Grads, learn how you can transition from university to the workforce

Transitioning from university to the workforce can be challenging, but it’s important to stay focused on your goal and to develop skills and behaviours you’ll need to succeed in the job of your dreams.

You might not yet know what you want to do with your new degree but by following a few simple steps, you can stand yourself in good stead to secure the job you’ve always wanted.

Get into a routine

University can mean that you have an inconsistent schedule, working into the night. So before you begin your new job, try to establish a working life routine so that you are prepared for long consecutive days at work.

Try to get to sleep well before midnight and get into a normal routine of a five-day week. This will help you feel organised and productive when you do enter the world of work, and the early starts won’t be such a shock to the system.

Keep on learning

Your learning doesn’t stop once you have graduated. Although you may now be very knowledgeable about your chosen career path, you’ll probably need to develop other skills that will make you an effective employee.

Personality traits, such as resilience and negotiation, are important in the workplace. They will help you to remain positive when faced with difficult situations and enable you to effectively deal with tasks that need to be completed as a team.

Things can change very quickly in your field too, so it is important to stay up-to-date with any new developments so that your knowledge remains relevant – both this and your knowledge of current affairs can impress interviewers and help you to feel confident in your new role.

Create a professional network

Start to create a network of people who might be able to help you at some point in your career. Useful professional connections might include industry experts, your university tutors, recruitment consultants and any people who are currently working in a position you hope to work in one day.

By attending industry events and careers fairs, you’ll be able to make face-to-face contact with a range of people. Ensure that you follow up every useful conversation with either an email or phone call so that you establish a relationship. Social media platforms, particularly LinkedIn, can help you to identify specific individuals who might be able to give you advice or help to secure you the role you want.

Save your money

When you land your first job, you’re likely to have more disposable income than you’ve had in recent years. Don’t be tempted to spend all your pay that month – teaching yourself to budget and to save a percentage every month is invaluable.

There will always be times in life where you’ll be faced with an emergency, or even a job that you might want to leave without another lined up, so allow yourself the opportunity to cope with these situations when they arise.

If you would like more help to develop the skills you need to transition to the workplace, you can upskill here.

Author David Morel Tiger Recruitment Team