Here’s how to navigate the “real world” with confidence
So you finally have that degree and you’re embarking on your career path — or you’re almost there. That means trading marathon study sessions and college-style eating and sleeping for a “real” j-o-b. Now what?
Ah, “adulting.” Only four in 10 U.S. college students reported feeling well-prepared for their future careers, according to the latest McGraw-Hill Future Workforce Survey. Among the survey’s other findings, only 39 percent of students felt prepared for time management challenges, and just over 40 percent said they’re ready to handle their financial obligations.
“Sometimes the other facets of adult life don’t get a whole lot of attention when we’re focused on grades, putting together a resume, and trying to find a job,” observes Andrea Wieland, AISES member and career counselor at Front Range Community College in Westminster, Colo. “While the learning and development will hopefully never stop, the transition to career presents an opportunity to see skills and priorities through a broader lens.”
By all accounts, that transition from college to career is nothing to take for granted. But by investing a little preparation time and a solid effort, you can take charge of this phase of your life. Here are a few tips as you charge ahead.
Be Accountable
Maybe in college there was the occasional excuse such as “Oh, I overslept” or “I was so busy, it completely slipped my mind.” Understandable. But that was then. Now you’re putting yourself out there and letting people know what they can expect from you. If you want to be known as someone reliable, be reliable:
- Return calls and emails without delay. Don’t put your colleague, boss, or friend in the position of reminding you — or worse, feeling disappointed.
- Show up for meetings and appointments — on time! A great way to demonstrate that you respect someone is to respect their time.
- Make deadlines (not excuses). You’ll be more productive, less anxious, and the people around you will appreciate being able to count on you.
Conquer Time Management
Much of what you do moving forward will require serious time management. There are any number of expert habits or tricks for staying on top of your schedule. Give some a try, then decide what works for you and stick to it. The mission is to meet your work obligations as well as your needs as a human — like sleep, healthy eating, exercise, and a social life:
- Use technology for good, not as a distraction. There’s an ocean of apps out there designed to help you master your schedule and responsibilities (and a simple cell phone alarm or calendar alert can sometimes save the day). Social media black hole: no. Helpful technology: yes.
- Plan each day. It’s tough to meet goals without setting specific objectives daily. Know what you want to accomplish and stay focused. As you plan with discipline, also keep in mind that you need enough rest, food, and contact with the outside world to maintain your balance.
- Learn how to say no. While it’s not always easy, the ability to say “No” is vital to time management. Whether it’s a social get-together or an optional work meeting, it’s important to prioritize what will get you closer to your goals — and to avoid what could get in the way.
Own Your Finances
Bills never go away, loans have to be paid, and money can be easy to spend. Here again, you’ll find all kinds of free advice about money management. Consider your aspirations as well as your realities, and do your best to establish smart financial habits:
- Budget. Spend less than you earn and know how you’re going to make that happen. Playing catch-up on bills or debt won’t get you where you want to be. It can also cause stress that detracts from your job performance and ability to enjoy life outside work.
- Take charge of your student loans. Rather than worry about any debt you have, try to approach it as something you can manage rather than something to avoid. Paying off student loans is a marathon for most people, so do all you can to get on course.
- Understand your credit score and stay on top of it. “Financial literacy” is a thing. Your credit score will impact where you can live, what you can finance, and even who will hire you. On the upside, it’s not rocket science, and good financial work gets rewarded by the credit bureaus.
Listen and Learn
College has not prepared you for everything! Unexpected difficulties may surface at work or at home. Wonderful yet unanticipated opportunities will arise. Tell yourself you’ll figure it out, but don’t go it alone:
- Ask for help and insight. Just as you had advisors and confidants in college, you need them now. If you notice a high performer or amazing leader at work and are wondering how do they do it, ask. If you’re dealing with a problem, reach out to someone you can trust.
- Connect. You never know how that person you met in college or early in your career will factor into your story — whether they become a lifelong mentor, future business partner, or your “in” at the company advertising your dream job. Networking and staying connected will continue to serve you well, and bring you opportunities to extend a helping hand as well.
- Embrace course corrections. Despite your best intentions and all the well-meaning guidance in the world, you’re never going to get it all right all the time. Nobody does. Learn to recognize the need for a course correction. If you continue to gain “life lessons” as you go, you’re on the right path.
Alexis Keeling, Cherokee, grew up in Pryor Creek, Okla. Prior to graduating this spring from the University of Oklahoma with a bachelor’s degree in industrial and systems engineering and a minor in international studies, she attended three AISES National Conferences, studied abroad twice, and completed two internships, one of which led to a job offer. Keeling recently started that full-time position as an industrial engineer at Boston Scientific and shares her thoughts on the changes she’s experienced since embarking on her professional career.
It’s still early, but what has changed since graduation?
The schedule is the most dramatic difference. In college, you’re only in class some of the time. The rest of the time is spent studying and working on other school-related things. At work, you’re there at the same time every day and have a more clear path of what needs to be done.
Did college adequately prepare you for job hunting?
Programs are designed to expose students to different career paths and things they can do with their degree. It’s important to keep in mind that you will not use every class, and when interviewing, highlight the classes that will make you a valuable asset to that position. While most colleges offer some sort of freshman experience course where they teach you about interviews and resumes, it’s important to seek out the student service offices that offer things like resume critiquing and mock interviews. You already pay for these services as part of your tuition, and they really hone your skills and help take the mystery out of the interview and job-hunting process. Finally, take advantage of your club and organization career fairs in addition to the college career fairs. While the college career fairs are more basic, the ones that are hosted by organizations are more geared toward specific degree types and can help narrow the list of prospective employers.
How do you take advantage of increased downtime now that classes and homework are behind you?
Having hobbies again! There were a few things I liked to do outside of school, and I’ve always really enjoyed reading. But in college, I didn’t read much at all. After transitioning out of school, it seems like there’s less stress when I come home and I can enjoy things like reading again. While it feels calm right now, I do understand that there will also be stressful times at work, but I’m definitely enjoying having no homework.
Is there anything you wish you’d learned earlier?
I wish I had taken a class in investing and personal finance. I did attend some workshops and was lucky enough to have a professor speak to personal investments at the end of the class; however, I wish I had taken advantage of more workshops, or even a class on that topic.
What tips do you have for college seniors who will soon transition to working professional?
If you don’t already have a job lined up, start looking now. There are so many amazing companies to work for and so many different things you could do with your life. Make a list of where you see yourself in one year, five years, and 10 years. While the long-term visions are bound to change, having a solid idea of what you want your life to look like in the foreseeable future will help you narrow down possible types of employment. Decide if relocation is something you want and what type of industry you want to work in. Then, take that list and compare it to companies. Truly do your research on these companies before applying. Understanding the company culture is highly important. You want to make sure that your values and interests are being promoted by the company. Do you want a collaborative work environment, or would you want to work by yourself, or have a blend of both? With all the opportunities out there, make sure you’re choosing a career and a position that will set you up for future success and that success is defined by you.
Do you have any additional advice?
Something that I’ve always told people is to connect with student organizations, like AISES, on your campus. You may not know anyone and it may be awkward, but I promise you those students and advisors are there to love and help you grow into a young professional. These organizations provide a similar culture and often prioritize things that you find important. They help you align your goals and can show you opportunities to better yourself, be it through community service or events they host. Understanding where you want to go with your life and why will help you identify things that you should be working on to improve your resume, career, and academics (maybe not 10-plus years out, but in a reasonable time).
