Getting top-notch career advice tips as a graduate will help you make wise career choices and decisions right from the beginning. This is very important because you don’t want to waste unnecessary time making major job search blunders and mistakes early on in your new career. So we’ve put together some tips to help you start building a successful career from day one.
10 Career Advice Tips to Help Graduates Build Successful Careers
Here are ten tips you can practice in your everyday life as a graduate to build a long-lasting, successful career in your industry:
1. Always Be on the Job Hunt
While job hunting, treat every single person you meet as if she/he was a potential employer. That means when you’re out in your local area, remain professional because you never know who you may meet. You just may interview with that guy you met in the grocery store someday. Or, he may be willing to refer you to a colleague.
2. Don’t Settle If There’s No Passion
You’ll find career advice tips all over the net advising graduates to take any job they can just to get the bills paid. Well, we advise this… but only to a certain degree. Yes, you may have to lower your expectations a bit, because that dream job may not be in reach right after graduation. However, you still want to take on a position you can be passionate about and enjoy. We generally advise graduates to at least find a job within your industry or doing something you love to do. This improves your chances of building a successful career.
3. Research Potential Employers (and Clients)
Make sure to take time to research the company (or client) to which you’re applying for a job. Do this before you submit your resume and/or application, whether it’s online or offline. Getting to know the company, what it’s about, and its values and goals will help you understand how you fit in with the brand and its community. That way, you can tailor your resume, cover letter, and application to reflect this.
4. Take Off “Running” Out the Gate
Once hired, don’t wait for that “perfect time” to make a major impact on your new employer. Instead, start working hard to make your mark right out the gate. This will increase your chances of getting promoted, being chosen to take on bigger projects and master new skills, and making more money in your profession. The more valuable you prove yourself to be, the faster you’ll move up in your career.
5. Never Let Opportunities Pass You By
Oftentimes, employers present opportunities to advance in careers. One of the best career advice tips we can offer you is to take advantage of every one of these chances to excel. These opportunities may come in the forms of working in other positions, learning new tasks and skills, working on special projects and committees, etc… And, don’t be scared to volunteer for non-work related projects, too.
6. Find Yourself a Good Career Mentor
Career mentors help you make good day-to-day decisions that help you advance over time. You can get advice on how to deal with tricky issues and situations you come up against at work. Your mentor can also advise you on how to advance your career through education, networking events, job opportunities, and more.
7. Always Leave a Long-Lasting, Positive Impression
When you do decide to leave a position, always leave it in better condition than how you found it. Some experts advise “leaving a legacy” behind so your name has a positive impact for years to come. This may be done through state-of-the-art programming, award-winning graphics, effective process improvements, etc… Your good reputation will go a long way when you need professional references and recommendations.
8. Showcase Your Work on Your Own Website
This is one of the most common career advice tips on the Web. Starting your own website gives you a centralized location to profile your digital media works. That way, you can simply direct recruiters, potential employers, and clients to yourname.com to view your information about your skills and education. You can also feature some of your best work from past projects. Think of it as your own professional online resume or digital media portfolio.
9. Improve Your Communication Skills
Learning effective communications skills can improve your career, no matter what the industry. Knowing the arts of listening and giving constructive criticism can help you communicate better with managers, co-workers, and clients. This could lead to career advancement, as supervisors, managers, and executives must have these skills in order to succeed. So be prepared to take part in courses, workshops and seminars, and read books and articles related to improving skills in communication.
10. Go Back to School
Adding even more skills to your resume greatly improves your chances of finding a job and building a lucrative career. Some career experts advise taking more advanced courses, or taking courses to learn something new within your current industry. In both cases, you’re increasing your value within your chosen industry. This also helps to keep your mind stimulating right after graduation and in-between jobs. Going back to school is one of the best career advice tips we could possibly offer for advancing your career.
Ready to take your career to the next level? Why not add another F.I.R.S.T. Institute digital media degree to your resume? Check out the digital media programs at F.I.R.S.T. Institute today!
