Whether you are in the process of job hunting or already in the beginning stages of your career, navigating your professional life after college can be intimidating. You may feel unprepared or just plain lost, but we’ve compiled a few tips that will help you in your professional career. Here are five tips to succeed in your professional life!
Grow Your Professional Network
There’s truth to the saying, “It’s not what you know, but who you know” in the professional world. Networking is crucial when it comes to starting your career and discovering new opportunities. Get connected with your former classmates and professors on LinkedIn, and consider joining university alumni groups or career-related organizations to expand your network.
Get Recommendations
A benefit of networking and keeping in touch with teachers and former employers is getting recommendations to showcase your character and skills. Personal branding pioneer William Arruda advises getting a recommendation on letterhead and on LinkedIn. “LinkedIn is a great place to request and showcase them,” he said. “Get in the habit of doing this whenever you are praised for a job well done. Testimonials are the best form of proof of performance, which enhances your credibility.”
Build Your Skills
It’s never too late to learn something new and continue to strengthen your skills. Develop your professional skills by taking classes, attending workshops, or doing some research. You can even seek out mentorship from someone who is working in the profession you seek and get feedback from them. Remember to update your LinkedIn profile as you add more hard and soft skills to your resume.
Set Goals
When entering the professional world, it’s essential to go in with a plan and a set of goals. Take time to discover what you want to do with your career and create a detailed list of goals that will help guide you to where you want to be. Having a career plan and goals will help you find out what skills you need to develop and what certifications you’ll need to earn in preparation for your career.
Be Confident
Confidence is key when it comes to entering the professional world. Job searching after college is a challenging task and may force you to face rejection, but having confidence and believing in yourself and your abilities will help you keep going and trying to get your foot in the door. However, confidence may not come as easily to some as others. Build your confidence by telling yourself positive affirmations, reminding yourself of your qualifications, and lean on your support system.
