You Made it to Graduation-What Now?
Graduation is a time for relief, celebration, and a sense of accomplishment. But it’s also a time of uncertainty for many young professionals. How do I find a job? Should I put this on my resume? How long will it take for me to get my first job? Will I be able to compete with other applicants? How do I know this position is the right fit? If you’re about to graduate, these are just a few of the many questions that are probably whirling around in your mind.
Fortunately, ETS Recruit is here to help. As recruiters, it’s our job to help hundreds of professionals answer these very questions. As a four-generation office, there are few things we haven’t experienced in our own careers or come across as we work to grow the careers of our candidates.
We asked our team for their best advice to new graduates as they begin their professional careers – things they wish someone had told them as they set out on their own. The responses from our team members yielded insight that is helpful not only to new graduates, but to professionals at all stages in their careers.
Some gave specific advice regarding interviewing and comparing opportunities. As you begin applying for positions, you may find it difficult to narrow down what types of opportunities you should pursue. “Explore all options and opportunities - it doesn't hurt to have a conversation,” suggests Rob Knezovich, Regional Director and Senior Account Executive for ETS Dental. Don’t pass over opportunities simply because you are not familiar with the company. As Mark Kennedy, President, Owner, and Managing Director of ETS Recruit, reflects, “The safest bet may not always be the best bet. Well-meaning parents and mentors love to hear when their recent graduate has joined a large organization that everyone has heard of. However, now that I'm in my mid-50's I can tell you those friends of mine who followed that advice and climbed (and sometimes got stuck) on the corporate ladder tend to be the most miserable. Many are counting the days to retirement. Those who took a more entrepreneurial/intrapreneurial path, or had a hand in growing small organization, often feel more ownership, get a broader array of experience, and are happier because they had greater control of their own destinies.”
If you’re not sure whether a company you’re in contact with could be a good fit, accept the interview and meet with them. “Any interview is a good interview in terms of building your confidence, seeing all available options, and having the opportunity to network and build relationships that could be beneficial in the future,” Marsha Hatfield-Elwell, Regional Account Executive for ETS Dental, explains. The interviewing process allows you the opportunity to better determine what type of work setting you would like to be a part of. “The interview process may reveal that the perfect opportunity is not what or where they originally thought it would be,” Marcia Patterson, Regional Vice President and Senior Account Executive for ETS Dental, adds.
“But how do I present myself well in an interview?” you may be wondering. “Put yourself in the employer's or hiring manager’s shoes,” Mark Kennedy recommends. “What problem are they trying to solve? What opportunity are they trying to capitalize on? What do you bring to the table that can help them do that? In the interview, demonstrate that you know what the company is about. Read about the company and ask great questions. Show that you are very interested in finding out what they really need you to do, and do you your best to demonstrate you can do it. As Zig Ziglar said, ‘you can have everything in life you want, if you will just help other people get what they want.’" As you answer the hiring manager’s questions about how you will meet their needs, be sure to get answers to your own concerns as well. Prepare questions for each company you meet with. Interviews are a two-way street – you’re both trying to determine whether the opportunity is a good fit.
"Any interview is a good interview in terms of building your confidence, seeing all available options, and having the opportunity to network and build relationships."
-Marsha Hatfield-Elwell, Regional Account Executive
Following each interview, it is important to maintain communication with hiring managers. “Be responsive and reply in a timely manner to potential employers,” Rob Knezovich emphasizes. “Be honest with them if you need more time to make a decision, or if you do not feel the position is the right fit. Ghosting is unprofessional and will 'burn a bridge' that you may need to cross one day.”
As you begin to receive and compare offers, “Carefully look at the non-compete clause of your employment agreement, “ Michael Guessford, Regional Account Executive for ETS Vision, advocates. “Ask yourself, if I leave this company, do the restrictions sound reasonable to me?” If not, the opportunity may not be in your best interest long-term. Ultimately, when deciding whether to pursue an opportunity or offer, it is important to focus on what matters to you. Do you buy into the mission of the organization? Will succeeding in your potential role help people or make the world a better place? While everyone has bills to pay, if you can do something that aligns with your own values, you will be happier in the long run. “Do something you are proud of,” advised Mark Kennedy. “Earning a paycheck is one thing, but earning a paycheck by helping someone or improving their life is even better.”
When asked for their best advice to new graduates, the path to selecting the perfect career-launching opportunity wasn’t the only thing on our team members’ minds. While many imparted valuable wisdom on this topic, others focused more on long-term career advice, advocating actions to set yourself up for success, now and in the future.
As any recruiter will tell you, success doesn’t come on its own. Every member of the ETS Recruit team is no stranger to hard work. It’s what has gotten each of them to where they are today, and it will certainly be necessary as you pursue your own career goals. The best time to start is now! “For every minute of work you do now, you will get two minutes of free time later in life,” says Matt Johnson, Regional Account Executive for ETS Vision. “Each minute of night and weekend time is worth three minutes of free time in the future. The harder you work now, the easier working hard becomes.” But, in addition to working hard in your new position and learning all you can, what, exactly, should you be working toward? “Get good at networking and join professional organizations,” advises Morgan Pace, Vice President and Senior Account Executive for ETS Dental. He also suggests volunteering with charities. “It's a good thing to do, and it’s also a good way to meet people outside your circle.” All of the people you meet through networking and volunteering may be able to help you later in your career, whether by giving advice, providing mentorship, or even assisting you in pursuing a fantastic job opportunity. As they say, it’s not only about what you know, it’s also who you know.
Unfortunately, no matter how hard we work and how many excellent contacts we make, we will all experience setbacks at some point. When these hardships arise, strive for persistence. Are you having difficulty learning a new skill? Keep trying, and learn from your mistakes. Did you apply for a new position, but didn’t make the cut? “Be persistent. If you get turned down for a certain position, company, or industry on the first try, it doesn't mean they will turn you down on the second, fifth, or tenth try,” Mark Kennedy explains. “Being turned down does not mean a company or hiring manager does not like you; it just means there was someone they deemed as more qualified available at that particular time. Maybe there was an internal candidate, someone who interned for them previously, someone who came highly recommended from a trusted co-worker, someone with more experience, or someone from the same college/hometown. It doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try again.”
“For every minute of work you do now, you will get two minutes of free time later in life. The harder you work now, the easier working hard becomes.”
-Matt Johnson, Regional Account Executive
Hard work, persistence, and networking are all great ways to set yourself for future career success. Each individual’s path to achieving these milestones for success will look different, depending on their industry, their passions and values, and their unique personalities and skills. However you go about setting yourself up for success, “Plan to spend the next few years re-investing in yourself,” Morgan Pace advises. “Now is the time to learn and make important contacts that will help throughout your career.”
You may be asking yourself, “Even if I do all these things, how do I know whether I’m doing them correctly? How do I know if I’m truly successful?” The truth is, success looks different for everyone. LaVerne Norman, Director of Human Resources and Recruiter Support, advocates measuring success based on you and your goals and passions, without looking at how they stack up against someone else. “Honor your own journey without comparison!” she suggests. “You don't have to have everything figured out, simply grow as you go. You'll get more comfortable with being uncomfortable, which actually means enlightenment continues. Pursue what makes you excited to get up in the morning, and realize—sooner rather than later—that it takes more than a paycheck to bring happiness in one's life walk.”
As LaVerne suggests, success isn’t only measured by achievements at work. Personal growth and the pursuit of your passions outside of work are just as important. “Try to keep a work/life balance. It makes for a happier person,” Karen Rhodes, Regional Account Executive for ETS Dental, recommends. Are you uncertain what that looks like? That’s okay! We’ve all been uncertain about how to know whether we’re successful in our career and personal pursuits. “It’s okay to not know what you are doing,” Jaclyn Padgett, Recruiter Support Associate, assures. “I struggled after graduation because I felt like I had no idea how to "adult.” So my advice would be to do your best and work hard, but to also cut yourself some slack. Growing up is hard!”
As you get ready to take these first steps into the professional world, no matter what type of career you’re pursuing – sciences, medical, creative, even recruiting—we hope you find fulfillment and success, no matter what that means to you. All of us at ETS Recruit wish you the best as you grow personally and professionally. Congrats, Class of 2020, you made it!
Written by Morgan Brokken, Operations Associate and Internship Coordinator at ETS Recruit