Chapter 1 - Roadmap to stepping into the corporate world!

The obstacles freshers face when they step into the corporate world with all its subtle complexities are real…after all a new job is like a blank book and the fresher is the author. The journey from university to corporate is not a walk in the park as it takes one from semesters and tests to deadlines and performance appraisals. College life is mostly carefree; you may get good grades without a lot of rigour. However, in the corporate world, you are not only expected to be on time, attend meetings, take decisions, but also understand team-based working to deliver on time with acceptable quality. This journey necessitates a complete adjustment in mind-set and behaviour as stepping into the corporate world requires you to be proactive and find your way up the corporate ladder. We have jotted down some of the vital points to clear up your confusion around the topic and to help you adapt better.

1. Taking the right opportunity at the right time:

Benjamin Disraeli quoted - “The secret of success in life is for a man to be ready for his opportunity when it comes.”

Seizing the right opportunity at the right time can make a difference in your corporate journey as upskilling makes you more relevant and helps outdo the competition.
To distinguish oneself apart from the competition, one should always concentrate on honing their skill set and focusing on brushing up skills so that when opportunity knocks, one can seize it.
To do the same, it is of utter importance to be updated with all the current and upcoming industry trends as it would help you to have an edge over your competitors.
It is also important to stay at the top of the game according to the trending industry trends, for which one should take care of the following:

Grow Your Skills
Be Curious About Your Industry
Build Network

2. Take every chance you have to learn something new:

Learning and development is the need of the hour and one of the best ways to leverage your spare time in the upcoming year. People who consistently succeed are those who are inquisitive and believe in continuous learning i.e., always expanding their knowledge to gain new skills and expertise.

Why is it important?

By continuous learning, you are more likely to be prepared for unexpected situations. You’ll more easily get out of your comfort zone and take up new opportunities.
You keep improving your CV with the different skills.
You’ll feel more confident about new ventures because competency leads to confidence.
Acquiring new skills will unveil new opportunities and help you find innovative solutions to problems.
The more you learn, the better you’ll get at having different perspectives on a single situation.

With the growing competition, freshers struggle more to get into the corporate world with less or no work experience. In order to make yourself an asset for the organization, you wish to join, taking up certificate courses is one of the best choices to make as it can dramatically enhance your personal and professional life.

3. Trending soft skills:

Along with learning through certificate courses, acquiring the soft skills in demand can drastically increase the probability of employability. We have jotted down a few trending soft skills to initiate with:

Communication: Good communication skill is important in almost all the jobs. An employee with good communication skills is capable of conveying his/her thoughts more efficiently than others to clients, customers, colleagues, etc. A key, often forgotten, communication skill also includes listening.
Self-motivation: Being self-driven to work well and take initiatives on your own in an organization is a vital soft skill in an employee. It will make you have a positive attitude and become more competent.
Leadership: Employees with strong leadership skills can inspire their colleagues and drive the team towards success. Fresher joining an organization can show his/her potential by demonstrating how positively he/she has influenced the team to work for a project and take it towards success.
Problem solving: An employee who can handle situations in a calm and composed manner is more likely to have problem-solving abilities.
Critical thinking: All job employers want employees who can analyze situations and make precisely informed decisions. Critical thinking is composed of creativity, curiosity, and flexibility.
Ability to work under pressure: Companies want candidates who can set stress aside, think with a clear mind, and show a decisive attitude.
Time management: Employees who can efficiently manage their time and priorities with an attitude of taking up new tasks and deadlines are very resourceful to their organization.
Work Ethics: Employers look for candidates who have strong work ethics because they complete their tasks on time, and stay both focused and motivated.
Teamwork: Employers look for candidates who are team players because they are perceptive as well as receptive to the needs and responsibilities of others.

4. LinkedIn:

LinkedIn is the world’s largest network of professionals. Its mission is to “connect the world’s professionals to make them more productive and successful and to transform the way companies hire, market and sell.”

Your LinkedIn Profile Builds Trust and Credibility
A well-written LinkedIn profile will build your credibility as a trustworthy potential employee and will help demonstrate that you are a genuine person, rather than someone whose CV or resume is too good to be true. Having a LinkedIn account as a student proves that you are dedicated to pursuing a career. By being specific in your summary and connecting with people in the field that you’d like to end up in, you prove that you’re putting in the time and effort required to succeed in your chosen career.
Great Networking Opportunities
LinkedIn also offers you an excellent opportunity to network with other professionals in your domain. And the sooner you begin this networking; the better off you will be down the line. Regardless of whether you are currently working, you can make use of your network of connections if you are looking for other employment.
To get job/internship alerts
When it comes to finding new jobs, LinkedIn is incredibly useful, which makes it particularly beneficial for students. You may allow LinkedIn to send you job/internship alerts for certain companies, industries, or specific job titles, ensuring that you never miss out on wonderful chances.
Prepare for interviews
Interviews are often nerve-wracking but by having an account on LinkedIn, you can conduct your own research into the company, and the employer, so that you can go into your interview feeling as prepared as possible.

5. Internships:

Internships are a great way of stepping into the corporate world as they help in developing trending professional soft skills. Besides enhanced impersonal and communication skills, interns are really needed to be creative and fulfill the work requirements of their organization. This makes them truly stand out from their competitors.

What are the benefits of internships to students?

An internship provides a space where students can apply their knowledge and learn through real-world exposure.

Today’s corporate world is all about networking. Connections can be one of the best resources for anyone looking for opportunities, and internships provide a platform to establish critical networking connections.

Students can learn about any sector as well as explore more about themselves.

Internships develop interns with more than just technical skills.

A good internship allows a student to become more competent by lashing his/her passion and being motivated to gain experience outside the University.

How to pick the right internship?
Choosing an internship can be based on many factors. Here are a few which should be kept in mind:

Which sector: Being clear about your wants and acknowledging that whether you want to hold on to a line of sectors or not is a primary decision.

What will be your responsibilities: Try to choose an internship based on what you’d like to do after graduation because you’ll add it to your CV reflecting your interests and skills.

What will you get paid: Knowing your worth is essential.

Will you get the opportunity to network: It is always better to meet new people and establish connections in a company. Making a good impression might increase the chances of a full-time job offer.

What skills you’ll learn: Focus should be on the skills you want to add to your resume.

Some Do’s and Don’ts

Surviving the corporate world gives everyone a tough time. It is even more difficult for freshers since they are completely unfamiliar with it. Here are few tips for a fresher stepping into the corporate world:

Do’s –

Always be punctual: This displays your dedication and commitment to your work.

Be well groomed: Since the first impression is the last impression looking presentable and well-turned-out is important.

Maintain professionalism: Corporate world expects you to be professional at every level.

Take risks: Don’t miss potential opportunities because being a fresher you barely have anything to lose but a lot to gain.

Ask questions: Being inquisitive keeps your mind active since curiosity makes you search for answers.

Become popular: For becoming popular you don’t have to promote your social media handles. Work smart and hard so that not just your colleagues but also your seniors recognize you and appreciate your work.

Don’ts –

Be extra friendly: Maintain a line between your professional and personal life. Try not to overshare with your colleagues.

Avoid gossips: Discourage negative conversations about your colleagues to prevent unavoidable situations.

Miss deadlines: Missing deadlines reflect your poor time management and unsatisfactory priority list.