Q. ‘Hi, I am graduating next month, and though I am happy about this, the thought makes me anxious. The thing is, even though I have sound knowledge of my subject matter, I am clueless about how to apply my education in a practical manner. The thought of joining a workplace, even for an internship, fills me with anxiety because I feel unprepared. How can I prepare to enter the job market?’ - Ahmad J.
A. Hi Ahmad, I understand how you feel. If it makes you feel better, let me tell you that the Bayt.com ‘
Workplace Dynamics in the Middle East and North Africa’ poll, June 2013, showed that 20% professionals feel the exact same way and
blame their education system for being ill-prepared for the current job market. It’s true, your degree might teach you the skills you need for a career, but it won't show you how to get there. You need to understand that this feeling of anxiety is natural, but you shouldn’t let it overwhelm you. Your graduation is an important milestone and you should feel nothing but pride for this achievement. The best way to combat this feeling of being unprepared is by getting prepared for the next important step in your life, your career.
Here are the top five preparation tips that can help you make a smooth transition from being a full-time student to a full-time professional:
1. Flexibility is key. The 2013 batch of graduates has a
challenging, but promising, job market ahead. While it is a great to know what you want in your career, a majority of fresh graduates do not share the same kind of assuredness. This is not a bad thing in today’s workplace. Because when you are not so sure, you are more likely to be willing to try out different roles. Whether it’s sales, HR, admin or marketing, if you are an eager learner and flexible in your work environment, then the world is your oyster. Some other qualities greatly valued by employers in today’s job market, according to
The Bayt.com Job Index survey, January 2013, are good communication skills, followed by the ability to be a cooperative, helpful and flexible team player, while displaying great leadership skills.
2. Learn to think independently. As a student, your work may be evaluated by your course instructor, but as a professional you will be held accountable for your work. So it would be a good time for you to hone your research, fact-checking skills. You need to understand that you can be the strongest critic of your work, so review your work by double – no, triple-checking it.
3. Draw out your career roadmap. It’s ok if you don’t know yet what direction you want to go in your career. If you are not sure of the job role that will best fit you, then find out if the company offers you the level of flexibility required, allowing you to explore different options. You can check this by asking the
right questions during the interview phase. Once you are on your first job, always ask your supervisor for feedback on your performance at regular periods. Display a curiosity and seek to find out how other departments work. This will help you find out if you have the skills that can help you excel in other roles. Speak up and volunteer in different projects, this will help you get noticed and help you expand your scope of work. Your initiative will also be rewarded. During appraisals ask your manager/supervisor for a roadmap of how you can grow in the department in order to help you set your career milestones.
4. Dress the part. As obvious as it may sound, being well-groomed is something many fresh graduates tend to overlook. Even if you are just an intern, this doesn’t mean you turn up to work in sweatshirts and jeans. Remember, you are being evaluated. More than
77% professionals agree that you risk being negatively judged on the basis of your personal grooming at work. Moreover, more than 83% of professionals say there is a
direct correlation between appearance and success. Dressing well need not mean dressing expensively. You can easily pick up affordable tips from blogs and articles on office dressing.
5.Learn time management. Unlike a student, your typical day at work is not governed by a ‘time-table’; you have control over how much time you use for which tasks and how to manage your deadlines. Though you might be tempted to spend the whole day beautifying your presentation; it is hardly good use of your time. Instead, remember the 80-20 rule: 80% of results come from 20% of inputs (and, conversely, the other 20% of results come from the other 80% of inputs).
I hope these tips will help you prepare for the exciting career that lies ahead. Good luck!
Do you also feel ‘unprepared’ as a fresh graduate? Share your story and the best advice you got in the comment section below.
