Graduates: Don’t build yourself up for disappointment

Graduation can be an exhilarating time; three to four years of study have finally come to an end and all that hard work has paid off. Shortly after you've chucked your cap in the air, you are thrown into a life where you are no longer a student but an adult, walking into a very adult world. Life as you know it will change and the more prepared you are mentally, the easier the transition will be. A recent study suggests that there is a disparity between what graduates expect and what actually happens once you graduate, which means graduates are building themselves up to be disappointed, demotivated and depressed in more extreme cases. In an earlier post I explained the hurdle of going from student to professional and having talked about this #graduation post to various of my graduate friends, here are some pointers to make you feel at ease about a few things that might be going through your mind.

The unconventional path

A few months back I attended a CIPD student conference with various Directors in varying roles of HR/L&D . In the Q&A part of the conference, I asked them if they ever imagined being where they are today, all five panellists replied with an instant “no”. We have this need to pick a ‘dream job’ but the truth is those carefully laid plans don’t always go the way we had hoped and that isn't necessarily a bad thing. I've lost track of the amount of adults and recent graduates (myself included), that have ‘fallen into’ their line of work or industry. Recent statistics from the New College of the Humanities found that 10 out of 20 graduates had changed roles within three years of graduation and we shouldn't view that as something negative. It's ok to not know exactly what you want to do after graduation but what is important is getting a foot on the career ladder and not missing out on find your 'true calling' by fixating on your 'career ideal'

“Embrace the journey and don’t focus on your first job, it won’t be your last job.”

What university actually teaches you…

When you get your first job, you’ll soon realise that actually the practical element has little to do with all the theory and discussions you were having in class. Unless you are studying medicine to be a doctor, accountancy to be an accountant or any STEM degrees for that matter, there will be a large amount of jobs where your university degree won’t apply. In many instances there are companies not even asking to see a certificate or results, which can be quite disappointing when you've spent a long time studying hard and are riddled with student debts. Instead, take the experience for what it is, a place that teaches you to formulate ideas, build a network of like-minded students, debate topics in your area of study/interest and acquire emotional intelligence. Then make sure you are doing everything to bridge the gap of practical skills not acquired at university with practical work experience such as internships.

Don’t come in thinking you’re the bee’s knees

There are endless amounts of articles and posts about the ‘self-entitled millennial’ and debates on whether other generations are just bashing us millennial. Having seen it first hand, here is some advice: you have no reason to feel entitled because you’re graduating with very little (for those that did internships) or no experience. Just like there were hundreds competing for the job you secured, there will be plenty more behind if you deem it 'too beneath you'. You will start from the bottom and that’s totally fine (and normal), you will need to earn respect and trust from your superiors (this doesn't just get handed to you) and you should be humble, ask questions and show you are willing to learn. Be grateful for getting your first job, and make the most of the opportunity given to you.

“Come in, do your best and let your work speak for itself”

Fail, Fix, Learn, Repeat 

When I transitioned into my latest role, I had someone with vast amounts of experience in my industry tell me, “I hope you will fail and fail hard right at the start”. That threw me completely aback, why would I want to fail in my new role where I'm meant to be thriving and succeeding? For a perfectionist such as myself, making a mistake is pretty scarring but making them when I'm young and at the start of my career is so much better than later down the line where they may potentially be more damaging. What did I do with those experiences? I learnt from them, grew stronger and most importantly made sure to never make them again. Your first job is a great place to learn your weaknesses and improve them as much as you can. Take advantage of probation/performance reviews and ask for feedback. Ask your managers to be open and honest, listen to their observations and critiques, fix them, learn from them and move onto the next.

Good things come to those who wait ... work hard

 Your destiny is in your hands and getting that first job doesn't come without hard work, drive and the right attitude; expecting it to be handed on a silver platter would be unrealistic. Every career path is different, take your time to figure out where to start, be patient and don’t rush to make those key decisions. You are young, free from commitments, financial burdens (bar your student loan) and full of energy/optimism. Take advantage of this time, do everything you can and want before you set out to concentrate on your career but most of all enjoy the journey. Lastly, never forget that you have thousands of others in the same boat as you and that you’re not alone. You may be competing for the same positions but you will all be working together in the future.

"When you find your path, you must not be afraid. You need to have sufficient courage to make mistakes. Disappointment, defeat, and despair are the tools God uses to show us the way." — Paulo Coelho ( Brida)

Thanks for reading! I’ll be continuing to write on different topics every month so feel free to click follow, comment and share and have a read of my previous posts.

This post was written as part of the #Graduation series, which is tied to LinkedIn’s student editorial calendar on #StudentVoices. Follow the stories here or write your own.