6 Lessons I’ve Learnt Trying To Start A Career As A Fresh Graduate

By Lilian Wamaitha

I must admit that when I graduated, if you had told me that digital marketing was what I would be doing, I would have laughed at your face. I didn’t even know that there was career like digital marketing. Like many graduates, I did not know what to do with my life. Like so many others, I found myself pursuing a course that wasn’t my first choice.

But what do you know? Life has to move on, right?

Well, I immediately fell in love with communications and public relations and that became my new calling. I no longer was hung up on becoming a doctor – though it creeps in from time to time. All I wanted was to become a PR professional, grow in my career and one day hold a high position.

But as you may already know, the current job market is unforgiving. You have so much to prove and so many people you don’t want to let down. So in as much as I wanted to become a PR profession, I had to also face the hard truth – I wasn’t going to reach that level by becoming choosy.

I knew I was good at what I do and so I started looking out for other jobs that are related to my course. And that’s how I ended up taking a job in digital marketing and I must admit that I have already found my calling.

So here are powerful lessons that I learnt as a fresh graduate trying to start a career in this depressing job market.

Related: Understanding The Hidden Job Market 

1. You have to get a significant role model

Finding the right mentor can prove very significant when launching your career. A good mentor can go a long way in guiding you in the profession that will be your stepping stone to career development.

My mum is my mentor and she is the one who requested me to apply for a job as a content developer and look where that simple decision has landed me.

You can also look for recruiting agencies who can offer professional advice on what career path to take.

2. Have a professional CV

You are not winning any medals if you keep applying for all jobs using the same CV. I learned this the hard way after almost a hundred job applications without getting a single response.

Just like a soldier matching off to the battle field, let your CV be your weapon. Use it to charm your way into the heart of any recruiter. If you really want to have a career 5 or ten years to come, you really need to revamp your CV.

3. Learn from failures

In the course of creating a career path for myself, many are the times I will experienced failure along the way. This was in the form of rejected applications which can leave you feeling wasted and questioning my worth.

As a fresh graduate, there is need to understand that building a career takes time and won’t just happen overnight with the first job application you make, after all Rome was not build in a day.

It will need your constant effort to advance and the moment you face these setbacks, the best thing to do is to find out what you did wrong and make amends during your next big job application.

4. Learn to take risks

In the dynamic corporate world of this century, taking risks goes a long way in propelling you to the right career path. Learn to live your life like an entrepreneur. Take risks. Apply for that job that everyone is telling you are not qualified for.

Things happen and you may just find yourself in an interview room, trying to convince a bunch of people that you can do the job.

I mean what’s the worst that can happen if you apply for a job. Rejection? Remember learning from failures.

5. Create a good social media profile

Most job applications are made online. This is the age where you can just apply for a job on LinkedIn and get.
Creating a professional social media profile may surprise you one day in getting that next gig you have been waiting for.

Professional sites like LinkedIn, allow you to create your own professional profile where you can link with potential employers and get to know about jobs being advertised. A good social media profile will prove a significant part in the growth and development of your career.

6. Don’t try to please everyone, it’s not possible

As a fresh graduate you will feel like you are being pulled from every direction to meet the expectations of others. It’s not possible and this will only leave you with frustrations and unable to develop career wise. Get to understand what you want from the beginning and how far you can go when trying to develop in your career.

Make a list of what kind of a job you can or cannot do, salary expectations and roles you can play in your chosen career path. This not only allows you to get the kind of job satisfaction you want but career development also becomes a smooth process.

They say that failure is the only way you can learn and move forward. I failed, wiped the dust off and forged ahead.

Don’t give up yet. You still have a long way to go. If you don’t get a response, try applying for another job and another. One day your efforts will pay off, I promise.

Related: 7 Lessons I’ve Learnt About The Kenyan Job Market 

Lilian is a Communications and Digital Marketing Officer at Career Point Kenya. Contact her via lilian@www.careerpointkenya.co.ke. Click here to like us on Facebook.