Transition from student to employee
IMayur Kalbag remember the time when I, along with a few others, got selected into one of the most prestigious financial multinational organisations.
We had just completed our management studies and were excited to get into full –time employment.
Having said this, just after a few months I found myself pleasantly struggling with this ‘change’; a change from a student to a ‘working-professional’.
It took me a lot of time to learn and implement certain aspects of the ways to make this transition and that too a positive one.
Unfortunately, there were some other students who were not that successful in making the successful transition.
They were unable to cope with the work-pressure and along with it the attitudes of their respective superiors.
I too had a similar issue but fortunately I constantly kept getting specific guidance from my elder brother along with my dad to help me deal with it.
I realise that a lot of students go through tough transitions and some are unable to cope with the stress and the pressure of new expectations.
Through this column I wish to enlighten my readers on five useful tips that the graduating students can understand, imbibe and subsequently implement as they begin their journey as a ‘working-professional’.
Let us begin exploring these tips1. Attitude and altitude
To make a successful transition into an organisation the first thing we must do is develop attitude.
You may wonder what kind of attitude?
Well, it’s a practical question. I wish to say here that we must develop the attitude of not just positivity, but also that of being proactive, progressive, persevering, practical and polite.
Along with this we must also develop the attitude of adaptability and accountability.
The moment we become a working – professional and enter the organisation there will be lots of changes that we may have to encounter and experience.
As a student we never had a boss, but now we do and that itself could be the change which we must ‘adapt’ successfully to.
In fact, along with the activity of reporting to the boss there will be the two new aspects of expectations and work pressures.
This is something that a lot of students find extremely difficult to adjust and adapt to.
I believe that we as students must prepare ourselves with the ‘right’ attitude which will make our journey into the organization better and smoother! I would therefore conclude by saying that ‘it is not your just your aptitude but your attitude that will always help you attain altitude’
2. Transformational maturity
It means the sensible maturity to endure the journey in the organisation especially when faced with tough situations, an aggressive boss or superior as well as the situations where we may have to face failures and crisis.
As students, exams were the only challenges we may have faced, but now, as a ‘working professional’ we would have a lot more and varied challenges such a achieving ‘budgets’, working ‘long and extended’ hours at office or on the ‘field’ and even getting scolded or being toldoff in front other colleagues.
It is the maturity and wisdom with which we try our best to deal with such situation that will determine our future and our success within that organisation.
3. Team – working
As students we may have the flexibility to work alone or as teams, but in an organisation it is extremely essential to develop the attitude of working together as a team.
Just like in the game of rugby or football where teams can win only when they work or collaborate with the spirit of togetherness, in organisations too it is important to work together and with the highest levels of ‘team-spirit’ and collective positive energy.
As we make the transition into an organisation we must transform ourselves from an individual player into a team player!
4.Yearning for learning
A lot many times, after joining an organisation, students slowly but steadily lose their interest in learning ‘on-the-job’.
The salary sometimes may act as an obstacle in the way of developing ‘new’ knowledge, and in the course of time the lack of attitude to learn and become more competent can lead to what is known as a ‘professional plateau’.
The effort of the student therefore must be to not only work hard but simultaneously learn harder as well and become more skillful and knowledgeable.
5. Be ambitious but not greedy
I have seen many newly- joined employees leaving their respective organizations within just a few weeks or months only because they received a better salary from another organisation.
I believe this immature greed for a higher salary especially having worked for a very short span of time will leave a poor impression in the minds of the existing employer and also in the minds of the new employer.
The greed of a higher pay without having contributed to the existing organisation is something that, especially in the medium and long term can lead to stagnation and loss of overall growth.
Here I must say that it is extremely important to have ambitions and aspirations but these must be set with sensibility and maturity.
The ambitions must therefore be not just for a higher pay but also for future growth, higher knowledge and overall ‘self-development.’
I am confident that we will be able to make a successful transition into a professional organisation with the development and implementation of the above tips.
The effort of the student therefore must be to not only work hard but simultaneously learn harder as well and become more skillful and knowledgeable.