Dear Graduates: Welcome to the World of Work!

Graduation is a rite of passage, a milestone that marks the beginning of the rest of your lives. Whether you’ve just graduated from college or graduate school, you are most likely – if not already – in the midst of a massive job hunt. It’s both an exciting and nerve-racking time of your life. You may suddenly feel a tremendous amount of pressure to make life choices that you may not feel quite certain about.

First off, it’s perfectly normal to feel as if you’re not yet sure about the direction you may want to head in.  I remember when I was just entering the workforce after studying, I was so unsure of myself and my abilities. One of the things I can recall is the feeling that I needed to prove my worth. I spent so much time struggling with self-doubt and imposter syndrome throughout the early years of my career. Like many, I switched career paths from architecture to information management and software analysis to eventually starting my own company. The road was not a straight, well-defined one that lay ahead of me. It was a road defined by its bumps and was not well-worn. I say this because I want all of you who are just embarking on your careers to know that you don’t have to have it all figured out.

That said, there are some things you can do to make certain you’re setting yourself up for success, no matter what your path may end up looking like for you:

·        Work Is More Than Just What You Earn: Do not look at work as if it were only about making a living. It is a much deeper experience than this. It is where you spend the majority of your waking hours. If you approach work as something that will provide you with a sense of purpose, then everything will fall into place.

·        Embrace Who You Are: It is so easy to feel that you need to conform and be just like the crowd. But the sooner you accept who you are, the more authentic you will be. You have unique gifts that you should not be afraid to show to the world. These will help you shine in your career and allow you to feel aligned in your life. Work well with others and be collaborative, but do not be afraid of being an outlier.

·        Be Ethical: Be honest. Build trust. Be authentic. You will find that others will respect you for having a strong ethical compass. It will provide you with the ability to become a great leader in your field.

·        Watch What You Say To Yourself: Our internal dialogue is subtle but very powerful. Negative patterns can quickly begin to become self-defeating actions. Don’t allow these self-defeating thoughts or patterns to take root.

·        No Limitations: Do not allow others to limit you in any way. This includes your own self-limitations. Limiting yourself originates from a place of fear. Be fearless. Recognize that you are limitless in your abilities. Know this and you will soar!

·        Take Responsibility: Whatever you end up pursuing, take responsibility for your actions and the role you’re in.

·        Don’t Chase Money: Money will chase you if you’re not chasing it. If you find your passion, don’t job hop for a higher wage. Loyalty to a company is valuable. It shows that you care deeply about the work you’re doing.

·        Do Not Put So Much Pressure On Yourself: It can take a while to know what you are good at. It can also take many, many hours and lots of work to achieve success. It’s good to be ambitious, but do not set unrealistic expectations for yourself. These will backfire. On the same note, if you’re not ambitious, do not allow society to make you feel that the work you love doing is lesser because it’s not deemed glamorous. What you are doing is necessary and important. If you are passionate about your job, give it your 100% and you will feel that you’ve carved out your own successful path.

This advice comes from years of experience. These are things I wish I had known when I was in my 20s. If I had, I may have found myself struggling less. Remember, the goal is to live your life to the fullest. Know that all that is happening to you in life is happening for you, not to you. Once you accept this, you’ll be on your way to having a successful career. Congratulations and good luck!