Starting your first paid full-time employment with long-term prospects requires adjusting to some significant differences from academic life. However, if you can foresee the differences you are likely to encounter, you will be ready for them, and they will become easier.
There are certain common difficulties that many people run into when making the shift from the realm of academia to the world of work.
Here are five typical obstacles you could encounter as you enter the workforce. They are:
Working with different generations: One factor to consider is the type of people you work with. At school, you tend to select the types of people who surround you, although there will be some differences. However, at work, you may find yourself working alongside people who graduated at different times and belong to distinct generations, such as Baby Boomers, Millenials, and Gen Z. If you are a manager, it is sometimes difficult to manage people who are older than you or have more experience.
Having an unclear structure: In academia, the entire academic year is structured with your timetable, schedule, and the number of sessions you need to obtain your certificate. However, that is not really the case in the world of work as companies are affected by internal and external environmental factors.
Working on your own vs working in a team: Another thing to consider is that in the realm of academics, you may frequently work alone. For instance, even if you may participate in group projects, your final grade ultimately depends on you. That’s usually not the case in a workplace because you may often work in a team.
Knowing your long-term career path: Another item to consider is your long-term path. When you study, you know what you’re committed to, such as a four or five-year degree. However, when you start working, you may not have the same pattern for your career. So there’s a good probability you won’t know where you’ll be in three years because there are so many variables to consider.
These are some of the things to get your head around, so it’s important to be self-aware and have an understanding that you will probably face challenges when you start out in the working world.
Also, expecting them to happen makes the transition much smoother, which is a good thing. Although it may not feel like it at the time, it will help you to grow your confidence, learn and make you develop in your role and your career. In the long term, it is going to help you enhance your resilience, boost your performance, and create the career that you want. So, it is actually important that you view these as opportunities rather than just challenges.
Perhaps the most difficult challenge is learning how to balance work and life outside of work. The transition to full-time employment means long hours and little free time, especially in entry-level jobs.
It can be difficult to find time for family, friends, and hobbies while trying to prove oneself on a new job. Additionally, you may not enjoy the flexibility that more established coworkers have.
In spite of all this, you need to find a healthy balance that works for you. Otherwise, you may end up feeling burnt out or stressed.
If a satisfactory work-life balance turns out to be particularly hard, maybe you need to talk to your employer about ways to make your schedule more manageable and avoid burnout.
Rely on both work and personal resources to make the transition from student to employee a successful one.