Getting started on your career planning might be a difficult undertaking. It can be difficult to know where to begin, especially with so much information available.
The most essential thing to remember is that there is no need to rush; just because you don’t have a clear career path in mind doesn’t imply you’re behind or lost. It just means you have a lot of possibilities to start figuring out what this might entail for you. If you have a certain goal in mind, you’ll have lots of opportunity to get started right away!
What we’re saying is that no matter where you are in your career planning, there are things you can do to help your future and connect what you’re learning to the real world.
Employers tell us that the candidates who stand out are those who are familiar with the industry, have a strong desire to advance in the field, and can demonstrate some level of passion and ownership over their work. That may appear to be a lot, but getting started is as easy as following a few simple steps!
What are the advantages of combining studies and work?
By gradually integrating your studies to the world of work, you will have a solid understanding of your chosen field, gain experience, and be able to wow employers by speaking fluently about what you know when you begin attending interviews.
Other advantages include:
1. Provides realistic learning experiences: Rather than just theorising or guessing about what it’s like to work, you’ll gain real-life experiences that will help you improve personally and professionally.
2. You’ll gain a “big picture” view of a career path or work title: We often think about a career path or job title in tiny ways, but when you get adequate exposure, you’ll see how broad a career may be and what you should start doing now to prepare for your journey.
3. It can help you discover new career paths: Connecting with the world of work can help you grasp how a certain industry or sector has evolved, as well as all the new positions that are accessible that you might not be aware of otherwise.
How can you apply what you’ve learned in school to the workplace?
It doesn’t have to be difficult to connect with the world of work. If you’re unsure where to begin, start small and gradually gain confidence. Here are our top four suggestions for bridging the gap between your academics and the workplace. All of these can be beneficial and are worth investing in as you progress through your academic and professional lives:
1. Research in the Industry
Industry research can involve things like:
* Viewing documentaries
* Viewing documentaries
* Participating in relevant short courses or online workshops
* Researching the world’s largest corporations in the field
* Reading professional profiles of prominent persons in the field
* Where applicable, visiting relevant organisations (such as museums or galleries) to learn about the industry’s history.
The goal is to provide you with a solid foundation of knowledge that will give you the confidence to explore this industry as a career option.
2. Workshops and Career Fairs
Career fairs are an excellent location to learn more about certain sectors and job prospects. You should try to fill in any gaps in your knowledge by asking specific questions like:
* The subjects you should study and the marks you should strive for.
* Not just university, but other options for pursuing specialised jobs .
* Find out who in your area is offering the courses you want. For an entry-level employee, job growth and compensation aspirations are expected.
Asking these questions will provide you the knowledge you need to stay on track and have a solid backup plan in case you don’t receive the grades you want. It might also be tremendously encouraging to hear that the industry you’re interested in has a lot of room for growth and offers decent pay for newcomers!
3. Observation at work
Job shadowing is spending a day or a few days in the workplace to observe what people in the career you’re interested in perform on a daily basis.
It’s a great opportunity to see a role in action while also being low-pressure — there’s no pressure to get involved if you’re nervous; you’re there to observe, learn, and decide whether you want to pursue further work experience.
This is also a good time to ask some more pointed inquiries regarding this profession. Consider the following:
* What are your top three pieces of advice for someone starting off like me?
* In my studies, what subjects should I concentrate on?
* How did you get started, and what mistakes did you make along the way that you learned from?
* Is there anything more I can study now that I won’t learn in school that will help me succeed in this field?
4. Professional Experience
The next stage is to gain some work experience once you’ve gotten a strong grasp on the industry.
Work experience is an important component of the jigsaw since it allows you to use all of the knowledge you’ve gained thus far in the job. If you’ve followed the steps above, a lot of your learning will be theoretical at this point — job experience allows you to fully immerse yourself in the material and become hands-on!
Reflect on your work experience and ask yourself the following questions:
* What was the one thing I wasn’t expecting?
* In what areas do I need to expand my knowledge?
* What areas did I succeed in?
* What career paths in this field are associated with my strengths?
* What are some things I can accomplish on my own time that don’t require me to be at work?
Inquire about these questions with your supervisor and coworkers. The more you seize this opportunity to learn everything you can about the industry and yourself, the better your chances of success will be!
