through weak ties (i.e. dog walker, friend's former boyfriend, social media acquaintance).

I can corroborate this. Practically every job I've ever gotten has been through the friend of a friend, which means starting a job search any other way is pretty inefficient.

The lesson: When job hunting, do not spend most of your time on Indeed and Monster (rookie mistake). Instead, spend it reaching out to your network. Write emails; go on LinkedIn and message relevant people; have lunch with useful people; talk to everyone. Social media is your friend, so post on Facebook and let everyone you know what you're looking for. Always include parents and family friends, as they're more likely to know people higher up on the totem pole.

2. How to interview

You interview to get into college with your application (sometimes), then never again.

The lesson: Practice. Google the 10 most common interview questions and role-play them with someone you trust. See which answers you still need to polish, and where you need to stop rambling (not rambling is a particularly valuable interview skill).

3. How to negotiate salary

The first time I was asked, “So what are you looking for in terms of compensation?” I froze. I eventually came up with a figure, but the fact was, I was unprepared.

The lesson: Research the average salary for the job you're interviewing for before you get on the phone or go in for the interview. Use glassdoor.com. Ask around. Then role-play the conversation with someone you trust.

4. How to build alliances at work

In college, professors don't have the power to promote, fire, or give you a good or bad performance review. You sometimes have to collaborate with fellow students, but the consequences are minimal.

In the real world, you absolutely need allies at work. You'll need help navigating the system and figuring out who the real decision-makers are. You'll need favors from people. You'll need support.

The lesson: When you start a new job, invest heavily in relationships. Find people with whom you click and ask them to lunch or Starbucks instead of retreating into email during breaks. Ask them what they wish they'd known when they started, and listen closely. Social ties at the office will be critical, so prioritize them; it'll make your life infinitely easier later on.

5. How to ask for a raise

This is a notoriously un-learned skill in college, and arguably one of the most important (especially for women).

The lesson: Try to get a sense from talking to colleagues about the salary range at the company for jobs that are similar to yours (but do this cautiously.) Put together a few bullet points on how you've contributed and what compensation you want. Role-play the conversation with someone you trust and practice being concise and confidant. Then take deep breaths and just do it. (And if you're a woman, read “Knowing Your Value.” It's one of the best things I've ever done for my career.)

6. What to do if/when you get fired

I've been let go several times and I haven't been in the workforce very long. The fact is, we live in an unstable time when it comes to job security.

The lesson: Especially if you excelled in school, be prepared for the eventuality that you will not always excel. If you figured school out early on, you probably always had similar experiences: study, do well, repeat. The real world doesn't work like that; in addition to your performance, there are complex relationship dynamics, funding issues, personality clashes and more at play.

Be aware of this, and if/when you do get let go, know you're not alone. Then go back to point 1 — and dig in.

7. How to find a job that truly fits you

Everyone says “follow your bliss,” but no one really talks about how to do it. Well, happiness scientists say what really matters is that you spend most of your time doing things you're good at.

I'm a writer. After working several sexy startup jobs that I thought would be great but I ended up hating, I now spend most of my time writing (not checking email). I'm happier than I ever have been.

The lesson: The “what” of what you do day-to-day matters. Talk to people in the position you're looking at and ask what they spend most of their time doing. Prioritize jobs where it's something you're good at and like doing.

Getting a good education is very important. Just make sure that's not all you're learning, and that you never stop doing so.