So, here’s the scene. It’s graduation day, and you’ve somehow managed to pass all the right courses, in the right order, and at the right time. And now they’re telling you that you can sprint across the stage and snatch your diploma—before they figure out you forgot to hand in that one final assignment! Job well done.
But what’s next? What happens after the ceremony is finished, the photos are taken, the after-grad parties are over, you’ve said goodbye to all your best buds, and you’re headed for—well, just what are you headed for?
No matter what you’re thinking, it’s probably going to be a whole lot different than you’re imagining. Life will change, big time, in almost every respect. So, here are a few post-graduation tips for surviving (and thriving!) during your first year out there in Careerland.
1. Be prepared for people asking prying questions. Trust me on this one. You’re going to hear, “So, what are your plans…?” about ten million times over, from your Uncle Marvin and Aunt Matilda, from your neighbors back home, from your high school algebra teacher you just bumped into at the grocery store—until you want to scream and run for the hills (which might become an option you’ll eventually choose). And then, here comes the next part: many of these same people are going to jump right in and start giving you all sorts of career advice. Some of it may be good advice. A lot of it will not. So, how do you handle it? You develop a sentence or two, something short and simple, that you memorize and have at the ready—same idea as carrying around garlic in case you encounter a vampire. You bring your sentence out only when you need it, and you use it to defend yourself against the unwanted advice-givers. Here are a couple samples: “Thanks so much for that suggestion. For now, I’m going to pursue XYZ and see how that goes.” Or “I’m currently working on my career plans, which I’ll be eager to share with you as soon as they’re fully developed.” Remember, you are the architect of your own future, and in order to get where you want to go, you may need to assert your right to make your own decisions. I’ve seen way too many young graduates derailed from their career paths by other people’s (often well-meaning) meddling. Make sure you remain in control of your life.
2. Do a final brush-up before you jettison those textbooks. After you’ve been working for fifteen-or-so years, no one will expect you to instantly know the itsy-bitsy nuances of whatever career you’ve chosen. (Examples: if you’re a journalist, the proper format for a foreign press release; or if you’re a landscape designer, the Latin name for obscure tropical plants—later on, everybody looks that stuff up.) But when you first get out there, you’re going to be expected to behave and perform like a freshly minted graduate. Many companies will have you take knowledge and competency tests before you even get your foot in the door. And once your foot (plus the rest of you) makes it in, co-workers will start asking you all sorts of things. You will suddenly become their de facto, go-to resource guide. Furthermore, people will assume you’re an excellent public speaker and ask you to give the quarterly department presentation, even though you were a mechanical engineering major. You’ll be asked to write up the promo flyer for the next company potluck and blindfolded Frisbee contest, even though your degree is in geology. They will hand you all the social media accounts and run. After all, you’re young, so you know how to do all that stuff, right? So do a quick review of all that you’ve learned and make sure you’re as knowledgeable as possible within your areas of expertise.
3. Be patient and chant “Ommm.” We live in a world of instant gratification. Google searches. Keurig coffeemakers. ATMs. Amazon shopping with instant doorstep delivery. Expedia travel. Siri and Alexa granting our every request. We want what we want, and we want it now. But often, that’s not the way it works in your career. You’ve undoubtedly already read a bazillion articles about Gen Zs not being good at delayed gratification—well, as a psychologist, I’m here to tell you that no one is! At least not automatically and naturally. However, it’s monumentally important that we develop the discipline to keep things in perspective, especially when it comes to our career advancement. Like it or not, it may take months, years, and possibly even decades (yes, I am not exaggerating) to advance to where you want to go. You may have to work in entry-level sales or supervise the hospital night shift ‘til the cows come home before someone even notices you and thinks you might be worthy of another assignment. You might spend months locked in a back office, doing research for a project that never actually makes it out the door—only to be required to start again on an equally doomed project. But guess what? That’s just the way it is. To the best of your ability, take a deep breath, smile, and enjoy the journey, delayed as it may seem. If you’re being paid a fair salary, you’re being treated as a valued human being, and you’re reasonably challenged, motivated, and happy, my best advice is to press onward. Make sure your work performance is stellar, and you’ll eventually get there. Patience really is a virtue.
4. Keep your costs low so that you can keep your options open. It’s your first career job. You’re finally earning a decent paycheck, and you’re almost giddy with the excitement and power of being in charge. But don’t forget that you also have rent, bills, taxes, and possibly student loans to contend with. So, before you rush out and lease that new Honda Accord Hybrid, take a good hard look at your budget. Do some calculating, and then do some more. Make sure that you’re living well within your means, and that you’re planning for the future—including unforeseen bumps in the road. I’ve seen this happen: you begin your new career as a recent graduate, and because it’s all so exhilarating to be a young professional, you go out and find the coolest loft apartment imaginable. Of course, that loft apartment needs furniture, and it can’t be just any furniture, for heaven’s sake—it’s got to be Ikea. And the kitchen needs dishes—how about a trip to Anthropologie? You get the picture. So, here’s the danger: even if you do your homework before you accept a position, there’s a possibility that you may need to make a change—for a myriad of reasons, none of which are your fault, and none of which will you necessarily anticipate. Maybe your immediate supervisor ends up being a tyrannical jerk, maybe the corporate culture isn’t a good fit, maybe you discover that you sincerely hate being a corporate meeting planner or a pediatric nurse, or maybe you get laid off or furloughed due to an unprecedented, unforeseen pandemic. (Hmmm, sound familiar?) Whatever the reason, if you’re strapped with financial responsibilities at or beyond your means, you won’t have the wiggle room you might need to initiate a change. Instead, take it slowly. See what happens in that first year. Make sure you feel settled in and confident before taking on a lot of financial debt. You’ll breathe much easier if you know you have some options.
5. Channel Mary Poppins. In other words, stay positive! I end almost every article I write (and talk I give) with this advice—because I can’t help repeating myself. It’s the most important thing I can tell you, and it’s the most important thing you can learn. And learn it you can—a positive attitude is completely acquirable, if you’re willing to work on substituting positive thoughts for negative ones. Doing so becomes easier over time, and it’s automatically self-reinforcing. I know for a fact—and research backs this up repeatedly—that a positive attitude is the most valuable asset you can possess. It becomes your source of energy when you’re tired or discouraged, motivation when you’re charting your course, and inspiration when you’re looking around and wondering what life is all about. People with positive attitudes accomplish more, are promoted more quickly, are better able to bounce back from disappointment, are healthier, live longer, are better liked, and enjoy happier lives. So, embrace the positives in your life (they’re all around you, I promise), cultivate your own positive attitude, and soar. And once again, congratulations!
