Transitioning from School & College to Working Life

Moving up from school or college into a full-time professional job can be challenging as well as it is exciting. From being with your friends every day to then having not a lot of free time to go out and party as you may have before. It can have a stressful effect on your personal wellbeing, but it doesn’t have to be. Here are some helpful ways to help you make this big move a whole lot easier and get your career off to the best start possible:

Accept that a lot of your life is going to change: From now on you’ll have to get used to waking up extra early, commuting and your social life perhaps isn’t as lively as it used to be. You may have moved away from your family, possibly out of the city, meaning your home life will change too. Try to embrace these changes and use it as an opportunity for personal growth instead of a negative thing.

Don’t compare yourself with your friends: In the era of social media, everyone is on a quest for more ‘likes’ and this makes it difficult not to start comparing your life with your friends. This brings insecurities and isn’t healthy. Instead of scrolling through their feed, talk to them and you may find they are in the same boat as you with the new transition. Remember social media is very deceptive.

Try not to feel intimidated: During your time as a student, you were surrounded by friends your age. The world of work is a lot different. You’ll come across people much older than you, in more senior positions that you may aspire to be in one day. See this as an opportunity to learn new skills and develop yourself as a professional. And remember they were once in your shoes, they understand the feeling of entering a new environment full of new faces and will therefore most likely be very supportive of you and your development.

Prepare to have less free time: It’s time to say bye to those long summer holidays you much enjoy. Working at a 9-5 means using your time more wisely. You may begin to feel like all you do is work however you will soon realise there’s a lot that can be done after 5pm and during the weekends and you’ll begin to appreciate your time off. Be sure to take a day to relax and spend time doing things you enjoy before heading back into a busy week at work.

Establish new healthier habits: It can be very easy to fall back into any old habits or even pick up new ones during your first few weeks at your first job. Your bedroom floor may become a mess when you’re in a rush in the morning or you may start eating very unhealthily. So be sure to have embedded good habits from the beginning- eating well, exercising regularly, taking time to relax.

Remember the positives: You will now have a salary and be earning money that you can save up on things you may have always wanted. Whether that’s a new phone or a holiday abroad. You will also meet a lot of new people and build professional relationships; this could help you build confidence when speaking to people you’ve never met. You may even get the chance to attend events that u may have never had the opportunity to be involved in before.

The transition from student life to the world of work can understandably feel intimidating and overwhelming but it really doesn’t have to be this way. By following these few steps, you can ensure that you start your career in the best way possible, whilst laying the foundations for your future success.

External Links on transitioning from school to working life:

https://bzfd.it/3hdneB0  – 15 Things About Starting Your First Job I Wish Someone Had Told Me

https://bit.ly/3ndkS9b  – 8 Things Everyone Feels When They Start a New Job

Helpful sites for your first day:

https://indeedhi.re/2WWWnm9  – Checklist for Your First Day

https://bit.ly/3l2koA1  – Make a Good Impression at Your First Job