You have just graduated. Congratulations! Maybe you have figured out the next steps in your life, maybe you haven't. Maybe you have a job lined up, maybe you don't. Either way, below are five tips to welcome you into adulthood. Why five? Because it's sunny out and there's no time to read ten! Now read up, take in, and enjoy your summer!
In no particular order:
Join LinkedIn. It's like Facebook for grown-ups. Don't just sign up to it, complete your profile and start networking You will be surprised at how your professional network can help your career grow. Start with alumni of your Uni and school, and when you find someone interesting, invite them out for a coffee to pick their brains. Easy. PS: Converse, don't ask for a job.
Contact FreshMinds and drop off your CV. Even if you have a job lined up, it's good to build up a relationship with people that can help you out in the future, see what the options are, and just practice your interviewing skills
Buy a new suit. It doesn't have to be expensive, as long as you get it tailored to fit right. While you’re at it, stock up on the right accessories: socks, ties, a belt without a brand on the buckle... oh, and a good iron will more than pay for itself.
Travel. The new buzzword in business is "international." Now is a perfect time to fully learn the language(s) you thought you learnt in school. You don't necessarily need to take a gap-year, but a few weeks to a couple of months absorbing the language and culture of another country can go a long way. Don't speak English on your trip. Although your job description may not require it, you can surprise your boss when the need arises.
Keep reading. Just because your literature review was 10 pages long doesn't mean it's time to put your mind to rest - it's time to expand it! Pick up books on the industry you are hoping to get into and those of thought leaders. Read the headlines and keep up with current and international affairs. Make time for fiction, have you read Catcher in the Rye yet?