Leza Klenk: Graduating? Here are my 3 advices when seeking employment!
Over the last three years, I've had the privilege to speak to over 10,000 students across 40 universities across Asia. More often, the topics I delve in includes leadership, entrepreneurship and trade equity financing. It's such a great age, to be graduating and getting all geared up for the working world and opportunities it can offer!
I am wishing I could turn back a decade!
Questions you're probably dealing with.
I know it can be challenging to figure out your way in the real world, after university - what will I be? How will it turn out? Where will this path lead me in ten years? What would be goals both professional and personally? Will I change my mind? Is this something I can see myself doing for years?
Here are my three advices that might provoke your thoughts to consider your options thoroughly.
Choose a leader whom you want to eventually be like in future.
Being young and vulnerable, leadership from people you chose to lead you contribute a lot to grooming you in becoming the kind of leader you want to be in the future. Choose a leader that empowers and inspires, determined and passionate - usually founders of small growing businesses, with big goals and dreams in pursuit. As compared to understanding protocols, policies and processes in larger MNCs. You can still convert to work in large corporations later on, but for the first three years after graduation - I suggest being close to a business owner. Learn the ropes of business, take up multiple roles, step up to challenges and do things you never done before. Build legacy with founders, and that experience will shape your mindset and encourage entrepreneurial thinking. There are a lot more deeper conversations, meaningful reasoning and opportunities to learn working with a passionate leader.
(Watch the video as I share all the three advices)
Leave the comfort zone, take risks.
You got the energy, the time (no rush to be successful) and no financial obligations to family, mortgage and relationships. You are probably still staying at home, with no rent and hence a lot of time to focus on trying out new things. This is the best time to go all out - explore opportunities, make mistakes, lose some money, fail in business etc. Your stakes are low, and you can afford losing the little money and abundant time you have! A small price to learn valuable lessons that will stay on with you for a long time.
If there is an opportunity that you have a career opportunity in another town or city, somewhere you've never reside - go! Wisdom and maturity grow the most out of uncomfortable situations, so moving to another place not only boost your career but the change of living environment forces you to learn to be fully independent to survive. Make new friends, learn to connect with people, see new places and integrate with new communities (best if English was not their first language) That experience makes you resilient and valuable, to another employer and open more doors of opportunities for you to keep relocating! At least before you commit to a relationship, travel and see the world.
Open your mind for continuous learning - Growth Mindset
It's not just about the years, but what new knowledge you've learnt during these years. You've been immersed in books as your primary source of knowledge in uni, but now experience sharing from other industry experts are your best resource. Sit through conversations, less to participate but to learn. Network with other professionals, be present at events where it exposes you to other people sharing their wisdom, values through their stories. I can guarantee that will change your perspectives in a lot of matters, and give you deeper understanding of the external landscape around you. Having a growth mindset, develop your competencies and picking up new skill sets.
And all of that contributes to your new value.
At your age, your annual growth in value should be at the maximum.
Limiting yourself to grow at your age is a waste. You could be a lot more, do a lot more, see a lot more if you do not put a limit to where and what you want to pursue. And whatever the experience turned out to be - good or bad - it will still add on immense value to what you already know. That value becomes a gift that can be traded with the right paying employer in time to be invested in your own businesses.
So by the time you've decided to commit to financial obligations and family, your value is somehow settled at an amount you are worth paying for that gives you the best life you possibly can have.
I wish you the best in your career journey.
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