Tips for graduates

Are you ready to graduate this semester or recently graduated? Congratulations, you’ve made it to the real world! You’ve finished your undergraduate degree - done the hard yards of writing assignments and exams, completed a few internships here and there, worked a part-time job and somehow managed to pass all your subjects. You may have even found an awesome grad job after university or are currently in the process of looking for one.

The thought of starting your first real world job can be daunting. It’s important to take on board advice from your peers and colleagues in the industry to help you cement your professional reputation in your workplace. Here are a few tips from my experience as a soon to be graduate on how to make the university to workplace transition a little easier:

Speak up

You’ve been given a media list to create for a client you have never heard of and you’re a little unsure of how to use MediaNet in the first place. Ask questions! Don’t be afraid to speak up if you are unsure of the task you’ve been given. The more questions you ask at the beginning of your task, the less chance there is of going completely off track.

Ask for a deadline

This is probably the most valuable tip you will receive before entering the real world. Unlike university where Blackboard would announce your assignment due date, there is no-one reminding you of your own internal deadlines. Always ask your manager for when your task is due so you can manage your time efficiently and set realistic goals for time management. By getting into this habit, you will alleviate a lot of stress at the end of the day and keep on top of your workload.

Double check. Then triple check.

Have you ever sent a text message to the wrong person? We’ve all been there before and the sinking feeling in your stomach following the sent button is not a good one. In the workplace, hitting send before you’re ready or sending information to the wrong client can be detrimental to your professional reputation. Make sure you check your work, draft emails and collateral twice (and then once more!) to ensure there are no spelling errors in your media release or the wrong person is in the “to” bar on your email. Attention to detail is a skill many employers are on the lookout for in their recruitment and a skill that could set you apart from other candidates.

Think ahead

During my final year of my business degree, I attended a panel of communications professionals who shared a few gems of wisdom from their own graduate experience. One of them said, “Think ahead of what you need and what your manager needs to make life easier for you both.” If you notice your manager is booked in for a meeting for the afternoon, take the initiative to print out a proposal or strategy they may need for the meeting. Taking initiative in your tasks will demonstrate a reliable work ethic and build a trustworthy relationship with your manager so that you position yourself as a reliable employee.

Are you a recent graduate looking for work experience from an award-winning communications agency? Contact the Elevate office today on (07) 3180 3666 for more information about our internship program.