Starting work in the current labour market climate is difficult. You might be subject to working in conditions that are new and somewhat confused as to whether your career trajectory is on track. Not to worry, as we have a way of making sure your CV is enriched despite restricted work access and a potentially tight labour market. So if you are starting work as a graduate in 2021, read on!
How long should you stay in your first graduate job
Before, staying in your first job was a matter of common practice, and the length of time you spent at one company sometimes lasted your whole career. In the new job market there is a far more flexible approach to work and changing career paths. As such it is expected that your first two or three jobs are not necessarily the ones where you will settle for a substantial period of time.
Experts recommend a period of 12-18 months in your first job to gain skills and demonstrate you are able to stay in an organisation and establish yourself. You should already be preparing your exit 6 months in advance. This rule is not set in stone though : sometimes your first graduate job really is the perfect fit. But make sure you stay stimulated by asking for attending a summer school once in a while or conferences.
What is a good job to start out with?
Generally major companies have graduate programs that are competitive but worthwhile, as they allow you to undergo a series of training courses that build your skills. Additionally, joining a small team for an internship or first graduate post helps as you are able to build stronger relationships, are often given more responsibilities and you are closer to the inner workings of an organization.
The sub-optimum scenario is when you are given an internship in a large organisation and the tasks seem banal. It is especially difficult when working remotely. Try to still organise a 1 to 1 with your line manager every week and set out potential goals or literature that you can engage in. Remember too that doing your basic job well is the next step to being given more competences.
Don’t be afraid to also start out just earning money in a different sector you’re trained in with more job opportunities. Employers will understand that in tough situations you have to put food on the table and you can come back to your planned career path afterwards.
How does working remotely affect my experience?
The recent model for a graduate to follow was to move to another city to start work and create a network of contacts. The obvious effect then of the lockdown is that you have not been able to connect more. As such soft skills are weakened as human contact is the number one way to develop them and learn. You can solve this issue though with the following tips :
- Make sure you start the day talking casually to your colleagues and getting to know each one in the video calls. Good managers should enable you to still build a connection with them and understand that the start of the meeting should be about updating each other on their status.
- Display a positive mentality : even if the pandemic is hard for everyone, work can now act as a distraction and a way to escape the difficult social settings we are now forced to live in.
- Increase the amount of digital communication you would normally use at work. Keep chatting over your messaging system with colleagues and
- Treat it like any other job, in that you should dress appropriately for the workplace. Get up, shower and eat properly, and then dress just a tad casually more than you usually would for work, but still feeling like you made an effort.
- Don’t feel scared to ask for help. Curiosity is an important part of developing yourself as a professional and person, and although it is much harder with remote restrictions, it should not inhibit you from asking questions.
What skills can I train for remote working?
Remember that remote working entails technology challenges. Understanding new software such as Teams, Slack or other social work suites is vital to effective work now. Being not only able to use these but also help others in using them displays that you are proactive and able to pick up skills very quickly.
You can also develop your professional social media in a way to promote your actions, projects and career path remotely.
What other tips must I remember when starting work?
It is important that you also keep in mind the basics of your first few days, including :
- Making a plan for what exactly you will be doing the first few months.
- Keeping a journal of what you are doing so you can write your CV more effectively in the future.
- Always ask for more tasks when you are idle and need to get your hands dirty.
Most of all, enjoy!