Transition from a Student to a Professional- Importance of Work Experience whilst pursuing Education
View(s):The Advanced Level frenzy is at its peak, and students are frantically getting through each hurdle systematically. Upon completion, one might sigh a relief because years of hard labor is finally at an end, but is that the reality? Reality isn’t as simple as that, because post-AL life is where a persons life transitions from a student to a professional. Atleast that is what it should be. The period between when a student finishes the exam until the day which results are released is anti-climactic for a most part. However, the climax should be maintained throughout the journey. Finding part time/full time employment during this time lag is critical, since it determines the progression or the detriment of a students potential professional career. Here are a few reasons as to why a student should consider to seek employment as soon as exams are concluded.
Hone transferable skills
It is evident that some lucky souls will gain university entry once results are released, but wait. The student has to wait an additional few month until the next university batch intake(given that private education is not an option). Even so, one cannot expect a university or a private institute to teach every skill that is expected by modern employers. Certain elements have to be discovered through personal trial and error. What better platform to experiment than the present?
Working in a dynamic environment will give an essence of being a team member. Individual intuition is enhanced through the experiences. Intuition cannot be memorized nor studied, and attending lecture after lecture is redundant if one doesnt know where to channel the energy from. The ability to give excruciating attention to detail is not inherent, but developed while on-the-job. Ultimately, skills that can be carried throughout diverse jobs and different walks of life can be achieved at an earlier stage.
Gain Independence
Remember the days where you scorned your parents by boasting how competent and ‘strong-willed’ you are? This is the ideal situation to actually ‘walk the talk’. The sense of responsibility of taking charge of ones own life arises as soon as a person finds employment. The income earned eliminates the need to beg parents for frequent reloads, expensive phone accessories, hip and trendy dresses. In short, you can be an online keyboard warrior atleast through a reload which was actually purchased through your own personal income.
It is a tiring feat, since the person will be in-charge of their own schedule, money and duties. As a result, reliance on close associates is mitigated. Indirectly, the persons will have the courage to stand up for themselves, since they spend what they earn, and not a single external entity has a claim to give their opinions. The sense of pride when you transcends from a beneficiary to a provider will build character. This attribute shall act beneficial for both future studies and professional progression.
Develop a professional network
A job usually entails working and associating with people of different calibers, regardless of the location of employment. This lays the platform for an individual to network with notable entrepreneurs. Do not be disheartened if the job isn’t exactly what is expected for future returns. Potential for making strategic connections are ever present because the professional world is inter-linked in one way or the other.
Not entirely sure? Lets have a look at the possible outcomes. A customer walks in and greets you with a smile, and you hit off really well. Upon closer inspection, it is revealed that he either works for, or is a key figurehead within your dream work place. Random gossip and chit-chat during lunch hour reveals that a co-worker has connections with an employer which provides vacancies which fits your expectations and skills. Best case scenario is when your employer’s brother takes a liking for you, and offers an even better job at his office. The opportunities are omnipresent, once a proper network channel is assured, and starting off at a younger age gives you a head start.
Get the CV made more authentic automatically
Ironically, a post-AL student has no inkling regarding the nature, nor the importance of a CV. Movie depictions is their sole source of familiarity, and those interpretations are fairly inaccurate. The CV is your professional profile, and the more juicy it is in terms of content, the better prospects that are entitled within the future. There comes a time during a bachelors degree program, where an internship requirement determines future progression. At that stage, the CV should already be prepared.
Whether if it is an internship, apprenticeship or a permanent staff vacancy, the first detail to receive the employer’s attention is what is listed under the ‘experience’column. This is because at that time, the candidate should be aware of workplace ethics and organisational cultures. Work experience also shows that you’re a hard worker and that you’re good at multitasking as you found the time to work and study simultaneously.
The future is yet a blur, but unawares of your sub-conscience, your CV is automatically updated with each month that is spent in the workplace with each skill that was acquired gaining specific entries under both ‘work experience’ and ‘personal skills’ columns’. The ideal time to start updating the CV, is right after the completion of Advanced Levels.
Stay healthy; physically, mentally and socially.
The wait for AL results might make one feel as if the person is under house arrest. Friends and associates who shared a childhood start to take different routes, and you may feel as if you are left behind. It is evident that the person becomes lethargic when confined to a single location. Usually, students binge watch movies and television shows to kill time. This monotonous routine is hazardous in all 3 aspects.
Initially, the perfect happy endings depicted through television shows/ movies makes the student contemplate his or her own life. Then each movie sequence will be related to the current predicament. Once the perfect nature denoted within the movie is not present in reality, the person feel disheartened, and perceives that life seems meaningless. The prolonged isolation, with the sole association being these graphic interpretations of a false-virtual life, makes the person show first signs of chronic depression. For this situation to subside, the monotonous routine should be broken consistently.
Assuming that this ‘depression’ kicks in, the person starts to overeat whilst binge-watching. Overeating can lead to many complications. Excessive eating leads to obesity, which affects your outer appearance. The food consumed during this phase is usually sugary or salty snacks, which might lead to cholesterol as well as diabetes. Ultimately, you will become a walking-talking pile of meat.
Whats the remedy for such a predicament? Find ways to keep yourself busy. What better way than to find employment?
Daily work makes solitary confinement impossible, and the exercise that is received through traveling from home to work burns out calories which are gained through food consumed ( some exercise is better than no exercise). The friend-less phase is eradicated when new associates, peers and acquaintances are made through networking at the new office environment.
Thus it is safe to state that finding employment is the ideal manner to break free from potential isolation based chronic depression.
- Randheer Mallawaarachchi