Be professional

You’ve left university and found a job. It can be challenging to change to a new mindset upon leaving university.  But you can prepare for some of the changes that are happening.

All employers look for graduates who have a thorough understanding of the sector they work in. Naturally, this takes time but there are things you can do to get a head start.

Often graduates don't realise how much value they bring to employers. You are a graduate from one of the world's best universities, you already possess a lot of valuable skills and knowledge that you can bring to the table.

Being proactive can make a great impression and help you get noticed in your new career. Actively offering help to learn more can help you settle in and make your colleagues feel more comfortable.

Knowing how to allocate your time, manage workloads and work towards deadlines can help improve productivity and improve your work-life balance.

The relationship you have with your manager is an important one and it is something that you have influence over. To get the most out of your manager, try to understand how they like to work and think about their perspective.

Effective relationships at work will have a positive impact on your personal performance and that of the organisation. By considering the way you communicate and taking time to build your relationships with care and respect, this will lay the foundation for any disagreements that may occur in the future.

Every organisation has its own culture and understanding this will help you to determine what is appropriate when you are communicating. The atmosphere in an organisation often sets the tone for the level of formality within the workplace. Identifying this will help improve your quality of emails, meetings and discussions with colleagues.