This guide will aid your smooth transition from university to the professional workplace. When leaving university for the world of work, you'll encounter unfamiliar situations and challenges. This is normal and expected, and the journey from graduate to professional can also be a valuable opportunity to continue learning and growing.
Combined with this guide, the following additional resources that are available for free online are extremely helpful. They'll give you additional context and advice around the subjects overleaf.
10 tips for mastering time management at work
https://bit.ly/46BQ7Si
Support for final-year students and graduates
https://bit.ly/45bFFhH
Disability and Work
https://bit.ly/4l3drvC
Key attributes of professionalism in the workplace
https://indeedhi.re/3UKeMwt
11 strategies for developing your confidence at work
https://indeedhi.re/4lYOpPy
Burnout
https://bit.ly/4l6aYAC
How to impress on the first day in a new job
https://bit.ly/4ofbzCE
What is imposter syndrome and how do you overcome it?
https://bit.ly/45drqca
What is imposter syndrome and how can you combat it?
- Elizabeth Cox, TED-Ed https://bit.ly/47etDXs
Your time at BSU has equipped you with lots of valuable industry-specific and transferable skills. These include how to be digitally resourceful, confidently selfaware, a critical thinker, and an inclusive collaborator. In the world of work, you'll need to be adaptable and apply your skills in different environments and contexts. Don't forget that you have a lot to offer, that you've successfully navigated new situations before, and you can do it again.
Engaging and collaborating with new people can be a great opportunity to learn from others. At university, you've likely been surrounded by friends and peers you have things in common with, for example, age, and academic or extracurricular interests. In the workplace, you'll build professional connections with colleagues who may
be at different life stages and have had a range of experiences. To build connections, you could consider joining workplace networks, for example LGBTQIA+, Women’s Network, or staff sports groups.
Unlike the clear and structured deadlines of university, work deadlines can be more dynamic and can shift due to changing circumstances and priorities. You could spend time developing your organisational and time management skills, but be aware of the need to be flexible and adaptable. You'll likely need to work on several things at a time, and there could also still be some more recurrent and daily tasks depending on the work. If you're unsure about how to prioritise, seek guidance from your manager. Examples of time management tools and techniques can be found at
the start of this guide. Furthermore, in contrast to your university assignments which are clearly structured with instructions, work tasks can be more ambiguous, with less guidance and greater need for problem solving. Remember that you can always ask a colleague or manager for further guidance.
Access to some university services such as the Student Wellbeing Service ends when you graduate. If you're receiving support from university services, find out where and how to access support after you graduate. If you're not currently receiving support, it can still be useful to know where to look should you need support in the future. For example, the first few weeks at work can sometimes be overwhelming, so ensure that you look after yourself and know where to find support if you need it. Professional services at BSU have developed a website to summarise a range of support available to final years and graduates, and this can be found at the start of this guide. Its topics
include mental health, financial advice, disability, accommodation, racism, and microaggression.
If you find that medical needs may impact the way you work, you can speak to your line manager for support.
Starting a new job can feel exhausting and sometimes stressful while you get to understand your role and meet your colleagues. Try to take it one step at a time, and don't try to do everything at once. Set yourself realistic goals and remember to take breaks. You may have also heard the term "burnout", the long-term feeling of being emotionally drained, exhausted, overwhelmed, and stressed. Burnout can impact your work-life balance and wellbeing. If you recognise the signs of burnout, speak with your line manager. Mental Health UK also has a dedicated support webpage on burnout, which is referenced at the start of this guide.
You may find you have less free time in a structured work environment compared to the flexibility of fitting in extracurricular and social activities around your learning, and the long holidays during university. Use planning tools to maintain a healthy work-life balance and schedule non-work activities into your week that bring joy.
At university you have your own set of priorities, and you're responsible for your own grades and assignments. In the workplace you're still expected to be a responsible self-starter and be accountable for your own actions, tasks, and decisions. Being accountable can include managing your time effectively and being transparent with colleagues. However, in the workplace, there's a greater emphasis on being an inclusive collaborator and contributing to the projects, wider objectives, and goals of your team and organisation.
Unlike the clear progression from one year to the next at university, navigating your career and your professional development is your responsibility. At university, you'll also be used to being given regular, structured feedback on your assignments. Feedback in the workplace may be less regular with a greater emphasis on reflecting on your own work and independently seeking ways to learn and improve. Seeking opportunities to enhance your skills and knowledge can include assisting on projects or attending training sessions. Don’t sign up for too much and ensure you maintain a balanced workload. This can help build your visibility in the workplace and support your professional development by trying new things and adding to your skillset.
The world of work is also unpredictable and always changing. Continuous learning and development is needed to move forward, and proactively navigate changes, challenges, and setbacks.
For example, if you can't complete a task, speak to the person who set it and communicate why. Aim to find a solution that works for everyone.
Ask for help if you need it and if a mistake is made, be honest and work together to find a solution.
Your first day will likely involve getting to know colleagues, the organisation, and your role. It can feel overwhelming for many people. You won’t be expected to remember everything, and it’s okay to ask questions! Here are some tips to help you prepare for and navigate your first day.
Your first day can bring with it a lot of different feelings and emotions. This is normal and expected when embarking on something new.
Ensure you get enough sleep. If you feel anxious, talk to friends, family, or support services.
This includes the job description and person specification, so you understand the key details about the role.
Understand where you need to be and when.
For online roles, set up your workspace, check your devices work, and how to log on. For inperson roles, plan your journey and pack what you need to take with you the day before.
Professionalism is a broad term for how we conduct ourselves in the workplace. Many attributes and behaviors can contribute to being professional; it's not just about completing your duties to a high standard, it's also about how you interact with others.
Examples of how you can demonstrate professionalism in the workplace include:
Arrive punctually for work and meetings. This shows that your job is important to you.
If your workplace has a dress code, follow it. If you don't have a dress code, look at what others are wearing and present yourself as you want to be perceived by others.
If you're given a task to do, get it done. Consider your attention to detail and try to complete tasks to the highest possible standard. The work you produce can contribute hugely to your professional identity. Before you send that email or submit that task, ask yourself if the standard reflects how you want to be perceived by colleagues.
Constructive feedback aims to support learning and development. Try not to take this personally, stay calm, pause before reacting, and focus on how to use the feedback to learn and improve.
It’s essential to be respectful and listen to the views of others. People may not always have the same views and ideas as you. Listen, acknowledge what is said, and strive to understand and respond respectfully. People can also have different working styles. When working with others, be mindful of various styles and aim to reach a mutually beneficial solution.
Avoid using bad language at work and communicate with others respectfully. Ensure that you're emotionally attuned - be mindful of how your behaviours and actions can affect your colleagues and clients.
Ensure good communication with your manager and team. For example, if you're off sick, have a busy week, need to work from home, or can't complete a task on time, let colleagues know as soon as possible.
Be present at meetings, and ensure you're participating and contributing. If you don’t know something, ask a question. Note down important information so it’s not forgotten later.
Being professional when addressing workplace concerns is crucial for productive conversations and a comfortable work environment. Common concerns include work-life balance, challenging tasks, difficult colleagues, and meeting deadlines. Every situation is different, but here are some tips for addressing concerns professionally:
TALK TO SOMEONE
thoughts and communicate clearly. Consider the issue, how it affects you or impacts your work, and reflect on any potential thoughtful solutions.
CONSIDER THE LOCATION
Is it more appropriate to meet online or face-to-face to discuss your concern?
DON'T ACT ON IMPULSE
"COMMON
People to approach could include someone removed from the situation, such as a family or friend, to get their perspective on different ways to approach the concern in the first instance. You could also speak to a work mentor, buddy, or your line manager.
INCLUDE
This is easily done when upset or angry, but you may regret how you address your concerns and not receive the outcome you hope for. When you're frustrated or upset, take a moment and think about how you want to communicate your concerns, along with what your desired outcome is.
REFLECT BEFOREHAND
Consider making notes before you address your concerns to organise your
If advice or potential solutions are suggested, listen and respond respectfully.
Low self-confidence and impostor syndrome can affect anyone, especially during life changes like transitioning from university to work. These challenges can influence career decisions and the relationship with your work. If impostor syndrome and low self-confidence negatively impact your mental and physical health, seeking professional support could be beneficial.
Confidence can mean different things to different people. We're all unique in ourselves and our experiences. It's generally defined as having a feeling of reliance, trust, and certainty in your skills, attributes, and judgements – sometimes referred to as self-belief. This is the attitude you hold about yourself, which allows you to move forward and achieve your goals.
An article that covers some helpful tips for improving confidence at work is at the start of this guide.
Impostor syndrome can be experienced in different ways. Generally, people who experience impostor syndrome may doubt their own skills, feel like they don’t deserve their success, feel guilty when succeeding, disregard praise, fear failure, and fear being regarded as frauds. Many people will experience impostor syndrome at some point during their careers.
For further information and tips on overcoming impostor syndrome, see the articles at the start of this guide.
As a student or recent graduate with a disability, you may have concerns about how your disability may impact your career. For example, you have concerns about how you might disclose your disability, have concerns about how to ask for reasonable adjustments, or may not be sure about your rights in the workplace.
For further information on organisations that support students and graduates with disabilities, see the articles at the start of this guide.
If you would like further support from Bath Spa Careers, please visit MyCareer at mycareer.bathspa.ac.uk where you can book a personalised appointment, ask us a question, browse further resources, attend informative events and search our huge jobs database.
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