Graduation is daunting. For years you’re a student, settled in the comfortable routine of studying and working to pass time. Then all of a sudden you’re in the real world: you’ve got your degree, and you’re expected to choose a career that’ll guide your way of life for years to come. How are you expected to figure it all out while being so young? With no experience to offer, a saturated job market, and the same piece of paper as every other graduating student, it can feel overwhelming to decide what path you’re wanting to take.

Life After Graduation:
The Ins and Outs of Landing Your Dream Role
Life After Graduation:
The Ins and Outs of Landing Your Dream Role
By Philippa Mihos, Social Media Assistant
June 11, 2025

I’ve been in your shoes before. It took me four years of university, one degree change, and three part time jobs to get to where I am today. Years of hard work, late nights, tears, doubt, and every emotion in between. I can now proudly say that at 22 years old, I’m working my dream role in fashion marketing, with a brand I’ve admired for years. It was no easy feat to get here, and my career path was unique to say the least, but this merely serves as a reminder that not all career paths are linear and you can achieve ANYTHING you put your mind to.
So, here’s my guide to navigating life after graduation:
1. Take Every Opportunity That Comes Your Way
This is the one piece of advice that I wish I was given at the start of my career journey, as it was the most random opportunities which eventually led me to my dream career. Would you believe me if I said I landed my job by working at a warehouse, and begging for an internship in a field that was completely opposite to what I studied at university? I wouldn't believe it either – but it’s true! At 18 years old, I entered MESHKI for the first time as a Warehouse Associate. Little did I know where this one role would take me.
I worked part time in the warehouse, picking and packing, to pass time and earn some side money while I completed my Bachelor of Psychology at university. As the months passed, I progressively took more notice of the company’s marketing activities. Marketing was a foreign industry to me when leaving high school, and never in my wildest dreams would I have imagined myself working in the field. With little education and little exposure to the industry, it seemed silly at the time to pursue it. But my questions about the industry only grew as I continued to work at MESHKI, and one day I decided I wanted to learn more. I reached out to HR enquiring about a potential internship with our marketing team. Paid or not, I wasn’t phased: I just wanted to learn. This single enquiry led to me an 8 week unpaid internship with our eCommerce and PR team – an experience which changed everything for me.
By day I was working in marketing, and by night I was studying psychology. I was LOVING my internship, and despite eCommerce admittedly not being my favourite marketing niche, I was learning heaps and progressively growing more interested in the industry. Upon completing my internship, I made the decision to transfer degrees and begin my Bachelor of Marketing and Media. This was daunting to start fresh again after a year of studying, to be a year behind others my age, and to add another year of university to my agenda. But the truth is, there is no timeline – you can take as long as you want and go at your own pace, as long as you’re consistent in working towards your end goal. I only wish I had known this earlier.
2. The Power of Networking
Networking played a massive role in landing my dream job. When you graduate, you often find yourself in the same boat as every other student – same degree, same knowledge, no experience to offer, and a saturated job market ahead of you. Sometimes it doesn’t come down to what you know, but rather who you know. I cannot stress how important it is to put yourself out there and introduce yourself to people, even when you’re only a student. Connect on LinkedIn with those working in your field, go to seminars and workshops led by those in your industry, connect with individuals at university studying similar degrees, and don’t be afraid to put your name out there – you never know who you might just meet.
I speak here from experience! While working my internship, I created so many long-lasting friendships with women who vouched for me and assisted me in landing my dream role 2 years later. I showed up to company wide events ready to meet new people, and along the way I met and befriended the Head of Socials. Little did I know that this one conversation with a stranger would lead to me working alongside and learning from her 2 years later as a postgraduate student – crazy how the world works sometimes!
And let’s be real here… would this even be a MESHKI career article without a little fashion advice? First impressions matter when making new connections, and you want to make sure you’re dressed the part. Maybe you’ll embrace your inner powerhouse with our Jameson Cinched Suiting Blazer and Jameson Pleated Wide Leg Pants. Or perhaps you prefer to keep it classy, with our Asia Mixed Button Blazer & Alix
Suiting Mini Skort. Either way, let's ensure we’re dressed to impress at these events.
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3. Practice Patience
The most fundamental lesson I learnt throughout my career journey was the power of perseverance and patience. “Be patient” is the last thing you want to be told as a postgraduate student trying to pursue their career – you’re tired, you’re overworked, and you’re simply frustrated at how long it’s taking to land a job. If you’re in this boat right now, consider this your sign to trust the universe’s timing. Everything works out exactly as it's supposed to when the time’s right.
It’s tough, I get it – even I considered giving up multiple times. At the end of the day, it comes down to how badly you want it. I interviewed for two marketing roles prior to landing my current role at MESHKI. I interviewed and was rejected not once, but TWICE. I was gutted, and I doubted if I was even cut out to work here. But rejection was truly redirection here, because looking back, those roles were never meant to be. I couldn’t imagine myself working in those specific roles now, and I wouldn’t have been able to handle corporate life back then the way I'm able to now. I knew I wanted to work for MESHKI’s marketing team so badly, and I knew if I practiced patience and worked hard I’d get there someday.
After 3.5 years in the warehouse, I got offered a job at MESHKI HQ as a Social Media Assistant. I was still in university at the time, so landing a corporate role with my dream company as an undergraduate was a HUGE deal. It was this moment when I realised how important it is to stay patient and keep working hard with your end goal in mind – you never know who’s watching and what reward will come out of it.
4. Show Up As Your Future Self
Whether you believe in manifestation or not, I guarantee this one piece of advice will do wonders for you. Knowing exactly what you want and keeping your goal at the forefront of everything you do will guide how you lead life and impact every decision you make. Goal setting and mood boards were my favourite way to show up for my future self, as it enabled me to envision exactly where I wanted to end up and constantly reminded me of my end goals. I personally had the word ‘MESHKI’ and a screenshot of our Instagram account on my vision board for two years straight, and I like to believe this helped me manifest my current role.
I also think dressing as the person you wish to become is SO underrated. Whether it’s a networking event or a job interview, my advice would be to dress as if you’re already working the job that you’re dreaming of. My personal favourite would be our staple Bellamy Cinched Blazer & Jacqueline Pleated Wide Leg Pants – chic, classy, and screams force to be reckoned with.
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To all students reading this, whether you’re currently studying, post graduation and lost on what to do, struggling to find a job, or just confused on where to start – my final piece of advice is:
EMBRACE. THE. JOURNEY.
Show up to events. Introduce yourself to random people. Ask questions. Take risks. Seek any and every opportunity. Be bold and be brave in everything you do. Be patient. Work hard. Never lose sight of the end goal. Dress as the person you wish to become. Don’t fear rejection or failure. Keep trying. Be relentlessly yourself. And throughout everything, don’t give up.
You never know just where your path will take you.

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