Navigating the educational roadmap can prove difficult. Each phase, from primary to secondary, and from secondary to tertiary education, brings its own hurdles. Stepping away from education into the professional world, might be the most daunting task yet. It’s true, one could opt for a postgraduate degree, but following that, it’s up to the graduates to secure employment.
Fortunately, the vast majority of tertiary institutions currently offer career services. These services motivate students to contemplate their future employment trajectory as they continue their studies, and hence, most students are likely to have a preliminary plan for their post-graduation steps.
In order to secure a satisfying job and career, strategic thinking is key for graduates. This begs the question, what does strategic thinking entail and how can it be achieved by graduates?
Clarification on Career Planning
“Career planning signifies not just settling for any job immediately after college, but instead focusing on a long-term progression plan,” explains Caroline Kennedy, the head of career development at the National College of Ireland. “Students ideally should begin this from their first year, but of course, life isn’t always straightforward.”
Identification of Values
Kennedy poses the following question, “What constitutes an important aspect in your job?” “Even though you might not yet have the job in mind, it’s important to understand your values as they guide your job decisions,” she says.
These principles could include, for instance, favouring teamwork or solitary work. It might incorporate possibilities for innovation, opportunities for personal advancement and growth, ingenuity, equality and diversity, sustainability, and collaboration, amongst others.
When faced with living expenses and accommodation crises, your salary will inevitably be crucial. However, as very few graduates, except those with specific qualifications, will begin with high salaries, it becomes vital to consider the most suitable role and company that align with your abilities, experiences, aspirations, and personality.
ViaCharacter.org offers an exceptional free online tool which aids in identifying what’s essential for you in a work environment.
Adopting a Proactive Approach
Taking a proactive stance is potentially the most effective action that graduates can take to aid their career planning and development.
“Ideally, have a five-year plan, though remember to think of this as a framework rather than a concrete plan,” suggests Sinéad Brady, a career psychologist and author of Total Reset: Quit Living to Work and Start Working to Live.
Being proactive and involved with your career plan, including understanding its elements and the reasons behind the actions, transforms it into a dynamic document. Strategy is directly linked to proactivity, with the requirement not only to work in your career, but also to act on improving it.
Avoiding professional rut, even in the best companies, necessitates focusing on career growth, personal development and learning. Those working on their careers go beyond completing daily tasks and meeting performance reviews.
Efficiency at work is important but you should also pay attention to your actions and future plans, while remaining prepared for potential job interviews. Participating in events, career talks, networking events and utilising company career services can aid in this.
Graduates commonly respond to the urgent need for employment by applying for all available jobs on LinkedIn without much consideration. An intentional and thoughtful approach can increase the likelihood of landing a desired role. Internship opportunities can offer practical experience, helping in assessing company cultures and career suitability while also expanding your professional network.
Ultimately, how much time one dedicates to career planning depends on individuals. One could decide to approach this only when necessary only to find themselves hastily trying to sharpen their skills and CV. A more efficient alternative is to conduct a monthly review, evaluating your achievements, challenges and seeking assistance from relevant colleagues in your workplace.
Despite excelling in your professional role, you may neglect the essential art of networking and socialising, as well as ensuring your LinkedIn profile is up to date. However, investing even mere 15 minutes can be beneficial in this regard. Actively maintaining and expanding your network is a strategic move for career progression. Beyond your current position and salary, advancement also lies in learning, building relationships, personal growth, and expanding your network.
After securing a job, it’s highly recommendable to arrange informational interviews. As Kennedy suggests, if there’s a specific role or company you’re drawn to, research their employees on LinkedIn and examine their educational journey and course selection. Investigate their work experience prior to their current role, which then provides a basis for establishing contact. For instance, you could message them stating your interest in their psychological studies at NCI, followed by their intriguing career transition, and asking if they’d be willing to discuss it.
If there’s a particular feature you value, such as creativity for example, you could ask about its presence within the role. While this can indeed seem overwhelming, especially when reaching out to strangers, it’s worth overcoming the anxiety. Essentially, you could connect with alumni from your course, and by making the discussion about their career path, it appears less like requesting a referral and more like seeking insights and advice. Don’t forget to express gratitude, as the objective is to build a relationship and gather valuable information to align with your career goals. Simultaneously, keep an eye on the company’s online and social media presence.
Kennedy points out that many large-scale organisations offer job-shadowing opportunities, providing an excellent chance to learn more about a potential role by spending half a day observing someone already performing it.
Both Brady and Kennedy stress the importance of networking for career growth. Maintaining connections with your university alumni network is beneficial as they can offer guidance, help with transitioning to a new role, or simply be there for support.
Brady’s recommendation for graduates is to become a member of a career-related professional network and to actively participate in strategic work committees. This could involve tasks like event organisation or tasks related to environmental initiatives, corporate social responsibility, governance, equality, diversity, and inclusivity. This strategy is all about creating substantial networking opportunities both within and outside your own company.
According to Kennedy, networking is instrumental in getting top jobs in Ireland, with most jobs being won through this method. The ideal time to develop your network is when there’s no immediate necessity for it. For example, maintaining your network while living overseas could be an asset when you choose to return to Ireland.
Your network is continuously enhanced by every career or job-related interaction. Hence, it’s essential to exhibit kindness, support, and respect to everyone you come across, not just those in superior positions.
Another concept closely aligned with networking is mentorship, which is a crucial element for career advancement. As per Kennedy, the value imbibed from mentorship is unparalleled. A mentor allows you to share ideas giving you different perspectives. The mentor is someone who likes you, is conversant with you, and champions your cause. The advantage here is you potentially have multiple sets of eyes seeking opportunities for you.
The ideal mentorship involves regularly scheduled meetings—perhaps every month or two—based on the mutual agreement. While it may seem daunting to ask someone for mentorship, Kennedy suggests it’s as straightforward as reaching out via LinkedIn and expressing gratitude for their time. This mentorship could later evolve into a more structured arrangement. Many individuals would feel privileged to be asked, and it also provides an opportunity for the mentor to stay current and hone their skills.
Your mentor could be a senior worker, someone from the same industry but a different company, or even someone only somewhat involved. Some companies also have built-in formal mentorship programmes.
Kennedy emphasises that “Growth is essential for progression. Without it, there’s a risk of stagnation and unpreparedness for upcoming steps.”
By the time you’ve reached the middle stages of your career, you should be looking to gain leadership experience, an attribute that is often sought after in job applications. If you’re keen on advancing in your career, it’s important to foster your leadership potential through networking, mentorships, or playing an organizing role at work.
There might be concerns that with personal growth and development, employees may outgrow their current role and leave. However, if an employer or company discourages you from focusing on your career growth, alarm bells should go off. It’s unhealthy to become a mere statistic in the business’s bottom line.
According to Brady, being proactive in your career development doesn’t always equate to moving on. You might find growth within your current role or climb the ranks and enhance your technical skills. The best organisations encourage their employees to be inquisitive and explore opportunities. If you’re not given that freedom, it should raise concerns.
But what should you do if you can’t stand your job, detest the company or simply despise your tasks? Brady suggests having an exit plan from the moment you begin in a new position or role. You might decide to move on after reaching certain milestones or acquiring a specific level of knowledge.
Drawing firm boundaries is equally crucial, says Brady. If your work demands unpaid overtime consistently, you need to set your limits. While situations may occasionally require a bit more commitment, it should not become a norm. If you find this reoccurring, Brady recommends seeking someone who can hold you accountable. Regular reviews, reflections and resets help to ensure that control of your career remains in your hands, thereby empowering you.