Congratulations!

After years of studying, you finally earned your degree!

Graduating from college is one of the biggest milestones in someone’s life. It also signifies that you are ready to join the working force and build your career. 

It can sound very exciting but it can also be terrifying for some, especially if they are still unsure of what to do in their career. 

But jumpstarting your career after graduation should not be that terrifying. There are ways that you can successfully transition into a rewarding career in the future. 

So whether you are ready to join the workforce or still lost on what to do for the future, here are the things that you need to do after graduation. 

1. Build your online presence

Before you begin job searching, the first thing that you need to do is to build your online presence. Create a LinkedIn account and showcase your education, skills, and experiences such as your internship. 

It is also best to connect with professionals, recruiters and hiring managers. You can also follow companies that you want to be part of and start doing your research about them. It is also great for your career to join relevant community or online groups to widen your reach and connections. 

Aside from that, you can also build your own personal website or blog to showcase your work, portfolio, and projects that will highlight your skills. 

In today’s digital age, there are a lot of opportunities that you can do online to build your presence and credibility, as well as connect with professionals and companies. 

2. Learn to network

Don’t just close your networks with your classmates or professors. Learn to open your doors to opportunities by meeting other professionals. There are different ways that you can do this. One is through social media like LinkedIn. You can follow recruiters and hiring managers as well as join relevant communities and groups. 

Aside from that, you can also attend industry events, conferences, or career/job fairs to meet and network with professionals or potential employers. Learn to reach out to people in the industry you want to be part of. 

3. Consider internship and entry-level jobs

We all want to have high-paying jobs after graduation. But we need to set our expectations right. If we want to get a good job or build a career, we need to gain work experience first. And one of the best ways to do that is through internships or through entry-level jobs. 

You may not get a high salary as you would expect, but the experience, skills and learnings that you will get will certainly be valuable in your career. 

4. Take time to create your resume and cover letter

Your resume and cover letter are your ticket to a great career. So take time to craft a compelling resume. Here are some strategies to create a great one:

• Since you are a fresh graduate choose a resume format that focuses on your skills and qualifications

• Don’t forget to include your full name, phone number, email address, and, if relevant, your LinkedIn profile. 

• Create a professional email address. You can use your name in creating one. 

• Write a concise summary or career objective that highlights your career goal. 

• Customize your resume for each job application. Don’t just use a generic resume and submit it everywhere. Make sure your resume aligns with the specific requirements of the job you are applying for. 

• If possible, quantify your accomplishments. For example, you are able to finish your thesis within 6 months and were able to get an average score of 85%. 

• Make sure to also use bullet points to highlight all your quantifiable accomplishments. 

• List all the skills and proficiencies as well as licenses that you have. 

• Include your educational background such as the institution you attended, the degree you earned and your date of completion/graduation

• Make sure to keep your resume concise and relevant. 

• Proofread your resume as many times as possible to prevent spelling, punctuation, or grammar errors. Consider asking someone to review it as well. 

• Keep your formatting professional. Use clean and professional fonts such as Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman. 

• Simplify your resume to one or two pages only. 

• Save your resume properly such as “FirstName_LastName_Resume.pdf.”

5. Learn to develop soft skills 

Soft skills are interpersonal or people skills that can help you be effective in any career you want to pursue. Some of the most common and in-demand soft skills today are communication, problem-solving, teamwork, time management, leadership, and networking. 

So while you are on a job hunt, make sure to learn and develop some soft skills that will help you flourish in your chosen career. 

6. Continue to learn and upskill

Learning should not stop after graduation. In fact, after graduation is the best time to learn new skills that will help you land a great career. So while you are on a job hunt, you can enrol online on some topics that are relevant to your industry. You can also aim to get certifications to increase your chances of landing a great job. 

Professional growth and development should be one of your career goals to keep you in demand and relevant. 

7. Seek Mentorship

While job hunting or waiting for job interviews, it is the best time to seek a mentor in your chosen industry. A mentor can provide guidance and support in your career. Look for experienced professionals in your chosen field. Introduce yourself and ask them if they are willing to mentor you or are offering classes to boost your career. 

There are a lot of professionals on LinkedIn that you can reach out to. Make sure to do your research first. Know everything about your chosen expert and ask politely if they are offering mentorship. 

8. Learn to be patient

Job hunting can be challenging and exhausting. There will be long days of waiting without hearing anything from the hiring manager. There will also be rejection along the way. With this, learn to be patient and be resilient. Don’t be easily discouraged by rejections and continue to apply to companies. Always put your best foot forward during interviews. You can also meet up with your family members or friends to practice job interviews. Use rejection as an opportunity to grow.

9. Know what you want to achieve

One of the best ways to be successful after graduation is by setting goals that you want to achieve. Ask yourself, what do you want to achieve after graduation? What career do you want to pursue? What is your timeline for getting a job? Once you get the job, how long would you want to stay? 

Create a list of all the goals that you want to achieve after graduation. Make your goals specific as well as measurable. Also, set both short-term and long-term goals. 

These goals will help you focus on what you need to do and keep you motivated. 

Are you a fresh grad looking to kickstart your career?

The next phase after graduation can be both terrifying and exciting. But if you want to succeed in your chosen career, you need to take proactive steps and be goal-oriented. The above tips and strategies can help you get started. 

If you are a fresh grad and looking for a company or team to be part of, we have fantastic opportunities for you!

We are currently on the lookout for talented and motivated fresh grads to join our team. We believe that fresh graduates have fresh perspectives and innovative ideas that would be perfect for our company. 

If you are interested, simply send your resume and a brief cover letter highlighting your skills and qualifications at jobs@mdmsystems.net.au

All the best to all our fresh grads!