9 lessons life as a graduate has taught me (7-9)

00:39 Unknown 0 Comments

7. Remember Why You Chose to Study/Work


Transitioning from a student to a full-time employee can be daunting! And some days, I honestly doubt whether Hospitality/ Tourism is the right industry for me (sad face). I've always been in this field and found that it can still be seen as a student/traveller job. The hours can be unsociable, and the pay not as high as other industries, which can all be hard to justify at times. 

Obviously there's a downside to every industry, but whenever I feel this way, I remember why I initially chose it -
  • People: Making people happy is my absolute passion. Being part of a team that provides superior customer service is why I get up each day. People are the beating heart of of every business and I see huge value in learning from each other, and working super hard to take care of each and every customer.

  • Diversity: Every day is different, so I never get bored! A good balance of variety and change ensures I’m constantly being challenged. This keeps me on my toes and helps build valuable transferable skills (e.g. communication, problem-solving, learning quickly from mistakes, stress-management, attention to detail), which can be applied to many job roles.

  • Growth: Hospitality and Tourism are large, ever-growing, powerful, diverse and exciting industries; so the opportunities are endless! Marketing, Technology, Education, Finance, and Retail are are linked - how great is that?

Though I'm happy with what I do at present, it's good to know that the skills I'm building here will allow me to explore other career paths too. Good stuff right!


    #LIFETIP: Remember why you chose to do what you're doing

      8. Realise The Difference Between a Job And a Career


      I’ve always had a job whilst studying, but my reasoning for this was different therefore my focus was too. Although I learned a lot, my previous jobs were taken ultimately to make money to support my myself as a student. However, I don’t see my current position as just a job anymore - it’s a career, so my attitude to everything I do, and my motivation, has adapted drastically.

      My advice - remember what you want to achieve whilst you are there. This should help distinguish between a job and a career.
      • To do my job to the best of my abilities and beyond
      • To work hard
      • To learn more about the industry, people and management
      • To build skills/knowledge/experience
      • To use what I know and showcase it at every opportunity
      • To help the business grow and improve
      • To build a sucessful career





      There's something else I realised after just a few weeks in my current job... 

      I was (and still am), physically and mentally unable to go into work and do a basic job, earn money, and go home. Even now, something continues to tell me that I want to work hard, keep a positive professional attitude always, and be part of the company's growth and success. This is what makes me so passionate about any work I do and reminds me why I’m doing it.

      9. Be Who You Are, But Keep a Positive And Professional Attitude


      Adapting to a new job, environment, and people can be challenging. 

      I have struggled in the past to fit-in whilst maintaining my personality and beliefs - as well as remaining positive and professional when times get tough. This takes time, practice and experience. But I've learned to do what's best for all stakeholders (triple bottom line), not to focus on negatives of a job, and keep a positive attitude at all times - no matter what.

      And remember -  you don’t have to adapt too much - your instinct will usually tell you what's right/wrong when changing to fit your new job. I truly believe your core values (e.g. honesty, determination, creativeness) cannot be ignored, changed or removed - nor do I want them to be. Quite bluntly, I have promised myself something: the moment I feel my passion, values or skills are being unused, neglected, or disrespected, is the moment I will focus my energies elsewhere. 

      Though my career means a lot, I think we all must remember not to lose ourselves too much in the process!

      Favourite #LIFETIP of all: Keep grabbing every opportunity to show what you're made of and how valuable you are.



      So everyone, I hope these 9 graduate lessons are taken with the spirit that it was intended, and appreciate you taking the time to read my journey. I wish you good luck whilst you all embark on your own awesomely unique journeys into Graduate life!

      Missed the other lessons? Click here for 1-3, and here for 4-6

      Stay tuned for more soon...

      0 comments :

      9 lessons life as a graduate has taught me (4-6)

      00:37 Unknown 0 Comments

      Living With Your Partner Ain’t All Flowers And Rainbows


      After being in a long distance relationship with the love of my life, it was exciting to finally be living together in our first little flat. However, we clashed from day one. I wanted to recycle, he point blank refused. He wanted to buy expensive olives, I was happy with Asda’s own brand. And we both still fight over who should do the dishes. 

      Sound familiar? 

      There were times when we thought we weren’t right for each other because we’d bicker constantly. However, we found all couples argue now and again and these minor issues are insignificant in the bigger picture. Though things are far from perfect, and probably never will be, we continue to learn.

      #LIFETIP: both learn to accept each other habits, but improve your own too. This is the biggest challenge of living together, but after almost a year the pros are definitely weighing out the cons! He makes me ridiculously happy, and that's all that counts in the grand scheme of things right?
      5. Don’t Stop Until You Find What You Love To Do

      Don’t give up - being a Graduate in the real world can be tough, but it’s character building. If it was easy, everybody would do it. 

      #LIFETIP Keep fighting to find what you love and nail it. You may be spending most of your time working, so make sure you are passionate about it.


      See Steve Jobs incredibly motivational speech!


      6. Know Your Worth

      This has been a very valuable life lesson I’ve discovered recently. How can you expect others to know what you're worth, if you don’t know this yourself? 

      This last year, I've honestly felt like a lost sheep - a small fish in a big pond. I’ve always felt like there was something missing, like I didn’t realise why things were going wrong in my life/job. I expect many Graduates feel this way, but I think knowing your worth is a good first step to improving your happiness, success and future. The reason this may get overlooked is because you never really know the true value of your education or life experiences until a situation to showcase them arises. 
      worth.jpg

      #LIFETIP: Keep grabbing every opportunity to show what you're made of and how valuable you are. Keep putting your all into every task, keep changing and improving yourself, and never settle for less than you're worth. The sooner you realiser this, the stronger and happier you will be, and the more respect you will get from others!


      See lessons 1-3 here and 7-9 here here

      0 comments :

      9 lessons life as a graduate has taught me (1-3)

      01:24 Unknown 0 Comments

      So you're fresh out of Uni. Good times! But have you ever thought about what life after Graduation is really like?


      Leaving that awesome Student lifestyle is a big change. Good-bye clubbing, red bull and coursework - hello gym, vegetables and Council Tax bills. Yippee! Things are obviously not this black and white, but it can be tricky to know what life's like down the line.

      So, as I sit here sipping on my beloved cup of green tea, I'll tell you the lessons I've learned since graduating last year.

      1. Finding The Right Job Can Be a Challenge.


      Job hunting was a way bigger mission than I thought. The time, effort and dedication needed exceeded my expectations. Looking back, I felt lost and confused. 'So what now?'

      Google became my new best friend. I toyed with the idea of Graduate Schemes, Air Hostess jobs, and pretty much analysed every single possibility out there. Now I’m working for a 5* Hotel - just named one of the world’s top 100 - which is an incredible experience (not short of challenges, yet super rewarding). 

      But now I realise something. Even though I didn't know, it was a good thing as because I learned to say yes and trust my instincts. You never know where an opportunity will take you unless you just go for it. And guess what? The reality is, that perfect job may not just fall at your doorstep - you've got to go out there and find it. Hunt it down and fight for it.  And even when you think you have, nothing is what it seems.

      I learned that at least 4-6+ months into anything new will help decipher whether it’s right for you. This is because you and your work environment will change over time. You will become more confident and slowly integrate better into the business's culture. So just remember to say yes to every opportunity to learn something new, even if it scares you!

      #LIFETIP: Find the elements you love the most about a job and focus on nailing these. And the boring/ weaker parts - find a way to make them interesting/ better, or ask for help.

      2. Money Can Be Tight, So Make Every Penny Count.


      When I was a student, I couldn’t wait to get a full-time job and earn ‘real’ money. I thought I would be fine as I’ve had plenty of experience working and paying the bills. But reality is, paying rent, food, gas, water, electricity, student debts, phone bills, credit cards, etc. on even a higher than average wage is a challenge.

      But don’t fear - this doesn’t mean it’s impossible. I’m just trying to be as honest as I can to prepare you! So, my advice is make every penny count and cut back where possible - e.g, that £1.50 bus,  £5 top from Primark, or Friday night G&T. All of these contribute towards your financial situation. Whilst I’m still battling with this as we speak, I find it therapeutic to say it out loud and admit it!

      #LIFETIP: Don’t just make changes, measure them so you can see their value and if they work or not.

      Example

      1) Identify issue (e.g. spending too much money)
      2) Write it down (income/outgoings/spending habits)
      3) Implement one change (walk instead of getting bus)
      4) Experiment with options/alternatives to see what is best (bike, walk, get a bus pass)
      5) Measure the change (no bus for one month 8 x £1.50= £12 saved, and also fitter/healthier!)
      6) Why, why, why? (Because you want to save for a house)
      This is super helpful for me, and the sweet thing is, it can also be applied to any area that needs improving - not just money! Give it a try.

      3. Patience Is Golden.


      #LIFETIP: Give it time.

      It may seem easy for me sit here one year ahead of graduating and share with you all I’ve learned. But I know what I know now because I was patient. Everyone is different, and things may come easier for some, but time can change a lot really. And I continue to find that you can never know what something is truly like until you're experiencing it.
      So buckle up and enjoy the ride! Learning to be a successful graduate slowly, gradually, repetitively, over time is the best way to embrace such a big change. I'm still going through this process but all you need is effort, belief and of course - time!

      Click here for lessons 4-6!

      0 comments :

      Subscribe to: Posts ( Atom )