Grab your tickets, folks, it’s time to enter the show!
Schools out and the working world awaits, but how will you navigate this new world of opportunity? If this was back in the days of Sparta, you’d be sent out into the wild to kill a wolf with a shield and spear gifted by your parents.
Thankfully, you just need to find a place to use your skills in exchange for money. As the great Drake said, “What a time to be alive!”.
This is an exciting, nerve-wracking and crazy time all wrapped into one. Yet it is one full of opportunity and will be one of the most rewarding experiences of your life.
I’m assuming I’m older than you reading this. This doesn’t mean I’m wiser in any way (my wife can attest to that), but I am a little further down the road with knowledge which you could find useful.
Spending a decade of my nearly two-decade career working on graduate and apprenticeship experiences, I’ve had a lot of access to events, conversations and seen first-hand what it takes to succeed in the career game.
The following is a curation of insights, tips and recommendations that serve as a somewhat survival guide to enable you to thrive as you move from the classroom to the world of work.
5 things you should know
1/ It’s good to talk
Don’t be afraid to start conversations with new people. They’ve likely been in your position before and would be happy to help you settle in.
2/ Ask questions
You’re new, and no one expects you to know everything. Asking questions is the best way to learn.
You’ll only learn how everything works by asking and one day you’ll probably find yourself answering those same questions for others too.
3/ Build a great network
Although I don’t always agree with the old saying, it sometimes can be more about who you know than what you know.
Establish a diverse network of contacts who can support your development as you face new challenges. Sometimes, who you know can be as important as what you know.
Building a strong network is not just good advice; it’s backed by data. According to a survey by LinkedIn, 85% of all jobs are filled via networking. This shows the importance of building and maintaining professional relationships.
You never know when you’ll need to cash your chips.
4/ Give yourself time
Don’t rush yourself to understand everything at once.
It takes about six months to truly get your head around a new role, especially in large organisations. Planning your first 90 days with your team and manager is incredibly beneficial. Remember, it’s a marathon, not a sprint.
5/ Have fun
The journey is as important as the destination. Appreciate the experiences and opportunities that come your way – enjoy the process.
You’ve done incredibly well to get this far and secure a role with your new company, so take the time to appreciate it.
How to stand out from the crowd
Ok, we’ve covered some basics.
Now it’s time to unpack what you can do to cut through the noise and get noticed for your incredible talents.
👉 Get involved in projects outside your role
A great way to network, develop your confidence and diversify your skills is to volunteer for opportunities outside of your day-to-day role.
Whether that’s in your immediate team or across the wider business.
You’ll be presented with many opportunities to be involved with work outside of your norm, so I encourage you to consider it, but make sure it aligns with you, provides a purpose and will allow you to make the impact you desire.
There’s no point in volunteering for every single opportunity.
This will inevitably lead to burnout and people wondering when you have the time to actually do the job you’re employed to do. Be specific in where you decide to contribute with a clear return on investment (your time) in mind.
🙌 Be known for something
Do you want a piece of game-changing advice?
Be known for something outside of your job description.
Once you’ve settled into your new role and understand what you’re accountable for in the business, think about how you can deliver real impact. In order to deliver impact and bring results, you’ll need to make some big waves, even in the early days.
That’s why building your own career USP (or at least developing it) is a profitable task.
You could be the person who developed a new system to increase efficiency, the lead on a project that delivered over and above results or even the person who was super supportive and always on hand to help their colleagues.
As you grow in your role through years 2–5, consider what your legacy could be.
When you leave, what will you be known for and what will people say when they hear your name?
It’s always good to be known for something and leave a bit of legacy behind to show you made an impact and left the place better than it was when you began.
💥 Develop micro skills that can benefit others
Use your niche skills to build credibility and trust.
I’ve always found one way to break the ice with new colleagues is to use my skills in niche areas to support others.
An example of this for me would be with technology. I’m a pretty big tech geek, which means I know most of the random things about using tech that the majority don’t. I’m by no means an expert and like to think of myself as more tech-savvy, however, these skills have always come in handy.
If someone in my team needs to understand what the cloud is — I can help with that, need to use a cloud-based platform to share documents — I can help with that, how do I use this SharePoint thing — yep me too, how do I make this presentation do animation stuff — hello it’s me again.
What may seem trivial to you could be life-changing for another.
It doesn’t matter if it’s about technology, presenting/public speaking, drawing or even making origami.
You have ways of using these skills (which we might think as useless to anyone else but us) to connect and develop others.
If you can be a connector who helps others grow too, you will go far.
Make memories and have fun
Alright, let’s wrap this up!
You’re about to dive headfirst into the wild world of work. Sure, it can feel a bit like jumping into the deep end of the pool while wearing lead boots, but hey, who doesn’t love a challenge?
Recap [TL;DR]
Remember, there’s no such thing as a silly question, except maybe asking if the coffee machine also makes orange juice. Your colleagues expect you to ask questions, so go nuts!
Networking is key. It’s kind of like being at a party where you have to talk about professional stuff instead of the latest season of your favourite show. You might find some cool people who can help you level up in your career.
And please, for the love of all office supplies, give yourself some time to settle in. It’s like learning to dance – you can’t expect to waltz like a pro on your first day, right?
Most importantly, have fun! Your career is not a dry, boring textbook – it’s a comic book full of colourful experiences and quirky characters. It’s more about the thrilling ride than reaching the final page.
Venture outside your comfort zone. Volunteer for projects that make you go ‘Huh?’. You’ll learn heaps and hey, it’s a great excuse to update your LinkedIn profile.
Finally, be known for something. Maybe you’ll be the one who invented the next big thing since sliced bread, or maybe you’ll be the one everyone can count on when the printer goes rogue.
Now it’s time for you to go forth and conquer the workplace!
Before you go… 👋
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