1. You Must Possess Humility
Don’t assume you are the smartest person in the room. You may be the least experienced career wise. It is wise to listen more than you speak – you can learn so much from more experienced workers in a new work place!
2. You Should Have a Mentor… or Several
A mentor is someone you can learn from, look up to, and who can help you grow in your career. Every new graduate should have one – or several! – mentors to guide them in their new career. You can learn invaluable skills and lessons from others’ experiences in the workplace that can be applied to your experiences throughout your career.
3. Don’t Be “Just Your Resume”
Start a blog or portfolio, list hobbies or interesting facts about you on your resume, do something that makes you more interesting than a piece of paper with education and job experience on it – if you show that you’re talented and have a personality, you will become more of a valuable prospect!
I always tell my clients to put a section on their resume with interesting facts about themselves. Are you an amateur scuba diver? A food fanatic? Do you love to travel to exotic locations? Putting little tidbits about yourself on your resume or social media pages can show potential employers that you are an interesting and cultured individual, which makes you more appealing in the hiring process.
4. Pay Your Debt Off in a Timely Manner
School loans and credit card debt are so important to pay off to set yourself up for your financial future – don’t neglect them! If you can, start paying off your loans early – don’t wait for that grace period after graduation. It’s also a good idea to start saving as soon as you get your first job! Trust me, you’ll thank yourself for being responsible from the get-go.
5. Try Not to Mishandle Rejection
You went in for that interview, rocked it, and you got an email a week or so later saying they had chosen someone else for the job. This can knock your self-esteem down a notch and make you less motivated to seek out opportunities in the future. Don’t let it! Rejection is a natural part of the job search process! Most times you will realize that one rejection is a blessing in disguise – it can set you up for wonderful opportunities down the line.
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