Congratulations, you’ve graduated and achieved that diploma, or degree! Now you’re probably wondering: what’s next? As a fresher entering the workforce, it is always better to be prepared than to regret afterwards. Before you panic, do know that you’re never alone in this new chapter of your life. You have your peers with you and your people that have already gone through a journey of their own.
Starting your career journey can be lost and overwhelming. With a resume which lacks working experience and skills, you might find yourself applying for internships as the start, or even get tons of rejection. But don’t worry, these tips can help you stand out and hopefully land your first job.
Here are 7 valuable career tips that can help kickstart your job hunting journey:
1. Have A Strong Mindset
Starting off this journey with a positive attitude will help a lot. Expect a few hiccups like unsuccessful interviews and missed opportunities. Keep in mind that it is tough competition out there, and companies are always on the lookout for the best candidate.
Resilience means embracing failure as learning opportunities and using them to grow into a better version of yourself. Keep an open mind, overcome the challenges and eventually, you will get there someday.
2. Networking
I’m sure you have heard this many times, but everywhere you go, connections are immensely important, especially for fresh graduates. These relationships serve as valuable bridges that can significantly impact your early career and beyond. Keep your college buddies close, establish connections with professors, and step out of your comfort zone.
Engage yourself with online communities like Facebook groups where experienced professionals share their experiences in various fields. This will give you insights into what awaits you once you start looking for a job.
3. Know Clearly What You Want
Sometimes, even after four to five years of college, we’re still figuring ourselves out. Take some time to explore your interests and strengths.
Ask yourself questions like, “What do I want in life?”, “Do I enjoy collaborating with others?” or “Do I prefer remote work over office jobs?” Understanding what you want can help in establishing clear goals you’re after.
4. Promote Yourself
Fresh graduates might lack extensive skills, but everyone has something to offer. It is important to understand your strengths and establish your personal brand. Showcase what makes you stand out and compensate for any areas you are lacking. Show the potential employers why you’re a great choice.
5. Confidence Is A Must
You can be lacking in skills and experience, but confidence is the key when presenting yourself to employers. Your self-assuredness in your abilities starts from within. Before others believe in your abilities, you must first believe in yourself that you can do it. However, remember to balance confidence with being humble.
Always express a willingness to learn and grow, despite being confident in yourself.
6. Accumulate Experiences
Gathering work experiences before your first full-time jobs is incredibly valuable. Start with attainable tasks like 6 months internships or online seminars, this will help tremendously in professional development.
These experiences are more than just fillers for your resume; they’re proof that you’re on the right path, learning all these skills in the real corporate world, even though you are just an intern.
7. Keep An Open Mind
Sometimes, plans don’t always go as we expect. Even if you set clear goals, you might end up where you least expect, and that’s okay. Stay positive, embrace new things with open arms and allow yourself to try them out. There’s ample time for you to explore new passions.
As a fresh graduate, you’re no longer restrained by the college, but your journey of learning is far from over. It’s definitely not an easy road, and it won’t be, but the opportunities will eventually come your way.
Hold these tips close to your heart, sit back, and enjoy the adventure ahead! And if you’re seeking more advice like this, I encourage you to connect with us for more useful tips coming up! If you are already working, but feel that your job is not for you, you can check if it might be because of the working environment.
Tally is a leading recruitment agency in Malaysia, specializing in providing comprehensive recruitment solutions for white-collar professionals. We help Fortune 500 companies, MNC, public listed companies, IPO, large-scale enterprises, small and medium businesses in achieving their recruitment goals and fulfilling their hiring needs.
You can drop your resume at info@my-tally.com or contact us to see if we can match you with job opportunities that are suitable!
