I graduated undergraduate in May 2014 in a post-recession world. It was different. Companies run leaner, meaning I was going to have more job responsibilities in a normal workday. I learned a few things very quickly after college while working and there were definitely some tough love moments. Here are 12 things I learned from joining the workforce after college.
1. Celebrate quickly and move on
I graduated with a bachelor’s degree! Woohoo! I had dinner celebration with my family and now-wife, which was a great celebration. The day after graduation, I started a full-time job. Why? My clock started ticking for when my student loans would kick in. I wanted to save an emergency fund and prepare my financial foundation before I started getting my “big boy” bills. This leads me into my next point.
2. Figure out your Finances
I am now an adult, with a real paycheck and real expenses like paying off student loans. I can’t be burning through my money as fast as I earn it. I’d never retire! I started understanding what my budget was, finding out what my financial goals were, and what I wanted to do in life. I didn’t have to have all or even some of the answers but needed something to get started.
Right before I graduated,I actually started working with a financial planner to line out a plan . Together, we lined out a savings and retirement plan that included life insurance and retirement accounts.
3. Get Off Social Media. This isn’t College Anymore
Anyone and everyone can view your social media profiles, including employers. Not only that, posting stupid things just wasn’t appealing to me anymore once I realized there were more important things in life. Sure, while in school, posting about drinking that shower beer on St. Paddy’s morning and playing hookie from class to go to the parade downtown was a must but I am an adult now. I don’t need to be publicizing everything I do in life on social media for the world to know, especially for employers.
4. Stay Rested
When I started full time, it was a different animal from my part time jobs and internships I did to skate by through school. 8 to 10 hour days plus exercise plus all my other responsibilities is exhausting! Working adults need 7-9 hours of sleep, according to Health Line. You also need 6-8 hours of sleep in order to function at peak performance. It is important to take advantage of downtime to decompress and rest.
5. Don’t stop learning
Coming out of college, I had the most up-to-date knowledge in the workforce. But I quickly realized I couldn’t be complacent. A college degree wasn’t going to be enough if I wanted to advance through the ranks of my company. I was motivated to prove myself, so I continued to learn after college. In my time out of the office, I received a few marketing certifications, joined local marketing groups, read books and blogs, listened to podcasts. I tried to soak in whatever I could get my hands on. The impression I made on my boss was so strong, he suggested I to go back to school to get my master’s degree. I am better off now because of it.
6. Find a Mentor
I actually have several mentors out there. Life mentors, professional mentors. I go to them for all sorts of problems and questions. Sure, I probably could’ve figured the problems out on my own eventually, but mentorship is more than just solving problems. It is a great way to connect with someone and build a bond with. Not only are these people mentors I confide in but lifelong friends.
7. Once a Decision is Made, Fully Support It
This is something I learned the hard way with my boss and president of my former company. Once a decision is made, move forward with it, even if you disagree. I was the pain in the ass that raised hell to them even after the decision. They didn’t appreciate it but fortunately they sat me down and talked me through the decision. My point is, don’t fight something that is already going to happen. I only caused a headache to people that deal with headaches all the time. Not only that, it is important for me to show I support the company. I just have to accept that I win some battles and lose others. Either way I have to do what’s best for the company and support the decision that’s been made.
8. Really Attempt to Know People
A lot of people in the “professional” world will probably disagree with this one. Some people think it is best to keep personal and professional lives separate, but in today’s world, this is a near impossible feat. Everyone is connected through the internet and social media in some way, shape, or form in the workplace. I embrace that. Why? Because I spend over a third of my day with these people and if I don’t attempt to get to know them and connect with them personally, my days will be long and lonely. I don’t share every aspect of my life with my coworkers, but I can say having coworkers as friends makes my day so much more enjoyable and entertaining!
9. I’m Not Perfect
I’m not any better because I have a 4-year degree. 70-million people in the United States have a bachelor’s degree or higher. With that being said, I made so many mistakes when I started my first full-time job. My boss at the time told me it’s ok to make mistakes as long as I don’t make the same mistake twice. What he was really saying is that I need to learn and grow from my mistakes to improve my craft. To this day, I still make mistakes, but I make fewer because I work at learning how to correct them.
10. Set a Routine
When I was in college, I had no routine. I woke up 5 minutes before my first class that day and went to bed anywhere between 6pm and 3am depending on what I did that night. After I graduated, I learned quickly that this was not going to fly. 7am to 5pm, Monday through Friday was my work schedule. It was tough because I never had a set schedule. So, I started setting a schedule. Wake up at 6am. Be at work at 7am. Go to the gym for an hour at lunch. Off work at 5pm. Bed by 10pm. These times set up my daily routine. I fit everything else I needed to do that day around those times.
11. Develop the Soft Skills
Soft skills are really important in any job. Soft skills are skills such as patience, empathy, leadership, self-awareness, communication, among others. For me, it was a point of emphasis as I attempted to connect with and establish rapport with higher ups, co-workers, and vendors. While my education got me in the door of my company, developing my soft skills helped me make a positive impact on the company.
12. Sit Back and Enjoy the Present
In the end, I still struggle to live in the present. I always think about the future and what I need to do to get there. Sometimes, I forget to enjoy the present and the successes I’ve already had. To just sit back and enjoy moments through life with my family and friends is much more satisfying than always dwelling on the future or past.
