From the Classroom to the Workplace – 5 Steps for Making the Transition

Landing your first job after college is an important milestone in every college graduate’s life. It took a lot of hard work and perseverance to get to the point where you are right now. Making the transition from the classroom to the workplace can be difficult for many people starting their careers. You want to do your best and may not know exactly what to do; everything is new to you. What follows is a list of things you can do to make a successful transition into your new work environment.

1. Dress for success. If you want to be taken seriously, your first impression is of vital importance. Dress professionally and appropriately for the job you have chosen. Look at your colleagues and see what the standard mode of dress is in your workplace. You can have your own style, but don’t underestimate the importance of looking the part.

2. Prepare for each day. Just like you prepared for classes in college, you should be prepared for each day when you walk in. This is not just any job—it’s your career. Take the time to go over the day’s events at the end of each day and take some notes. Know what is on your agenda and stay on top of your responsibilities.

3. Stay informed. Now that you have finished your education, it is up to you to stay abreast of what is going on in you particular field. Subscribe to journals and read about the latest trends. Know what others in your field are doing and keep up with technological advances that will help you be the best that you can be. Lifelong learning is something all career-minded people practice.

4. Know your value. You were hired for a reason: you are a highly-qualified college graduate with expertise and knowledge in your chosen field. Be confident in your abilities and don’t be intimidated. Be well-balanced and know that you made it over other qualified people and be proud of yourself. Use that knowledge to do the best job possible for your employer.

5. Be willing to learn. Although you are highly-qualified, there will be things you won’t know. Use your colleagues’ experiences and learn from them. Don’t act like you know everything and always be willing to look at things from multiple points of view. As with all things, your new career and job will be a great learning experience that will only make you better at what you do.

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This post was contributed by Kelly Kilpatrick, who writes on the subject of the on line colleges. She invites your feedback at kellykilpatrick24 at gmail dot com.