Determinant factors for future career success

Determinant factors for future career success

By Vasilis Efthymiou

University: a window to future career success. Yes, we have managed to get into university but now what? Definitely, a good first step but after the increased commercialization and internalization of the higher education (look figures 1 and 2) just getting a piece of paper won’t make you stand out. Just imagine your class at uni. How many students are you? Now, multiply that by the number of relevant departments in other universities in your area, city, country. I am sure it’s going to be a huge number. Now you can understand the amount of competition we are facing as soon as we graduate.

Of course, university is about knowledge and developing your skills. The knowledge and skills that will make us capable of practicing our profession as a competent future employee. However, knowledge is hard to be proven to our future employer.

Therefore, what is that we need to acquire during our time in university? Well, let’s begin with experience. It is always what employers look right away when they receive an application from us. It is a testimonial that you have the knowledge, the skills and the know-how for the position you are applying to and it shows that other employers judged you capable of delivering good results in a job position.

Another important factor to success after uni is your personal and psychological traits. What are your biggest strengths as a personality? Can you work under pressure, are you punctual, result-driven, a self-motivated person? Look for your key strengths and see if they fit your dream career.

The other side of the coin is really important as well. Having a good network is a huge determinant factor for future success. Who you know, is crucial for enjoying exclusive information about upcoming job vacancies in a company or a more privileged treatment during the hiring process. If you want to know more about this, visit my next blog about networking.

However, there is not a recipe for success as luck is going to play a huge role in our future career development either we like it or not. Being at the right place, at the right time, with the right people is not something that happens often.

University is the only period in our lives where we are given the chance to gradually develop all those aspects for future career success and we need to make the most out of it. Don’t wait until is too late.

So, how do you make a difference?

Watch an inspiring speech by: William McRaven, US Navy Admiral who points out the importance of doing the little things right. This is how you can make the big things right.

Figure 1 - US degrees

Source: https://www.statista.com/statistics/185153/degrees-in-higher-education-earned-in-the-united-states/

Figure 2 - UK degrees