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Congrats, Grads! You received your degree and you’re ready for the real world! Or… are you? Navigating post-collegiate life can be one of the most confusing times in your adolescence. From figuring out where you want to live, who you want to be, and what you want your career to be, there’s a lot of uncertainty ahead. Luckily, there’s one aspect where Victra has you covered. To help the freshly graduated navigate the tech necessities for their professional life, Victra has assembled a list of the essential gadgets to help get you started.
Laptop or Tablet
While it may seem obvious to most, a reliable laptop or tablet is the cornerstone of any young professional’s tech arsenal. As many young professionals embark on the early stages of their career, their laptops or tablets will be crucial for freelancing and applying to new positions. Whether your path is in tech, communications, design, or anything in between, a personal computer with high-processing speed and storage is the key to early success. For those choosing to carry a tablet instead of a laptop, Victra recommends the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE, which features high battery life, high durability, and a pen-point precision screen sensor.
Noise Canceling Headphones
The hustle and bustle of gig work or even office life can get overwhelming. Whether you’re working from a busy coffee shop, a loud, open-concept office, or even public transit, noise-canceling headphones can be the device that propels your productivity. Giving you the ability to choose your level of noise exposure, many of the newer models of noise-canceling headphones can provide you with a tranquil workspace almost anywhere. When searching for the perfect pair, Victra recommends keeping battery life, Bluetooth capability, durability, and sound quality in mind.
Cloud Storage Solutions
As remote work has continued to become the norm for many companies, the need for immediate access to relevant files and living documents is at an all-time high. Storage solutions like Dropbox, Google Drive, and SharePoint are key to both keeping your work life organized as well as sharing those files across teams. Storage solutions like these are not only crucial for freelancers, but a necessary part of cross-team collaboration. With tons of storage options available on each platform, new graduates can customize their storage needs as they embark further on their new careers.
Smartwatches
As both work and life continue to embrace a more “on-the-go” attitude, the key to staying productive is staying connected. With the right smartwatch, you can make your digital life totally portable with music, email / text notifications and response capabilities, fitness trackers, and more. Victra recommends models like Apple Watch Ultra 2 and the Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 which seamlessly integrate with your smartphones, laptops, and tablets.
Digital Note-Taking App
Gone are the days of legal pads and leaking pens. One of the best ways for recent grads to kick up their work game is through digital note-taking apps. Taking notes on a tablet has never been easier as these apps digitize hand-written notes that can be immediately transcribed to text. Not only do these platforms streamline the process of taking the actual notes, but the capability to immediately share digital copies of your notes with team members or friends can prove the communication skills necessary to function in today’s post-grad environment. An additional feature of these apps is the ability to search within your notes so relevant information is a click away rather than pages of rereading.
Time-Tracking Software
Whether you’re freelancing, working at a company with multiple clients, or simply just trying to manage your time better, time-tracking software can be the difference between staying on track in the less-structured environment of postgrad life or letting it overwhelm you. With Software like Toggl or Timely, you can track projects, set time limits on work, and even generate reports on how best to delegate your time. Instrumental for freelancers, many software also allow you to generate invoices based on time spent on projects and deliverables. While not everyone will be working for themselves, these software programs can even be useful for someone just trying to hone their time management skills.
Productivity Software
While many students are given subscriptions to productivity software like Microsoft Office by their universities, those subscriptions are often canceled or expire a few months after graduation. Many recent grads will often find themselves thinking these software packages are obsolete until, well, they’re not. Having access to comprehensive office software can be pivotal for those just starting in their career. Whether you need access to spreadsheets or presentation documents, these programs can make all the difference in impressing companies during a job search.
Standing Desk Converter
So, the job is yours… now what? Setting up a home office, whether for either remote or hybrid positions, can be a delicate process. In both instances you need to prioritize your productivity while not skimping out on comfort. As many studies have indicated, sitting in a desk chair all day can cause significant back pain. A great way to alleviate this problem is an automated standing desk converter. With just the push of a button, you can raise your computer to eye level and work standing or on a walking pad. Changing work positions can improve focus and productivity while also mitigating the discomfort of working at a desk.
Having the right tech to jump-start your career can make the transition from collegiate life to that of a young professional all the more seamless. Focusing on how best to prioritize your productivity, connectivity, and communication can’t be understated when it comes to giving yourself the best possible head start. From everyone here at Victra, we want to congratulate you on your graduation and hope that our list of tech essentials helps set you on your way. We can’t wait to see all the great things you’ll do, and we’re excited to be just a small part of it. Here’s to the class of 2024!
is a skilled Web Developer and Designer. He builds and designs websites that focus on best UI/UX practices. Justin is also a Verizon Product Expert at Victra, helping customers with Verizon products and services. His mix of design, coding, product, and general knowledge makes him a valuable and knowledgeable team member.
