Graduates: Mind the Gap!

Learning Valuable Skills in the Professional Post-Pandemic World

Whether you’re part of the class of 2021, or still figuring out which degree to pursue, you form part of the unique group of post-covid young professionals. With this comes the responsibility of figuring out how to set yourself up for success amid this ‘new normal’ – a taxing task indeed!

In one of our recent blogs we looked at building resilience in children, and why adaptability is crucial for facing life’s challenges. But let’s not forget about our post-pandemic professionals. How can you, as a recent graduate, make an impact in the post-covid job market? We’ve narrowed down our top ten tricks of the trade:

• Adaptability

In a world dealing with COVID-19 (and the aftermath) it is important to adapt to many different work situations. With rules and regulations changing constantly it will be important for employees to adapt and co-operate with any given conditions, even if they personally disagree.

• Remote Work

Many companies have been forced to adapt to a remote work environment, while others might be luckier and not have to adapt. It will, however, benefit all employees to be able to work remotely if the need arises. Showing companies that you can be trusted to do your job away from an office will be beneficial to both parties.

• Technical Abilities

There are very few jobs in today’s modern world that do not require some level of technical ability. Even if your current job does not require you to be tech savvy, it is always a good idea to brush up on these skills for future opportunities, and keep learning when opportunities arise.

• Communication

Communication was already important in a pre-COVID world, but it has become even more necessary to communicate like a pro! Many employees do not work face to face so clearly communicating with each other is already more difficult. Group work and contributions in meetings will also be more challenging over a video call. It is therefore vital that employees communicate clearly and express themselves effectively when given the chance.

• Time Management

Working remotely may require irregular hours at times. Managing your time from home will be essential in ensuring that projects stay on track and deadlines are met. You may also be required to keep a timesheet for the purposes of transparency about your time management.

• Self Motivation

Working away from an office environment may result in losing out on the feeling of comradery. Motivating yourself to keep up with the workload will be an invaluable skill for the future, even without a team by your side to keep motivation levels high. Finding ways to ensure that you remain motivated are key.

• Leadership

With managers not being present and available as much as before, employees should grab the opportunity to look inward to lead themselves. This is an invaluable skill for any future endeavors. Self-managing and motivated employees will find success in any company and require little to no micromanagement.

• Proactive Learning

The global workspace is allowing, and forcing, us to constantly improve our skills and learn new ones. Learning so-called “soft skills” in your own time will benefit the quality of work delivered and your dynamic within your remote team. Improving and refining the skills you already have will also be beneficial.

• Problem Solving

Critical thinking and problem solving will always be an important skill for any company. Employees that prove that they can think creatively when solving problems will find themselves being able to face new challenges. This is even more evident when there aren’t opportunities to brainstorm or bounce ideas around at the coffee machine and employees are required to problem solve more creatively than ever.

• Emotional Intelligence

Improving one’s emotional intelligence was easier when we all worked in the office. Face to face communication and being able to read people’s emotions was easier to accomplish. With remote work and video calls it has become much more difficult. Focusing on improving one’s EQ will be very important to ensure good communication to other employees.

So! How can BrightSparkz & Mind the Gap help you conquer these tricks of the trade?

If you’re unsure where to start with your job hunt or application process, now is the perfect time to enroll in Mind The Gap – BrightSparkz’s graduate enrichment, professionalism and work readiness program! This 10 module course will guide you step-by-step through the daunting process of applying for your first job, to help you attain your goals and land your dream job. 

You’ll learn (to name a few):

• Determining the kinds of jobs & environments that are right for you
• Considering your working conditions & location
• Creating an exceptional CV & impressive cover letter
• Providing direction on where & how to find your dream job
• Coaching on interview tips & tackling common interview questions
• Navigating salary & related negotiations
• Advising on professional etiquette & communication
• Dealing with conflict and difficult work situations
• Mastering the basics of budgeting & tax

Written by Sula Cooper, BrightSparkz Staff & Blog Writer