college graduation, young professionals, career advice
christopherklee

Advice for New Graduates: A Recap

Graduation season is coming.

For some, it’s exhilarating. After 16 or more years of education, they are finally done. All their hard work has paid off. They have a job lined up and are excited to launch their career.

For others, graduation seems terrifying. The familiarity of school will soon give way to the unknown. They’re concerned about finding a job, paying student loans, and being an adult.

Throughout this series, we’ve explored topics relevant to early careerists. These can be grouped into four categories: mindset, relationships, stewardship, and communication. Here’s a brief recap:

Mindset
The right mindset separates those who advance from those who meander.

  1. Immerse Yourself.
    Commit to lifelong learning. Don’t just guess; understand how things work.
  2. Overcome the Noise.
    Feedback matters. But learn whose advice to heed and whose to tune out.
  3. Be Focused but Flexible.
    Setbacks are not the end. Being adaptable will lead you to lasting success.

Relationships
You get further by involving others than trying to prove your self-sufficiency.

  1. Find the Right Boss.
    Your relationship with your manager will make or break the opportunity.
  2. Seek Out Mentors.
    Learn from the successes and failures of those who’ve walked the path.
  3. Give and Connect.
    Build relationships and help one another. That’s the heart of networking.

Stewardship
Managing well your time, money, and talents leads to greater societal impact.

  1. Live Out Your Priorities.
    Be present and intentional with your time. Reject the rat race mentality.
  2. Practice Gratitude.
    Give thanks regularly. Don’t buy into “keeping up with the Joneses.”
  3. Take One Step at a Time.
    Sometimes you just need to take action. Stop planning and start doing.

Communication
People perceive us by how we communicate and present ourselves daily.

  1. Pick Up the Phone.
    Don’t rely solely on email. Phone calls are often faster and more effective.
  2. Write Less, Say More.
    Business writing is about influencing action. Be concise and to the point.
  3. Follow Up and Follow Through.
    Always keep your commitments. Your reliability will be remembered.

Which topics stand out to you? I suggest reading (or rereading) the ones you find personally challenging. Maybe networking is a foreign concept to you. Give and Connect is a good place to start. Or perhaps, like me, you tend to overthink your plans. Take One Step at a Time can help you out of your rut.

Though these posts were written with recent grads in mind, they apply to most working professionals. We all need a reminder every now and then. Happy reading—and best wishes on your journey ahead!