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Congratulations! You can lay down the textbooks and put graduation behind you. Now, all you need to do is get out there and start doing what you've dreamt about these last few years. Entering the workforce as a graduate can be an exciting and daunting experience. You may have spent years studying and preparing for this moment, but nothing can fully prepare you for what to expect once you start your first job. As you sort out your work wardrobe and adjust your thinking to working in a full-time professional environment, you might also be wondering what to expect. In this blog, we'll explore some of the things you can be anticipating when entering the workforce as a graduate.

#1 LEARNING ON THE JOB:

One of the biggest things to expect when entering the workforce as a graduate is that you'll be learning on the job. While you have learned a lot in your studies, there's still plenty more to learn about your field and your specific role within it, it’s time to get the hands-on learning experience! Don’t dismiss all the knowledge that your studies have provided you, now you will need to adapt this knowledge to your specific environment. There will be processes and systems that you’ve never seen or heard of before, and there will also be some that you’re ready to tackle. This can be overwhelming at first, but it's important to remember that everyone must start somewhere. Be open to learning and soak everything up, you never know when something will come in handy. Don't be afraid to ask questions and seek out guidance from your colleagues. If you don’t ask, you’ll never find out!

#2 DEALING WITH FAILURE:

No one is perfect, and everyone makes mistakes. No matter how hard you try, failure is inevitable, and it can be demotivating and discouraging. As a new graduate, you may be especially hard on yourself when you make mistakes. However, it's important to remember that failure is a natural part of the learning process. Instead of beating yourself up over your mistakes, try to learn from them and use them as an opportunity to grow and improve. Take the time to reflect on what went wrong and how you can improve. Seek feedback from your colleagues and superiors and use it to improve your performance, it is important to take responsibility for your mistakes and work towards fixing them. No one is expecting you to know it all right off the bat, so don’t put too much pressure on yourself. Remember that failure does not define you. Everyone makes mistakes, and it is how you learn from them that matters. Try not to be disheartened, and keep soldering on, you’ll get there! Keep a positive attitude, learn from your mistakes, and keep moving forward.

#3 MEETING NEW PEOPLE:

Starting a new job as a graduate means meeting a lot of new people. You'll need to introduce yourself to colleagues, managers, and clients, and build relationships with them over time. This can be intimidating at first, but it's important to be friendly, approachable, and open to meeting new people. Make a positive first impression, be polite and professional, and be willing to engage in conversations with people from different backgrounds and perspectives. You are going to meet people that are outside of your usual social circle, this is great! Take it as an opportunity to learn about people’s backgrounds, experiences and ways of life. Don’t be scared to have a chat, people are often nicer than you expect. Remember to be confident and be true to yourself; you were hired for a reason!

Entering the workforce as a graduate can be a challenging but rewarding experience. By being open-minded, adaptable, and always willing to learn, you'll be able to navigate the challenges of your new job and find success in your chosen field. Remember to be patient with yourself, and to seek out guidance and support from your colleagues when you need it. Starting a new job as a graduate can be overwhelming, and it can be helpful to have someone to turn to for guidance and support. A mentor can provide you with emotional support and practical advice to help you succeed in your new role. Look for someone that you admire and reach out to them. Good Luck!

WRITTEN BY

HELENA MCCARTIN-COLLINS