How to transition from school to working life

We conducted interviews at Sectra to find out how some of our employees felt when they were making this transition, and what they learned and what they wished that they had known during that uncertain time. For most of them, the hardest part was realizing that it takes time to find the right company to work for. By that, I mean a company that shared their beliefs and that could offer them the experiences that they wished to have. Many also experienced somewhat of a difficult time getting into a groove. When you are in school, you are given a syllabus during your first day that clearly outlines the expectations of your professor and the projects that you will need to work on. This does not happen in working life. Instead, you may be provided with a sense of the goals that need to be achieved, but sometimes you will be thrown curveballs and timelines may change.

We also asked our employees what they wished they had done or knew about when they were making this transition. For some, they wished that they had taken advantage of the resources provided to them by their colleges. Most of them regretted missing out on career fairs, career counseling sessions, internships, resume reviews, etc. while they were attending school. Others would like to have had some information about how to act socially, for instance that it is okay to make jokes at work or to have a conversation with their coworkers before the start of a meeting. These employees were unaware that this is regarded as appropriate behavior because school taught them to simply go and accomplish what needed to be done.

5 key takeaways for a great start to working life:

• Be confident in yourself and remember that you are not alone in experiencing this situation
• Speak up if you do not know an answer to a question as this displays strength and humility
• Find a company to work for that is right for you
• Take advantage of the opportunities that come your way
• Stay positive even in difficult times