Advice to Recent Graduates: Plan, Negotiate and Network

It has been more than 20 years since I graduated college. Since then my career has been productive and focused around doing what I have the most passion for – communications and storytelling. I have been fortunate to stay involved with my alma mater and working with students who are navigating their way through internship and job hunting – all with the goal of helping them find something that they like and want to do. With commencement season in full swing, I wanted to share some of what I have learned and what resonates most with students.

?Keep Your Eye on the Long-term Prize

If there is one thing that I consistently hear, it’s “I have this job offer, but it’s not in my field of study or what I really want to do.” While it’s OKAY to take a job that is not in your desired field (I get it - the lure of a full-time job is enticing after graduation), here are a few points to consider while keeping your eye on “your” long-term prize for your career – and life:

1. When you start a new job, have a plan for how you will stay focused on your long-term goal. For example, if you are interested in communications, but have a job in sales or customer service, focus on the transferable skills and learnings that you can take to your next job that will be beneficial long-term. 
2. Explore online courses, seminars, podcasts and read relevant books or case studies. 
3. If you work at a large company with multiple divisions, ask about rotation opportunities that will expose you to different areas of the business. 

Many people may not quite know what they want to do and take a job so they can get a paycheck. That is okay too, BUT, keep thinking about your plan and pay close attention to the things about your current job that do interest you.

? Get Comfortable with Negotiating

One regret I had coming out of college was that I did not negotiate the salary for my first job. I had an internship with a boutique communications firm and about a month and a half into the internship; I received a job offer. Frankly, I did not know how or what to negotiate and that turned out to be a critical mistake. I didn’t realize that the fact that I did not negotiate would affect my salary for a good part of my career.

?So here are some things to help you get comfortable negotiating:

1. Research is Key: If you are interviewing for a position or have an offer in hand, do research so that you understand what the pay ranges are for the position. Today there are great third-party resources that publish salary data for multiple industries. Use this to understand the proposed salary and the trajectory for your career. This will help in both the short- and long-term.
2. Practice, Practice, Practice: Use your network or a mentor to discuss the offer with and to practice negotiating. Prepare your argument and think beyond salary – some companies are willing to consider an extra vacation or other benefits.
3. Get Comfortable: It’s Part of Business: DO NOT be afraid to negotiate. If nothing else, it is good practice. Even if the negotiation is not successful, try it so that you can get comfortable with it later in your career. 

 ? Read more on negotiation skills.

? Your Network: Use it, Learn from it, Feed it

Similar to negotiating, when I was in college, networking was a foreign concept, even when it stared me directly in the face. During my senior year, a college trustee and his family took me out to dinner. We had a great conversation about what I was planning to do following graduation and my long-term plan. After that dinner, I did not keep in touch or follow up aside from a “thank you for dinner.” I do not know if I was scared to ask for help or if I just did not know how to ask, but the bottom line is, I did not ask or follow up and I missed a networking opportunity. I am sure there were other missed networking opportunities throughout my career, but that particular one I distinctly remember. 

 ?Read more on The Two Most Valuable Skills You Can Develop to Network Successfully

? Here’s the advice I would give my 20-something year old self:

1. Maintain and build the network you started while in school and do not be afraid to ask for help, advice or mentorship. That is the purpose of your network. 
2.  Do not use your network only when you need something. Reach out, interact, post original content or share interesting content from those in your network. 
3.  Continue to grow your network. Again, networking is a long-term investment.

You will make mistakes, take wrong turns and may have to veer off course in the quest to achieve your long-term goals. That is okay, you are not the first. My door is always open to sharing what I have learned throughout my long and winding career journey.

If you’re a recent graduate with a question or have the advice to add, feel free to share.

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