To help you prepare for your next step, we’ve put together a series of useful articles that will help you navigate life once you’ve graduated from university.
How to MAP yourself: Motivation, ability and personality
There will be many times in your life when you arrive at crossroads and must make an important decision. In fact, you’ll probably soon be asking yourself: where do I start my career? An easy way to navigate this (and any big decision) is by understanding who you are as a person.
Not sure where to begin? You can start by drawing a map. MAP stands for:
- Motivation
- Ability
- Personality
When you understand what motivates you, what your abilities are and how you define your personality, you’ll have a better idea of whether you’re the right match for a potential job.
Why personal branding matters
Every time you interact with someone, you’re building your reputation and personal brand. The way you dress and speak, your posture, and the photos and posts you share on your social media profiles all tell a story about who you are, whether it’s to your friends or strangers.
As you enter the working world, you’ll have to start being more aware of how you carry yourself and how people perceive you.
You’ll need to:
- Manage your reputation
- Create your image
- Learn emotional intelligence
The Fourth Industrial Revolution: how to make yourself future-fit
We’re currently living in the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Klaus Schwab, a German engineer and economist, coined the term in 2015 to describe the current wave of new technologies that constantly change the way we live.
Because of this, you might be wondering if what you’ve studied will be outdated by the time you enter the workplace. But that’s not the case because you’ll always need to know the basics of whatever field you are in, whether it’s teaching, engineering, social work or IT. No learning is ever wasted as long as you use it as a foundation to build on. The way to keep yourself future-fit is relatively simple: never stop learning.
How networking can help you build social capital
When it comes to job hunting, LinkedIn is a powerful secret weapon, and so much more than just “Facebook for professionals”. Right now, it may feel like an app you’ll only need later when you’ve climbed your career ladder and have a large list of contacts.
LinkedIn essentially acts like a digital CV that represents you and your skill set to the world 24/7. Plus, with 20 million companies listed on the platform and 14 million open jobs, it’s a great place for job seekers and graduates alike.
All you need to take full advantage of LinkedIn’s networking capabilities is a complete profile and a few contacts.
The road less travelled: entrepreneurship
Perhaps you want to work for yourself or start your own business? That’s ok! Some people are born entrepreneurs. Rap artist Slikour is a good example. He borrowed money from a family friend to build a studio in his parents’ backyard to record himself and his friends when he was barely 15. His tapes sold enough to pay back the loan.
Natural-born entrepreneurs are always hustling, always looking for ways to make money. They think outside the box and have the drive to make things happen. Entrepreneurship is often seen as the road less travelled — and it can be a challenging road.
The most important thing you should know is that failure doesn’t mean the end of your dream. It’s simply part of the process. You’ll probably make mistakes and fail sometimes — everyone does. And when you do, simply rethink and try again.
