How to Prepare for the Transition from College to Working Professional

The transition from college to work can be tough. You will experience new challenges and responsibilities, work with people who are older than you, learn how to deal with different personalities, meeting deadlines almost every day, and much more. But don’t fret. All you need to do is be prepared. Here are some pointers to help you with your transition and survive your major life change as a working professional.

1. Work and personal schedule.

When you start working in a corporation, you need to get used to working 8 hours a day or more. So you need to learn how to balance your work and personal schedule. You may start establishing a routine to spend your spare time wisely so that you can attend to your personal responsibilities as well. Living a healthy lifestyle, having enough sleep, and having a balanced diet are important to attaining work-life balance. You will feel great and perform well at work.

2. Respect Generation Gap. 

As mentioned earlier, you will meet people who are not in your same age group. It is important that you understand and respect the generation gap. Regardless of the differences, both the young and old generations may sometimes feel inferior. Some new generation employees might feel that their voices are not being heard because they are not that experienced yet, and some older generation employees might feel irrelevant because they are having difficulties adapting to the new technologies used for advancement in the company. Both generations should make each other feel that they are equal. For the younger generation that will just start in the professional world, you could show your respect to your experienced colleagues by asking advice on how they manage a certain situation based on their years of experience in the company.

3. Build your online presence.

Most employers review social media or online presence of their candidates before they make a hiring decision. Employers are trying to determine their candidates based on what they post online. These top social media platforms are LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. If you do not have a LinkedIn profile, you should create one now, because LinkedIn profile is considered as an important professional requirement for a company. When it comes to your other personal social media platforms like Facebook, it is important to be mindful of what you are posting online especially if it is unprofessional, unethical, or illegal. You should also revisit your past posts especially your public posts and clean your social media profiles if needed.

4. Apply for a college internship.

The chances of getting hired are higher if you had a challenging internship that is relevant to the position you are applying for in a company. This is because most fresh graduates lack experience or practical skills required in a certain position. In identifying what internship you would take, you need to think first about what path and career do you want to be. You may also consider the job description of the internship and if you are going to gain skills from that job. The company or industry where you will be having your internship is important as well.

5. Manage your budget.

When you receive your paycheck, you might be tempted to spend it on things that you cannot afford to buy before when you are still a student. It is crucial that you create a monthly budget to know how much is your disposable monthly income after all the bills, loans and taxes have been paid. You should have enough money to cover everything you need. It is also important that you save money sooner in preparation for your retirement. The sooner you begin saving and investing your money, the more time your money has to grow. Ready to move up in your career? Click here to get started.