How to climb the corporate ladder – a guide for graduates

People often describe going to university as the best time of their lives, but often they forget to mention that post-graduate feeling.

Once you have graduated, you are suddenly thrown into the real world, and have to find your own way around and secure yourself a job.

Trying to climb the corporate ladder can be a difficult task, especially for someone who has just recently graduated from university. While some businesses love to hire fresh graduates, other companies are more inclined to hire people with more experience.

However, not all hope is lost! Although climbing the corporate ladder can be difficult, thankfully there are tips and tricks that can help graduates secure their place in the corporate world. Keep on reading if you would like to find out more.

Set Some Career Goals

One of the first things you will need to do once you graduate is set yourself some career goals. Goals can be a great way to focus your career ambitions and they can help you realise where you actually want to be.

When setting career goals, it will be a good idea to set some goals that transpire over a few years. Perhaps start with where you want to be in the next year and then try and work out where you want your career to be in 5-10 years.

Having these career goals in place will give you a bit of guidance to work with, which can be a great motivator.

Not only this, but when you start applying for jobs and companies see that you are ambitious and have career goals, they will see you as a strong candidate.

It is a good idea to express these career goals with your employer as they may be able to help you to achieve some of those goals.

Consider Some Further Education

Enrolling in further education can help you gain some valuable skills that can help you with climbing the corporate ladder.

Having additional education on your CV will make you look more appealing to potential employers, and it can help you stand out from other candidates.

If you are looking for a course that can help you succeed in climbing the corporate ladder, then you may be interested in a programme on negotiation skills. T

he London School of Economics and Political Science provides an excellent 6-week online programme that is focused on teaching you the art of negotiation.

The skills that you learn from this course can be directly applied to your career journey and it can help you climb the corporate ladder.

The corporate world is so competitive, so you need to know how to negotiate your way around. This is why a negotiation programme can be so beneficial to graduates who are just starting their career journey.

Be An Asset To The Company

Once you get your foot in the door and you secure your first graduate job, you should always ensure that you are an asset to the company you work for.

As it is your first graduate position, you may feel nervous about making suggestions or offering input, but this is the way you will be noticed.

If you are working for a big company, then you must ensure you are doing what you can to stand out. Employees who go the extra mile, work hard, and make suggestions are the ones who will be noticed by senior management and company directors.

In your first graduate job, you must ensure that you are an asset to the company.

Of course, your performance at work plays a big role in this, but you should also be getting involved with the work culture too.

Within corporate jobs, office culture plays a huge role in day-to-day life, so it is important that you stay involved and active in your work culture.

Attend social events and get to know your co-workers on a deeper level, as this will help you settle into your new role.

Express Your Career Goals

We mentioned previously how important it is to have career goals when you are trying to climb the corporate ladder. Not only is it important to have career goals, but it is also essential to express these career goals to your employer.

When you land your first graduate job, you should be clear with your employer about where you see your career in a few years. Being ambitious will reflect well on who you are as a person, and it can also help you reach those goals faster.

For example, if you have expressed to your employer that you eventually want to get into management, then they will provide development opportunities for you to achieve this and be more likely to consider you when a management position arises.

Not only this, but your employer may have connections in different companies and if they know what your career goals are, then they may be able to provide you with an important business connection.

Ultimately, there is no harm in being sure of your goals and doing what you can to achieve those goals in the future.

Networking Is Your Best Friend

When it comes to climbing the corporate ladder, one of the key things you need to remember is networking.

Networking is important throughout your entire career, but it particularly holds value to those who are trying to get their foot in the door.

As a graduate, it is likely that you do not have many business connections, which can sometimes make it difficult to secure a job.

This is why networking is so important, it allows you to make important connections with people in your field and use those connections to help climb the corporate ladder.

If you are anxious about attending networking events, then perhaps start small and attend events that are catered to graduates.

This can be a better way to network as there is a level playing field and you know that other people are graduates too.

Once you have a bit more experience networking on a smaller scale, you can start to attend bigger events where you can make even better connections.

Being successful in the corporate world comes down to who you know, just as much as it is about what you know. So, be confident, attend networking events, and make valuable connections.