Making the transition from campus to corporate - What you need to succeed in the workplace

-> People buy what you sell. Says Bluen: "In the business playground, projecting a powerful image makes career sense when you consider how, through the way you dress, you communicate the impression of your talents, the symbol of your standards and the promise of your delivery." Creating the perception of bankable credibility in the eyes of those who count means building a visual image that signals your intelligence, integrity, intention and creativity, one that respectfully and flexibly adheres to your company and client profile. Embrace your image as a powerful communicator and dress for your agenda!

-> In the new business environment, the primary expectations of your colleagues and clients are those of immediacy and availability. If updated consistently, your voicemail message can help create the perception of professionalism and availability in the client's mind. It can also be an invaluable relationship building opportunity if:

- You use you voicemail message as a personal assistant and give details as to your availability, for example: "Hi, this is Sarah. Thank you for your call. I will be in meetings the whole day but will be in the office tomorrow. If you need immediate assistance, please contact my assistant, Carin, or else leave a message and I will return your call tomorrow."

- You do not sound like a canned script
- You update your voice message regularly

-> As a new graduate, you will no doubt be faced with much 'hands on' experience- and one way to express your professionalism is through a handshake that communicates your confidence, sincerity and dependability. Avoid the 'limp fish,' 'rugby tackle,' and 'overdoing the ubuntu,' and opt instead for a firm web-to-web handshake. To ensure you put your best hand forward, avoiding all brief, limp, long and painful interactions, remember:

- Always maintain eye contact when shaking hands.
- A good handshake never exceeds two seconds.
- Your hand should be firm but not bone crushing.
- Your hands should be dry and clean- you'll regret the sweat.

Find a mentor

One of the first challenges new graduates face when entering into the workplace, is successfully interpreting the corporate culture and flexibly adapting to it, especially when it comes to reading the unwritten signals that constitute the organization's cultural code of conduct. So how does one overcome this obstacle, having just realised that not everything is written in the induction booklet? The answer lies in finding a respected and generous mentor, one that will willingly share their perspective, experience and insights in order to boost your progress. Not only do you stand the chance of finding a sponsor for your career, you may also find a role model whom you can observe in order to learn the rites and rituals that are demanded by your organization for a quick ascent up the corporate ladder. Take note of their corporate image, the relationships they have between work areas and levels, how they conduct themselves socially, and what behaviours constitute their professional way of doing business. By finding a mentor, and constantly observing those worth watching, you will learn how to play the game- building on the benchmarks of those who have gone big!

Think big picture

When you consider that the average person will have between seven to ten jobs and between two to three different careers from the time they leave school to the time they retire, the need to network wisely as a newly employed graduate is evident. Ensuring your sustained professional impact and success means marrying your short-term focus as a newly employed graduate with your long-term 'big picture' career intention- consciously making appropriate connections that will manifest opportunity down the line. Concludes Bluen: "As a newly employed graduate it is crucial that you don't overlook important associations that can contribute to your professional advancement."

Ultimately entering the corporate playing field provides a range of new challenges, all of which call for graduates to display accountability, professionalism and credibility. School is out: while your confidence and competence will increase as does your corporate experience, your ability to position yourself as the cutting edge advantage, superior in your commitment to growing yourself personally, professionally and contributing to your organisation's success, will govern the degree of your big league greatness.