As graduation ceremonies roll around again this year, lots of people are giving advice. And, as such, there are lots of fresh graduates who don’t want to hear it — not yet, anyway. But, when things inevitably don’t go exactly the way they envisioned, recent graduates have a decision to make. They can play the victim and blame their problems on others, or they can seek advice. If we are being honest, most of us probably did both. Sometimes we have to learn the hard way.
Graduation is important in many ways, but the most significant may be in showing that a person can finish something. That is critical in most successes, as are the following tips:
Get a full-time job. There are seemingly endless employment opportunities today at wages this economy has never seen before. New graduates should take full advantage of this and find a job with duties, responsibilities, a full-time work schedule and benefits. They shouldn’t rely on their parents, friends or others to get by with part-time or temporary gigs. And once they get a full-time job, they should stick with it for a few years. That may sound like an eternity to a younger person, but hopping from job to job is not a good sign of commitment or loyalty.
Learn to adapt. We live in a world today where we are encouraged to celebrate what makes us unique, to stand out, to proudly point out our differences. Those are all great in certain situations, but young graduates who hope to be successful in their jobs also need to learn to adapt and fit in, even when it’s not natural — and it is rarely natural.
Don’t point out generational differences. Generational differences clearly exist, and most all of us have been in situations where we thought the old people just didn’t understand. Even so, the three words that new graduates should avoid saying (unless requested) are, “My generation doesn’t…”
Be on time. Most of us would like to come and go as we please, but this world is full of deadlines, budgets, tasks and duties. And a person can’t meet his or her employer’s deadlines, budgets, tasks and duties by being consistently late. So, recent graduates, be on time. Better yet, show initiative and be early.
Dress for success. This doesn’t necessarily mean to wear a business suit every day. The best advice I ever received on how to appropriately dress was to look at the successful people in the business and dress like they do, whether that’s in a sport coat or a good pair of work boots. Another great piece of advice I received fresh out of school was from a brutally honest customer who told me I was an adult now and needed to start dressing like one. He was also implying that I needed to act like an adult, too. And he was right.
Have a terrific Tuesday, and thanks for reading.
Shane Goodman President and Publisher Big Green Umbrella Media shane@dmcityview.com 515-953-4822, ext. 305 |