From College to Corporate
From College to Corporate
I graduated from my university in May of 2021, and began my career journey shortly after. I have landed at an amazing company I hope to see a long-term future with, but I wanted to give some advice on making the jump from a college to a remote corporate setting.
9 tips and tricks for an easier transition!
You will most likely be the youngest person in every room.
It's incredibly intimidating and imposter syndrome may come in HOT for you. You will look around and see people 10-30 years older than you who have been at the company for decades. But it's okay! Bask in being the youthful energy that people love to have around. My older coworkers love to ask me if a certain meme is funny, or if they should buy a certain pair of jeans! (Not to mention it’s super fun when you're finally comfortable and can make jokes about how you “weren't even born yet” when they are talking about things from the 90’s.)
It's important to know they don’t expect you to know it all.
If you are with a company that is comfortable hiring recent graduates, it’s likely they will have a very supportive training program to get you ramped up. Make friends who you feel comfortable going to for help- a good support network is key to success! Also, understand that it might take a few months to get acclimated or to start feeling “ comfortable”.
Ask all the questions you have.
Soak up all the information you can. Not only does it show a willingness to learn, but you will be extremely grateful you asked those questions when you are three months in and aren't “new enough” to still be asking those questions. This is also a great interview question, “how does leadership make itself available for a new hire?” Also, take notes. Quizlet doesn’t stop working when you graduate college!
Participate all you can…especially if it's a remote job.
This isn't a Zoom lecture with 300+ people where the professor doesn't even know your name. You have been hired by a company, so they want to see your face on camera and hear you participating. It's also fun! I’ve made some amazing friends by logging onto a meeting 15 minutes early and chatting it up with my coworkers! This type of casual interaction can be helpful in building strong rapport with your colleagues. Not to mention, it can be the start of great friendships.
There is a culture shock in the first six months.
You quickly realize being in the corporate world isn't wearing fancy heels, catching a taxi in the city, or grabbing oat milk lattes while on the phone negotiating business deals. It's hard work that you are going to do for forty more years. This is why finding a great company and connecting with coworkers is so important. Shortly after my first corporate job, I wanted to quit, find a way to work off the grid and never look at a laptop for 8 hours a day again. However, it didn’t take me long to actually embrace it. I began to love my routines. I love my steady paychecks, getting my weekends off, and building a career.
It's okay if your first job isn't a perfect fit.
Jumping from college into a new environment may seem super exciting, but it sometimes takes time to find the right role, company, culture, working hours, benefits, etc. It's okay if the job you thought was your dream is not your dream. My advice here is to try to stick it out for at least 8-12 months. It might get better, but after that grace period, if you’re not finding yourself fulfilled or happy, there is nothing wrong with looking around for other opportunities.
Career centers can be amazing!!
Most universities have great resources for career coaching, resume formatting, and overall guidance on job applications. Your last few months before graduation should consist of a few trips here. I’m in recruiting and I can always tell which Jr. Candidates took a trip to the career center by how polished their resumes are! The people working in these career centers get paid to help you succeed in your job search - they are well-versed in what it takes to secure a job so let them help!
Be professional at first even if others aren't.
If you enter an interview with leaders in sweatshirts, do not wear a sweatshirt on your first day. Keep it professional until you get a solid feel for the environment and expectations - unless you are specifically told otherwise.
And finally, it is okay to feel lost in a new role.
There are so many life changes that happen after college, if you’re having a hard time adjusting that is to be expected and that is okay. Trust me, your friends in other careers and professions are having the same doubts and insecurities you are having so talk to them and build a support system for yourself. And understand that change can be daunting so process the changes as they come. You’ll become better equipped to handle the ups and downs of your career with each new challenge.