How to Stand Out as a Young Professional: 10 Strategies

It’s graduation season! For many, this means closing the academic chapter and entering into a new career. Highlighting relevant degrees and qualifications, it’s a time of exploration and discovery as new grads tackle the job market, some for the very first time. However, in a sea of similarly accomplished candidates, the question arises: how can one stand out?

In Canada, young professionals feel fairly optimistic about their prospects. The labour market added approximately 41,400 positions in April. Most of these positions consisted of part-time opportunities in highly cyclic industries such as retail. Full-time business positions, however, experienced a downturn, correcting from the high hiring rates seen last year. Therefore, competition still remains fierce, especially at prestigious firms.

So, how can a new grad stand out when applying to positions or when starting out in their first career? This article outlines 10 strategies to consider during this transition phase.

(1) Understand Your Value ?

As a young professional, prioritize collecting experience and expertise. Therefore, avoid selling yourself as an expert or experienced hire. Most companies acknowledge that new grads seek to learn and enhance their resumes. Embracing a beginner’s mindset with an attitude of openness, eagerness, and a lack of preconceptions serve as valuable assets for a new position.

Moreover, when collaborating with experienced individuals, a new grad can contribute their transferable and soft skills acquired through post-secondary education. For example, while a young professional might not have the technical experience needed for the tech industry, skills such as team collaboration, public speaking, and presentation can add value to the team and firm.

Tips to Consider:

• Seek out job applications with new grad, recent grad, or junior in the title.
• Focus on presenting your transferable skills and willingness to learn if you lack in hard skills.

(2) Network Strategically

“What You Should Know About Networking” outlines that 85% of jobs are filled via networking and 70% of jobs are never published publicly. As a new grad, being able to leverage your connections, both online and offline, increases your chances of landing a position earlier than your peers. Attending career fairs, industry events, professional organizations, networking groups, and reaching out to alumni or professionals in your field of interest can significantly better your chances of obtaining a position.

Tips to Consider:

• Connect and reach out to those with your ideal career progression.
• Approach others with a beginner’s mindset and willingness to learn from them.
• Create and practice your elevator pitch to sell your best qualities.
• Connect with others even if they don't align with your interests. They might refer you to someone else.
• Continue networking internally at your firm once you land a position.
• Read “What You Should Know About Networking” for more best practices.

(3) Position Yourself for Continuous Learning

Stay updated with industry trends, new technologies, and other best practices. Take advantage of online courses, webinars, workshops, and professional development programs. Learning goes beyond your professional growth. It demonstrates your commitment to self-improvement, enhances your qualifications, and increases your value as an employee. It can also boost your self-confidence and improve your overall well-being.

Consider the Following Platforms:

• LinkedIn Learning: highly recognizable and valuable in the B2B community.
• Udemy: geared towards self-paced learning and video courses.
• Coursera: awards students with different types of accreditation.
• SkillShare: comes with supportive discussion forums where students exchange feedback.
• EdX and OpenEdX: provides in-depth knowledge and added value.

(4) Develop Your Personal Brand

As long as you’re online, you’re searchable, meaning, make sure you know what others will find. If your personal social media profiles show something you don’t want an employer to see, make sure they’re anonymized or private. On LinkedIn, present your best self forward by tailoring your content with your interests and accomplishments. In one-on-one conversations, developing and perfecting your elevator speech can help ensure you’re communicating the most important aspects of yourself.

How to Write an Elevator Pitch:

Create a short 3-5 sentence paragraph using the following points:

1. Who am I? (basic information, personal and professional details)
2. What do I do? (job function, interests, and other organizations)
3. Why do I do it? (internal and external drivers)
4. Why does it matter? (to me and to the person I'm speaking with)
5. What's next? (personally and professionally and for this connection)

(5) Consider Relevant Professional Certificates

While the job market looks promising, how do you differentiate between other new grads who also achieved high grades, volunteered, and completed co-ops and internships?

There are several compelling reasons why a new grad should consider obtaining a professional certificate:

• Enhanced employability: professional certificates demonstrate that you possess specific skills and knowledge in a particular field. They provide tangible evidence of your expertise beyond your academic degree, and oftentimes, lead to a higher earning potential.
• Competitive advantage: in some instances, a certificate can be more valuable than an advanced degree. Certificates offer a competitive edge by showcasing your commitment to continuous learning and professional development by demonstrating your willingness to acquire specialized skills that align with industry demands.
• Industry relevance: professional certificates are often designed in collaboration with industry professionals and experts. They focus on practical skills and current industry trends, making you more attuned to the requirements and expectations of the field.

Certificates to Consider (not an exhaustive list):

Project Management

• Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)
• Project Management Professional (PMP)

Agile

• Agile Certified Practitioner (ACP)
• SAFe Agile Practitioner
• Certified Scrum Master (CSM)

Other

• Google Fundamentals of Digital Marketing
• Business Analysis Certification (BAC)
• Salesforce
• AWS Cloud

(6) Take on Challenging Projects

Challenging projects include those that stretch your capabilities, but contribute to building your expertise, ability to work under pressure, and adaptability. To find these projects, seek out volunteer positions or take on projects that others don't want to do.

Examples of Challenging Projects:

• Freelance work
• Board or council member positions
• Event planning
• Volunteering
• Designing or implementing a project at your university / workplace

(7) Display a Strong Work Ethic

Being reliable, accountable, and punctual earns you respect. As a new grad starting out in a career, how you build your professional reputation carries with you into the future when you take on other roles and responsibilities. When you consistently demonstrate dedication, reliability, and a strong commitment to your work, colleagues and supervisors perceive you as trustworthy and dependable. This reputation can open doors to new opportunities, collaborations, and advancement in your career.

Three Qualities to Display a Strong Work Ethic:

• Reliability - stick to your commitments and create realistic expectations.
• Accountability - acknowledge when you make mistakes or when you need more help.
• Punctuality - try to attend all meetings and work commitments on time. If you're late, you risk looking unorganized and unprofessional.

(8) Develop Basic Project Management Skills

Almost every business position requires some level of project management skills. Individuals skilled in project management are better able to effectively plan, organize, and execute results. By understanding project scope, setting clear objectives, creating realistic timelines, and allocating resources appropriately, professionals can ensure the achievement of a goal. In addition, project management skills can aid in establishing clear objectives, breaking them down into manageable tasks, and developing strategies to accomplish them. Lastly, project management frameworks help with unexpected changes and challenges. They equip individuals with the ability to adapt to changing circumstances, make informed decisions, and adjust accordingly.

Transferable Project Management Tools and Skills:

• Stakeholder management
• Risk management
• Time management and organization
• Communication and negotiations
• Scope, schedule, and budget
• Gantt charts
• Work breakdown structures
• Team building activities
• Communication and management plans

(9) Seek Out Feedback and Criticism

The best way to understand your strengths and weakness is to seek out feedback and criticism. Employers, especially, are receptive to those that demonstrate a learning and growth mindset. When starting the job search, holding frequent resume reviews with other professionals, asking for feedback after an interview, and assessing your own values and shortcomings ensures that you come closer to your dream job.

What to Assess:

• Resume and its presentation
• Past experiences and their relevancy
• Strengths and weaknesses
• Areas of improvement
• Ideal career direction and progression
• Desired lifestyle
• Values and preferences

Where to Seek Out Feedback:

• Trusted family members
• Friends and acquittances
• Former co-workers and colleagues
• Professors and other academic support staff
• Networking connections

(10) Remain Authentic to Yourself

While some standards exist to what an employer is looking for in a young professional, remaining authentic to yourself is still important to your ultimate happiness with your career outcome. It's equally important to remember that an interview is double-sided, meaning that you're also interviewing the company to see if it's the right fit for you. Therefore, having a list of relevant questions not only shows interest in a position, but is an opportunity to learn whether an opportunity even works for you.

Your intuition is often a reliable guide that can help you navigate through decisions and situations in a way that feels genuine and aligned with your true self. Establishing healthy boundaries protects your well-being and honors your needs and limits. It also demonstrates self-respect and sends a signal to others about your values and priorities.

How to Remain Authentic to Yourself:

• Communicate your expectations early on.
• Only commit to work you're comfortable with.
• Don't fall into pressure on what your career direction should look like.
• Transition phases are necessary. If you need a stepping stone, make sure it aligns with your future goals.
• Recognize that everything is temporary.

In Conclusion

Post-graduation can be an exciting yet challenging journey for individuals seeking new opportunities. It requires strategic planning, a proactive mindset, and a commitment to personal and professional growth. By leveraging a combination of traditional and modern job search strategies, focusing on personal branding, networking effectively, and continuously developing skills, new grads can position themselves for success in today's competitive job market.

Remember, the job search is not just about finding any job but finding the right job that aligns with your values, passions, and goals. So stay resilient, remain adaptable, and stay true to yourself throughout the process. With perseverance and a clear vision of your desired career path, you can navigate the job search landscape and open doors to exciting new possibilities.

Marta writes new articles every Wednesday. Connect with her on LinkedIn. Have an idea for an article? Reach out!