Want the short list of things I've learned since I graduated college?
1. Parents (and legal guardians) are a godsend for a broke adult with no job who can no longer claim "I'm a broke college student."
2. The job market is not easy to break into, no matter what field you're in.
3. HAVING A REAL JOB IS TERRIFYING!
I recently got hired for my first real post-undergrad job, or "big-girl job" as many of us call it. In the last month, I have felt a spectrum of emotions that I didn't even realize existed. A few of them are very familiar, after three years in college. Exhaustion, anxiety, and fear. Pride, in my work and myself, excitement, and adventure in my sights. But some of them are things that I didn't know I could even feel.
Overall, after almost a month on the job, I feel like I am starting to get the hang of the whole "adulting and having a real job" thing. I know that feeling will pass just as quickly as it has arrived, but it's been nice the last few hours to actually feel like I have an idea where my life might be going. The job I found was a bit of an odd one, but it has taught me a lot that I didn't realize I didn't know in just the short month that I have been there. I managed to stumble my way into a fast-tracked management training program that is meant to develop new business owners in a year or less. And yes, you did read that right; I said OWNERS.
With all of the newly wisdom that has been imparted on me for the last four weeks, I decided it was only fair to share. So here are the key things I've learned so far:
1. You WILL want to quit.
No matter the job. No matter whether it's in your field of study or not. No matter the hours. No matter the pay. At some point, you will want to quit. You will want to find a new opportunity. You will think that you are over-worked and under-paid. Or you'll think your job is boring and not worth the nice paycheck because you're not interested. Or you'll just realize that you aren't totally stoked to go to work every day. That's okay! It's normal!
2. You SHOULD NOT quit.
It's rough sometimes. But if you are in the field you want to break into and realizing it's hard, don't leave just because it's getting a little rough. You will not go any further if you quit whenever it gets hard. In the field I've found myself in, that is what we call an "eternal distributor." If you never fight through the rough stuff to grow and learn, you will never be in any position other than an entry level one. Sometimes, you just need to buckle down and get yourself through the stuff that sucks to get to the position you want.
3. Student mentality is crucial.
You should never stop learning. You know how you make your way up the ranks? Learn how to do the job above you. And don't stop until there isn't a job above you. (Trick statement: There is always someone above you). But it's more than just continuing to learn from those above you. It's also being WILLING to learn from others. Being humble enough to take their experiences into account. Being willing to listen to them and really pay attention to what they are trying to teach you. And always being hungry to learn more.
4. Networking is your friend.
Who will you learn from if you don't network? You should always be looking for someone who can make you better at what you do. Talk to a friend at work who is in a higher position than you are. Talk to a parent who was in your position before. Talk to the owner of the company you want to own. Talk to the mentor of your mentor. Just find SOMEONE who is, in your opinion, better than you at something you want to be better at. If you listen to what they have to say (See: Student mentality), you may hear something you've never thought about before. And even more importantly, make sure you talk to more than one person. Sometimes the key to success is hearing the same thing from someone new.
5. Perception is reality.
There's an old saying I'm sure you've heard that goes something like this: "Dress for the job you want, not the job you have." Now, while that specifically addresses your attire, it applies in other realms as well. Obviously, if you dress like the owner or manager or what have you, then people will treat you like you deserve to be there. But you also have to act the part. If you want to own the company one day, ACT LIKE IT! When you seem like someone people want to follow, you will rise through the ranks because THEY WANT TO FOLLOW YOU. Just make sure that you put the you forward that you want to be, because eventually that will be the you that actually exists.
6. Attitude is EVERYTHING.
One of my co-workers said something today that really stuck. "This job is 99 percent attitude and 1 percent ability." Now, obviously that isn't true about every job. I want my brain surgeon's job to be at least 50 percent ability. I want my banker's job to be at least 30 percent ability. But in many industries, and life in general, its true. 99 percent of the outcome of anything can be attributed to your attitude. And if not 99 percent, at least 95 percent. The thing that not everyone realizes is that your attitude effects everything you do. If you're having a bad day and you take that with you into work, you say something mean to your new recruit and they leave work that day upset and ready to quit. If you have a bad day at work and you bring it home, you get into a fight with your parents or your significant other and then go to bed upset. You go to bed upset and you don't sleep well all night, you're grumpy in the morning, and then the next day is even worse. You have to realize that your attitude is everything not only at work, but in life. And you're going to lose it sometimes. It happens. It's natural. And it sucks. But it's not about whether or not you lose your attitude. It's about how well and how quickly you are able to regain it and return to normal.
It may be a lot to take in for some. And for some this is nothing. For most, this is all common sense. But sometimes you need to hear things put differently by some random stranger for it to click. Just remember, "It is what it is, but it will become what you make of it."
