At any time in life, there’s a good chance that your concept of the future goes little further than the here and now. If you’re a student, it may be about getting your degree then finally earning some cash by getting your first job. While these are reasonable goals, they’re also short-sighted ones. That's because during your college years, you have a unique opportunity to shape the trajectory of your whole career - not just the leaping off point - by leveraging connections and relationships as well as your education.
Every day you’re probably missing opportunities simply because
you don’t recognize them. In this article we’re going to be looking at 10 unexpected yet practical tips to help you to make intentional choices and lay the groundwork for the whole of your professional life.
Tip 1: Strength Through Diverse Relationships
Starting college can be exciting but scary and it’s natural to want to form friendships quickly - which usually means within your department, study group or dorm. Although staying within these bubbles can feel comforting, it’s also limiting in terms of experience which may feed into your future career.
Instead, think about tiptoeing outside of your comfort zone by joining clubs and seminars outside of your chosen field or study. It’s also a good idea to actively seek out alumni in different areas as this will not only offer a new perspective but may also open your eyes to career paths and opportunities that you may have overlooked due to being laser-focused on your chosen goal.
Why it works
Staying within our own sphere means that ideas and opinions are often simply being repeated and affirmed. But by diversifying and expanding your network, you broaden your horizons and open yourself to new insights and opportunities. Finding new squads to interact with allows you to form unique collaborations, gain new experience and make your professional journey more well rounded and competitive.
Tip 2: Learning For Life - Not Just For College
During our time at college, we tend to see getting our diploma as the end-goal when it comes to education - but this shouldn’t be the case. Career success requires constant and consistent learning through self-directed education as, without this, you’re likely to get left behind.
MOOCs, clubs, workshops and forums can all help you to continue your education long after your graduation cap and gown have been neatly stored away. The key is to find self-education resources that you can participate in alongside your chosen career. Even the most unique or niche topics can have a grounding in the real world, for example; you may choose to boost your logical thinking and data analysis skills with a resource like this
punnett square practice worksheet. This type of learning can add new strings to your bow which will be relevant to numerous different disciplines.
Why it works
While your degree is the foundation of your career, you will almost certainly stall if you don’t keep building upon it. The most successful professionals are those who are committed to continuous learning in order to keep evolving and adapting within an ever-changing professional landscape.
Tip 3: Making Mentorship Work Beyond Traditional Boundaries
Common sense tells us that finding a mentor within our chosen field of expertise is a good idea and, by all means, go ahead and do that. However, common sense is kind of one-dimensional without innovation and creative thinking and, so, seeking further guidance from outside of your background can add the meat to the bones of your future career.
Finding a mentor outside of your field can help you to understand the parallels between different disciplines and add a fresh perspective to what you already know. This, in turn, will better inform your career strategies and choices as well as training you to explore different or emerging sectors.
Why it works
Stepping outside of your domain helps you to sidestep information echo chambers and develop creative thinking and problem-solving skills - which are essential in each and every dynamic work environment; no matter what your field.
Tip 4: Pivoting Your Project Goals
During our studies, we often develop tunnel vision; narrowing the world to just activities related to our own syllabus. We get it - time is short and anything unrelated to your syllabus is irrelevant, right ? Wrong. Adding new experiences to your time at college is a great way of grabbing some valuable soft skills such as leadership, time management, communication and team building. Some good ways of doing this are:
- Helping out a local charity
- Organising a campus event to flex your leadership muscles
- Starting a new club or workshop
If your schedule really doesn’t allow for this type of commitment, why not create a blog on your chosen topic and share it with different departments in order to foster innovation and collaboration?
Why it works
Once you join the professional world, your academic credentials will only take you so far. By taking on unconventional activities or experiences - particularly those outside of your comfort zone - you can begin to broaden your individual skill-set way beyond your degree; making you infinitely more attractive to prospective employers.
Tip 5: Getting smart with Emotional Intelligence (EQ)
You’ve probably heard the term IQ before and, while this is important, EQ (Emotional Intelligence) is equally essential. EQ is all about the appropriate emotional responses that apply to given situations - both personally and professionally - and developing this can play a huge part in your future success. While your academic success will be the nuts and bolts of your professional life, EQ is the stuff that will set you head and shoulders above the rest. Skills such as
Practicing empathy, effective communication and the ability to stay calm under pressure are all valuable life skills that will serve you well in the workplace.
Why it works
When we’re able to tap into empathy and compassion, we’re better able to communicate with our colleagues or employees. This leads to great leadership skills, improved teamwork and a happier and more productive workplace.
Tip 6: Facing Up To Strategic Social Media
We tend to think of social media as a part of our personal lives, however it can be extremely helpful in your professional life too. Platforms such as LinkedIn are really helpful in getting yourself in front of recruiters and industry thought leaders who increasingly use social media to check out new talent. Build your social media profile by sharing thoughtful insights and commentary on industry trends to make yourself more visible to those who matter.
Why it works
More and more of our lives are online these days - including our professional existence. Because of this, building and maintaining a digital presence is essential for seeking out job opportunities, gaining access to exclusive industry events and even forming collaborations with like-minded people.
Tip 7: A Healthy Approach To Career Success
Your college years are the perfect time to start cultivating a health and wellbeing strategy. A dynamic career can be extremely rewarding but it can also bring with it a degree of stress. The key to managing this is to prioritise your physical and mental wellbeing through:
- A good diet
- Regular exercise
- Plenty of sleep
- Practicing mindfulness
Taking care of your health is the fuel in the tank when it comes to performing at your best and driving your career from strength to strength.
Why it works
In the modern world, career burnout is very much a thing - and this often occurs as a result of poor physical or mental health. Taking care of your wellbeing and developing healthy habits will make you more productive, improve your focus and help you to gain and maintain career momentum while combating stress.
Tip 8: Getting Your Message Across
No matter what career you choose, there will come a point where you will be required to speak - whether that’s attending an interview, giving a presentation or chairing a meeting. The ability to speak confidently while clearly communicating an idea, vision or instruction, is one that will take you far and so should never be overlooked.
There are some great ways in which you can start honing your speaking skills right now such as taking a course, joining a debating team or simply getting into the habit of presenting during group projects. Although many people feel awkward or uncomfortable about public speaking to begin with, the more you do it, the more comfortable and confident you’ll become.
Why it works
Getting to grips with your communication skills is a definite investment in your future as these skills promote credibility and influence as well as improved collaboration - setting you up perfectly for leadership roles within your career.
Tip 9: Blowing Your Own Trumpet - Professionally Speaking
Entering the working world means nailing job interviews - which means bigging yourself up; something you may not be accustomed to. Because of this, it’s important to keep a running portfolio or spreadsheet listing your accomplishments such as completed projects, acquired skills, recognitions and awards. Trust us, having this cheat-sheet to hand before that important interview will really help you sell yourself and show off your achievements to prospective employers.
Why it works
As we navigate our education and career, we collect many different soft and hard skills and it can sometimes be easy to overlook some of these. Keeping a record gives you a ready-made template for job applications as well as handing you talking points for interviews and networking opportunities.
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Tip 10: Inviting Constructive Criticism
Nobody enjoys receiving criticism but actively avoiding it can be damaging to your career. From feedback from your professor over your thesis to constructive criticism from a supervisor or manager, criticism is a catalyst for growth and should therefore not be taken as an insult or a reflection on your character. Instead, take the time to reflect on comments made and then, where appropriate, ask for feedback as you work on making improvements.
Why it works
Without outside influence, we can quickly fall into bad habits and fail to prioritise improvement. Constructive criticism helps us to identify our weak spots and make improvements - thereby boosting our personal and professional growth.
Making The Leap From Pupil To Professional
College can be a fantastic experience but it doesn’t always fully prepare you for the dynamics of the working world. Outside of school, the workplace can be demanding, competitive and filled with the potential for failure. Because of this, starting to work on the skills and experiences highlighted in this article while you’re still at college will help you to complement your academic prowess with a set of soft and hard skills necessary for an ever-evolving professional world.
