Wondering what steps you should take to set yourself up for meaningful work in your future career? Being a new graduate can be a confusing and overwhelming time as you decide where you want to apply your newfound skills. In this article, we’re giving practical advice on keeping your options open and nurturing relationships so you can look forward to success after you graduate.
Don’t Turn Down the Help of Others
You’ve probably heard the term “networking” multiple times throughout your course, and there’s a good reason for this. It’s important to build relationships before you need them by talking with people in your chosen industry. If you’ve found employment, get to know your team leaders and other key executives.
Go to networking events and build relationships that you can turn to when you reach a hurdle in your career. Learning key communication styles will make you an easier employee to manage, and it will help you overcome difficulties due to personality clashes in the workplace.
Use Your Inexperience as an Asset
Don’t hide the things that make you who you are. A keen interest in learning and growing can be more useful to employers than extensive experience because it shows that you are malleable and resilient. When you have an idea for a different approach, share it with your team and be open to constructive criticism. You don’t have to know everything to be a leader, so put your hand up to take on a task and learn new things whenever you can.
Manage Your Personal Brand
Certain brand names invoke specific ideas and sentiments when we think of them. Your name has the potential to invoke the same feelings when others hear it. Decide how you’d like to brand yourself, whether it be your dress sense, communication style or expert status on a topic. Take the time to build your LinkedIn profile and market yourself, because you never know what opportunities are waiting around the corner.
Say “Yes” Wherever Possible
One phrase that all employers want to hear is, “I’m flexible”. Unless you have an important conflict of interests, be open to suggestions and timeframes that your team leaders suggest. As a part of a team, you want to deemphasize your personal preferences and work towards a collective whole. Your employer will be thankful for this attitude and you’ll enjoy a workspace with fewer conflicts.
Another important part of this is being relentlessly responsive to emails and requests. Let people know that you’re working on assigned tasks and give realistic timeframes for your work. This way, you’ll reduce your employer’s stress and anxiety. Also, always show up on time (or early).
Upskill Yourself Wherever Possible
There’s no harm in learning new skills and bettering your knowledge of the industry. Enrolling in short courses or online TAFE courses will help you to secure your place in the workforce, giving you valuable skills and knowledge that will make you an attractive prospect to employers. Enrol in an online course with TAFE Gippsland to get your foot in the door.
For additional support after you graduate, don’t hesitate to get in touch with the team at TAFE Gippsland. You can call us on 1300 133 717 or make an enquiry online.