10 tips for new graduates

Entering the world of work can be a daunting prospect. Whilst, the majority of graduates have some work experience prior to finishing their studies, finding a full time job will be an alien situation for most.

So here’s a list of useful tips and advice to keep in mind while you make those first steps into your new career.

Keep these four ‘P’s in mind

Be positive, stick to your principles, be pro-active and stay productive.

 Learn about you

 You might find that your first job isn’t what you thought it would be. Maybe you realise that the industry you had in mind isn’t how you envisaged it? Don’t get discouraged. Treat this first step as a learning experience. You may find it leads to something totally unexpected with new challenges, or you may find it’s not for you. Either way, the key is not to stop learning.

 Be open to change

 Don’t be discouraged when a job doesn’t turn out as hoped. Change can open new doors and unexpected opportunities.

 Don’t shy away from mistakes

 Honesty is the best policy. If you’re unsure about something – ask! And if you’ve messed something up – Own up! Having the confidence to admit defeat, or admit a mistake, is an invaluable attribute, not a weakness. Your boss or co-workers would rather lend a hand or help solve a problem, than hear about it from a third party further down the line. Learning from ones mistakes is just as valuable as learning from ones successes.

 Look forward

 Learn to listen. Whether it’s positive or negative feedback. Take it on board and move forward.

 Make connections

 As that saying goes: ‘It’s who you know, not what you know.’ Whilst knowing something is in fact quite useful, it’s of no use if you’ve got no one to share it with. Make connections, grow your network and it will help in a huge number of situations. Don’t know something and don’t have the tools to learn it? Maybe you know someone who does? See what we’re getting at?

 Patience

 Excuse the cliche, but ‘Rome wasn’t built in a day’. And nor is your career. You’re taking your first step into the world of work. Be patient, be resilient and understand that this is just the beginning.

 Respect – it’s a two-way street

 It’s easy to focus on you; getting ahead, making progress, rising to the top. But more important, is treating those around you with respect and consideration. Greet people as you walk into the office, regardless of whether it’s the CEO or the cleaner. Take time to speak to people and they’ll take time to speak to you.

 Discretion is the best policy

 If asked about your opinions on colleagues, always reserve judgement. Don’t automatically assume that a co-worker won’t repeat what you’ve said. Take the time to draw your own conclusions of the people around you.

 Start as you mean to go on

 Good time management and organisational skills are always helpful. Even if you’re the unorganised type, you can learn to keep things in-check. That way, as your workload and responsibilities increase, you’ll be ready to take on the extra weight.

 So, here you have it. Making a good first impression, keeping organised and navigating your new work place can be a steep learning curve, and hard to juggle. But with these tips in mind, you should be set.

Source: themuse.com