Graduation is the completion of something that was started with a goal and sometimes with a deadline. Graduation from anything is an exciting time. It doesn’t matter if it is the completion of a project, a service, or education. It means that it is time to move on to something else because you have finished. Congratulations!
Graduation is usually used for the completion of education, but never is a time to stop educating. That is because in this day and age, things are always changing and it is important to keep up with the changes. The new procedures and styles have to continue to change. Therefore, individual learning has to continue to keep up with the changes. College graduates need to think about this when they are looking for employment in their careers, so here are the most common suggestions:
1. Mistakes
Upon graduation, it may seem like the career choice you made is a mistake or you don’t have a great chance to get that position because of the lack of experience that most job postings request. Take in all the information that is received from interviews, job search coaches, and others. We all learn from mistakes and it is better to make the mistakes now and learn from them, not after you’re hired.
2. Soft Skills
We all have soft skills when we graduate that need to be strengthened, but do we know what they are and how to change them? There are tests available like the Myers-Briggs and some others that are available online to help you find out what are your weaknesses and start working on them. Now is the time to find and improve weaknesses. This improvement will help with your personality, career, and decision-making.
3. Adjustable
Throughout most of your years in school, assignments were given to you and you had to complete them. There may have been some assignments that were given that required some work with others and they showed you what it is like to rely on others to take part, good or bad, on something that influences you. Employment will be the same, so remember the good and bad team members you worked with and use this knowledge to be a good player all the time, be coachable, and adjustable.
4. Patience
It is hard to fathom after graduation that it is almost another 40 years before you are done in the working world. However, that is the average amount of time that careers last and you need to have patience with yourself to become a professional. Also remember that things will change over time on how things are done, for who, and when, so be patient with other members that have an impact on your career.
5. Strong Verbs
The first thing an interviewer sees is your letter of interest and then your resume. Make sure to use strong verbs when describing you and your skills. It shows you have excellent communications skills and good confidence levels. These are both points that are attractive to employers. It shows strength in you and as less work for them.
6. Learn Continuously
If you find that something new is in the market to come about and affect your career, don’t be afraid to ask about it, research it, and learn it. Look at the history of things that have changed over the years and how things are done today. It’s always good to be one step ahead and ready to learn. Earning an online graduate degree shows current and future employers that you are committed to growing your knowledge base and career goals.
7. Short-term and Interim
There may not be a demand for your position with low skill levels at this time, but don’t let that make you feel like it’s hopeless. See about other positions within a location that can get you the opportunity to work up the ladder. It may be to do a short-term customer service employment at your dream location that gets you the interview that is posted internally before externally. Do some research and see if there is a need to set up short-term or interims in different areas to get the experience that is necessary to get the desired employment at the dream location.
8. Move or Temporary Contract
Depending on what your major is, there may be some changing location decisions to make. Some majors are unnecessary for some locations and are overly needy and demanding in other areas. Take the time to look elsewhere for getting experience. It can be obtained by temporarily moving to other areas or by obtaining contracts.
9. Remote Work
Based on the force, not choice, remote work has become a new demand for employment. It may not be the dream job, but remote work has become pretty common today and for some positions, it has become permanent. Therefore, taking the opportunity to obtain work remotely and getting the experience is a new start to networking, practicing self-management, and learning about voice control and body language for videos.
10. You Don’t Know
Everything that you learned in school that you think you know, you don’t. You were instructed from a book and the professor’s experience. That is not what it is like in the working world, so what you think you know, you don’t and when you find out that you are wrong, don’t take it personally. Employers know you are naïve and they don’t have the same persona of you as you do. They know you’re human and you will too, eventually.
After graduation is the time in your life when you finally feel like it’s over and you are ready. Getting that diploma is over, but learning is never over, and now you just started your 40 years of professional career. Keep your mind open to learn from a mistake, others, and the surrounding changes that will always happen, whether or not you’re ready.