Graduating from college can be a huge culture shock. You are transitioning to a whole new way of life, which can be extremely overwhelming. Going from high school to college was one thing, but now you’re heading out into the real world to fend for yourself. Remember how scared you were to be a freshman, on the lowest rung of the social ladder? Think of being a college grad as entering the freshman year of life. Without the confines of school to guide you, you’ll probably feel a little lost. But keeping a few things in mind can help you make the transition smoothly and shine in your new role in the world. Just remember to be…

Professional

Gone are the days of skipping those big lectures, and hitting the snooze button through your 8 am psych class. Also in the past is arranging your schedule to have no classes on Fridays, as is enjoying all those 3-day weekends and long vacations during the year. Having a job means being there on time and working through long hours - if you are late even a few times, you are branding yourself as unreliable and setting yourself up to be fired. It is definitely a challenge for some students to adjust from a laid back college schedule to a more demanding work schedule, but it is an essential part of transitioning to the real world.

The actual work you do must also demonstrate professionalism. There are no more extension-giving professors to bail you out; you have to turn out satisfactory work and make deadlines.

Behaving professionally is also a requirement. This means interacting with others in an adult manner, keeping your temper in check, dressing professionally, and treating others with respect.

Learn from your mistakes, learn from your superiors, and your employers and co-workers will begin to view you as reliable and professional - exactly what you want.

Adaptive

Being open and flexible - in several areas - is absolutely key to succeeding after college.

For starters, don’t have tunnel vision: don’t hold too tightly to a preconceived plan or one single career path too soon. Take the new things you learn at your job to adapt to new opportunities. Studies have shown that the vast majority of today’s workers switch jobs multiple times and even make drastic career changes. Be open to this and don’t limit yourself. Being ready for whatever your professional life throws at you could lead you to great success down the road, especially in this fast-changing world.

It is also important to realize that college probably didn’t prepare you for everything you’re going to face out there. Learning as you go is part of life, so being able to adapt to new things and deviate from what you think you know are definitely conducive to success. Applying newly discovered knowledge or technology, learning a new task, learning to work with different kinds of people, balancing your personal finances, and working as a team at your job are all things you might have to adapt to down the road.

Realistic

The number of college graduates grows every year, making the competition for job positions fierce. For any given opening, there could be thousands of applications. Be realistic about your chances at getting certain positions as a recent graduate, and don’t be discouraged if it takes you awhile to work your way up to your dream job. Job hunting is difficult, so play to your strengths and don’t give up. Think of your first job as a launch pad for the rest of your career. Make the most of it and be as successful as possible in order to move on to your higher aspirations.

Balanced

Even though you balanced class, activities, and a social life in college, balancing a 40-hour work week with having a life can be just as daunting. Use effective time management to minimize your exhaustion, get everything done, and still have fun.

Practical

There is no such thing as “book smarts” anymore - school’s over. Practical knowledge and application are on the tests now, and tangible results are the grades. Be ready to put your know-how into practical use and adapt it to fit real-life situations.

Practicality also applies to the job hunt. Don’t expect to be able to rely on the fact that you graduated cum laude, or have a degree from a top-ranked school. This doesn’t make you any better than anyone else, so avoid feeling entitled to certain jobs. Focus more on how your skills, initiative, and personality make you a valuable addition to your potential employer’s company. Show them that you can make a positive contribution

Inquisitive

Perhaps the most important thing to remember is to ask questions. Any job can be a learning experience if you choose to make it one. No one is going to expect you to be an expert when you’re just starting out, so proactively seek out knowledge and skills.

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