There are sumptuous opportunities that come with graduating from the university. Many people start building their careers as an undergraduate, while some begin to build their careers after graduating from the University. Whichever way, it is not too late to start building a career after graduating from university. Because it is something, you will have to do for the rest of your life.
But, you need proper knowledge on how to do this, so as not to repeat the mistake that other people have made. So, in this article, we will look at 10 tips for building a career after school.
How to Build a career after school
1. Do Research on the career path you want to Embark On
Do some research to see what kind of qualifications other people in your desired career path have, and Achieve some reading on various professions. It will give you a clearer idea of what you want to do with your life and your career. Get online and talk to folks already working in potential professions of interest. Participate in career-related events such as workshops, conferences, and webinars. This will help you to have a broader understanding of what you really want to do with your life.
2. Seek Professional Advice
You need help obtaining adequate career counselling. You cannot possibly begin a career after graduating for no genuine reason. So you need professional advice to avoid the loopholes in your chosen career path.
Career counselling may assist in identifying areas of improvement, developing strategies for achieving those improvements, clearing away mental fog, and bolstering confidence and drive.
3. Network
Through networking, you can meet potential mentors, partners, and those doing what you choose to do now; learn about industry trends; find out about job openings, and access tools that can help you advance your career.
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It’s a common misconception that networking is something you only do in your own time or when you’re not on the clock at work. Consider the value of networking in your career despite the popularity of reaching out to people in other companies or industries. Introduce yourself to new people and businesses through various online networking channels, such as Facebook and LinkedIn. You’ll be better positioned to grow your career quickly this way.
With just a few clicks, you can make LinkedIn work wonders for your professional development and networking. Joining a professional group will allow you to keep up with the latest happenings in your field and participate in discussions with other experts.
You can show your interest by posting articles, and other helpful information, or by commenting on the posts of others.
4. What is Your Skill Level
To advance in your chosen field, you must acquire the kinds of transferable skills in high demand by your industry. Examine the major trends affecting work and the minor trends affecting the profession to ascertain the most in-demand skill sets.
Skills have been evolving or changing for ages due to technological advancements. Media and news outlets entered a new era with the rise of the internet, with online multimedia newspapers replacing traditional print editions. Technology and robots have altered work processes or eliminated certain positions in the automotive and construction sectors. You can use this to your advantage in improving your career.
5. Communication: Improve Your Capacity for Expressing Yourself
Good communication skills are increasingly valued in today’s fast-paced world because of the need for information exchange. The timely and accurate transfer and interpretation of information depend on the speaker’s and reader’s ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing. Having good communication skills is essential in many aspects of life, especially in your career. On the other hand, having trouble conveying your thoughts and feelings to others might lead to misunderstandings or hostility.
Learning to speak well is a crucial ability that will serve you well throughout your career. Good communicators succeed in all walks of life, both professionally and personally; from an organizational perspective, all activities flow from communication. You need solid communication skills to aid others.
Better communication may lead to better interpretation and understanding. In a poll by LinkedIn in the United States in 2016, employers ranked communication as the most important soft skill.
6. Keep Improving yourself
Investing in your growth and career is essential to advance in your chosen field. A person who can make contributions outside his expertise will likely dominate quickly in his/her career and offer attractive rewards. Working on yourself is crucial to your success as you start building your career. Nobody wants to work with someone who can’t adapt to new circumstances and consistently underperforms under pressure.
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The process of self-improvement involves the establishment of both short-term and long-term objectives. Without a clear goal, it’s easy to drift aimlessly through whatever you are doing and never achieve anything significant. Having goals and targets in mind is essential. Every situation has room for development. Never assume you are above everyone else and know everything. There are many things we don’t know about and need to investigate in the world above us.
Investing in yourself makes you a more capable and responsible person, two traits crucial to climbing the corporate ladder. In the darkest of times, it may make you grin. Personal development throughout time is crucial because it helps you both now and in the future.
7. Seek Out a Guide
Finding a mentor who can advise you and point you in the right direction is a great idea. This will serve you well when you start your professional life. You may shorten the steep learning curve by partnering with an experienced mentor. Do yourself a favour and choose a seasoned expert who has been where you want to go.
You may benefit from a mentor in many ways, including getting guidance on your career path and access to their professional network.
8. Seek an Internship
On the other hand, internships include working for a company or individual for a limited time in exchange for training and education. Developing a plan and acquiring new abilities are fundamental components of a successful professional life.
As one gains experience and, presumably, formal training, they can move up the corporate ladder within their field. One way forward is to switch occupations, which may lead to more responsibility and a higher minimum degree needed in a related field. For some people, climbing the corporate ladder is the ultimate goal of their working lives; for others, it may be more important to diversify their skill sets and experience to carve out a niche for themselves.
Whatever the case, gaining internship experience is a critical step to take to build your career after graduating from the University and before landing your desired job.
9. Search For Jobs Related to Your Career Choice
Do your homework on potential employers and job openings; you can use the internet to learn more about the companies that operate in your field, peruse job postings for information on how to apply, make a game plan for gaining relevant experience and connect with potential contacts.
You could try making your own luck by contacting businesses on the off chance, even when they aren’t actively advertising for new employees. Find out as much as possible about the company so you can confidently discuss your qualifications, interests, and motivations for applying for a position with them. Today, more than ever, it’s crucial to take a specialized approach.
Keep in mind that many companies will still be adjusting to a new way of working and/or may be feeling a lot of anxiety about what the future holds for them professionally. As a result, you should consider who you reach out to at this time (for example, are they still active?) What are the odds that they were negatively affected by the covid 19 regulations? Do your best to remain patient, and maybe even mention that you know this is a tough time for them but that you want to help in any way you can.
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Consider the types of skills that are in high demand in the job market right now. To this end, you could, for instance, highlight your digital skills and/or create volunteer roles that would be especially useful to small businesses and charities (such as helping them with online marketing and social media to meet clients’ needs or developing their online brand).
10. Be Prepared for online recruitment and remote interviews by practising often
As you build your career, you might consider working remotely. Most companies have reacted quickly to the social distance restrictions by moving most of their hiring and screening procedures online. Methods such as video interviews and interviews conducted remotely through telephone or telecommunications applications like Skype or Zoom fall under this category. Practice for the interviews you’re hoping to get.
It’s important to put some thought into how you’ll market yourself, so it’s a good idea to compile a list of questions you may be asked in an interview (or look up some online) and draft some bulleted replies to use as talking points.
The same level of preparation should be given for a remote or video interview as for a face-to-face one. Put on your best attire, have everything set up and ready to go five minutes early, double-check your audio and video settings, and clear the background.
