When I was in college I had this great ideal of what life would
be like post-graduation. I was sure that without all of the studying, stress
and work life would be so much easier. Shortly after I graduated I learned that
my vision and happy dream of what it meant to be a college grad was not being
realized. And it was a lot harder than I realized. And I wondered, “Why don’t
they tell you this when you graduate from college? Or better yet, when you’re
in college?” So here are a few things I have learned in my short time out of
school that have made a difference for me.
1. Getting a job is not easy
I feel like I am not alone in this statement. I worked hard, had
a good GPA, and more importantly, I had relevant work experience. Still, it
requires more than just filling out online applications. It requires research,
a ton of time and networking. You know how professors always talk about the
importance of LInkedIn? Yeah, this is one instance where listening to them is
extremely beneficial. Like all good things, finding a job takes hard work. I
know, you always hear about those people who just “happened” into their dream
job or had connections from daddy that land them a high-paying job. But more
and more, these people are the exception and definitely not the rule. It takes
effort and it takes work.
2. A lot of people are smarter than you
Like I said, I worked really hard in college. I am definitely
not the smartest person, but I felt like I made up for it with persistence and
hard work. I thought my resume was decent when I graduated. I had two bachelor’s
degrees, graduated Magna Cum Laude and had worked nearly full-time in a job
that gave me relevant experience. I had also done a few internships, and been
involved in student clubs relevant to both my majors. I am NOT saying all of
this because I am great, it’s really the opposite. Because despite my
confidence on graduation day, I failed to realize there are a lot of incredible
people out there. Their skill set is better than mine, they know more, they
have more work experience. The point is, if you don’t get an interview, or don’t
get offered the job you think you are “perfectly qualified” for, don’t sweat it
too much. An unbelievable amount of talented people exist in the world. You
probably weren’t the right fit, and you will find the place that’s best for
you.
3. Hard work will usually
beat talent
Let’s face it. A lot of business professionals view our
generation as narcissistic, lazy techies who spend most of their time attached
to their phone and addicted to social media platforms. And sometimes, they
might be right in this assessment. Prove them wrong. Don’t pay attention to the
person next to you who gets paid triple your salary yet you’re not exactly sure
what he / she does all day, or the person who comes in late and leaves early
every day. Just because other people are doing it doesn’t mean it’s a good
idea. Work hard, work smart and have the attitude that you can never know
enough. Look forward, not sideways: Hard work always pays off.
I am lucky to have two great examples of this in both of my
parents. My dad has been a small business owner for 25+ years. His philosophy
is “We work until the job is done, and we do it right the first time.” My mom
helped my dad with his business, and then went back to school while
simultaneously raising five children and managed to maintain a 4.0 GPA. Growing
up working for my dad, and the example of my mom helped me develop a decent
work ethic that I will always be grateful for, and that has really helped me in
the workplace.
4. Things will always work
out
If you had told me I would be working for a medical finance
company when I started my senior year of college, I would have laughed. If you had
told me that I would be working in the shooting sports industry three years
later, I would have said you were insane. I really believe that no matter what
happens, things work out for the best for those who work hard. I didn’t expect
to start in the medical finance industry, but I wouldn’t trade my experience at
my first company for anything. I had a great boss who taught me invaluable
skills I use every day. It also provided a springboard to what I considered my dream
job in college athletics, which opened the door to my current job.
5. Be open to changing the definition of your "dream job"
I
absolutely love sports. I always considered a job in college athletics a dream.
When I had the opportunity to make this dream a reality, I couldn’t believe I
was so lucky. I had a great experience working in college athletics, but I
realized that it wasn’t the long-term career path that I wanted to take. Even
today, I am not sure that my current position is my “dream job.” But I do know
I am doing what I love and being challenged every day to be better. In college
I often heard the phrase, “Find something you love doing and you’ll never have
to work a day in your life.” I’m sorry, but I disagree with this statement. I
am doing what I love, but more often then not it’s work. My job challenges me.
I fall short. I feel inadequate. I get tired. I work long hours. But I keep
going. The feeling of accomplishment at the end of a long project, and looking
at something and saying, “Hey I did that and it’s awesome,” is extremely
gratifying.
So
life might not get easier after college graduation, but what’s the fun in that?
To steal the words from a popular movie, “It's supposed to be hard. If it wasn't
hard, everyone would do it. The hard... is what makes it great.”
