Life Transitions, Carol Gonzalez will focus on the natural and not-so natural stages of our lives. Each issue I’ll spotlight a particular transition. From graduating from college, getting married, having a baby, or helping your child get ready to leave the nest, I’ll provide Identity readers with practical advice, tips and resources that I’ve learned over the years. With over 20 years in corporate America, 21+ years of marriage and three children ranging from 7-18, I’ve transitioned a lot! I’ll also look to Identity readers to share how you navigated those transitions too.
Graduation Day, circa 1987
I remember sitting in the theater during commencement ceremonies at Hunter College with scores of my fellow graduates. I was so excited. But I have to admit it was a bit intimidating. I felt a little unsure of myself as I was about to enter a new world that was very different from what I was use to. It almost felt like being Freshman all over again.
I grew up in the suburbs of New York City, went to a Catholic School with a graduation class of less than 100; which was actually the largest graduating class of the school’s history! For my family, going to college was a big deal. I was the second person in my generation to attend higher education. Also, attending school in the Big Apple would require a huge adjustment. I moved to Queens to live with my very protective Sicilian Grandmother and Aunt, but spent the weekends at home in the ‘burbs to work. So, I commuted by bus and subway to college every day and took the train back “home”. It was a hectic schedule for a while. However, like many young, energetic teens, I adjusted.
The biggest transition for me was not so much the commute or hectic schedule, it was the size of the college and its location smack in the middle of largest city in the country. Coming from a secondary school where everyone knew your name, address and GPA, it took time for me to adjust to my new unknown surroundings. Talk about feeling lost in the Sahara! But something happened, while primarily focusing on my studies, I gradually began to establish relationships. Soon enough I had developed a social network at school and appreciated and learned all that the city had to offer. I developed a confidence that supported me throughout college and later as a young professional.
Fast forward to graduation day, I was uncertain of my future and wondered: Would I find a job? Where would I live? Would I be a good teacher? I eventually landed a job as a first grade teacher in the South Bronx. And, not surprisingly, I got the job through a contact. So I wondered if our recent graduates, the Millennial Generation, had similar experiences. Were you worried about getting a job, especially in this current environment? Did you question your confidence? What support system(s) did you rely on? What tools and resources did you utilize? What advice would you give to future grads?
I spoke to three recent graduates and their insight was quite revealing:
“Julie”
Julie had her heart set on going to the University of Texas. But she didn’t make it in. The university accepted the top 10%, she was in the top 12%. St. Edward’s offered her a scholarship and she accepted. She planned to go for one year and transfer. However, that never happened. She began to enjoy her classes, established relationships with her teachers and mentors, established roots in the community, and interned.
College was a process of self discovery for Julie. After her internship with a non-profit agency she realized that she could link her personal interests with her professional life. Her role was to market the mission of the agency, which was to preserve the river for recreation and water supply. As a fly fishing enthusiast, the river spoke to her. She was empowered by the experience and realized that in serving a purpose there is more to life than financial gain. She graduated with a BA in Communication, and gained a strong connection to the ideals of social responsibility.
Julie also credits her parents for her success, providing support and advice throughout college. Currently she is juggling an internship and two part time jobs, as 40 hours is a little daunting for her. This allows her to transition into a full time role. She lives with roommates, but her parents continue to provide some (financial) support, until she lands on her feet.
As far as advice for future grads, Julie emphasized the value of building contacts and solidifying your knowledge base in your area of interest. She found her internships and jobs through her contacts. Be persistent and realize that any job is an opportunity to build your presence in the professional community. Also, never burn bridges and have fun learning.
“Maria”
Maria always wanted to be an English teacher, but after speaking with other high school teachers she realized she didn’t want to be teaching others how to write, she wanted to write. So she majored in Journalism. After taking some classes, learning the difference between Journalism and Public Relations, and learning about herself, Maria decided to change majors and focus on Public Relations.
At college, Maria worked on campus all four years in the Office of Enrollment Management, sometimes juggling two jobs. She was busy, but it was fun because she was doing what she liked. Maria credits her success to planning. “I was always planning ahead.” Her planning secured internships every summer. Her parents were very supportive and would solicit actionable steps, i.e., to get an internship/job and in your major.
Currently, Maria has a full time internship working for an agency that she got through networking. From a time management point of view, it’s easier now than going to school because she doesn’t have to do homework. It is a little scary for her not knowing if the internship will lead to a position however she is optimistic and sees the position as a springboard to her next step. She’s living with a family member, which helps out financially and is a huge support.
Maria’s advice for future grads is to start as early as you can. Get an internship even if it’s in an area you’re unsure of, and you’ll be able to rule it out as a possible career. Continue to network and set goals for yourself.
“Jessica”
Jessica is middle child of three girls. She grew up in the suburbs of Boston and decided to go out of state for college. Deciding to go to Loyola in Maryland wasn’t difficult as they had a great reputation for business and a Lacrosse Club. However selecting a concentration proved very difficult. Should she choose finance or marketing? She decided on finance because there were more career options. Then the market tanked and she had second thoughts. In the end, she was satisfied with her choice and stuck with it.
The biggest adjustment for Jessica was living in Baltimore. Without the ‘T’ to get around, walking wasn’t an option. You needed a car or you took a bus. In fact, at the end of her Freshman year she wanted to leave. A valuable lesson she learned was that you need to give yourself time to adjust. She credits her mom and dad for supporting her through that time, helping her to understand the implications of leaving and starting over. And not surprisingly things started to fall into place. She got involved in the Lacrosse Club, she applied for Project Mexico, a program where students travel to Mexico to do community service and later got approved, and got accepted into the Business Honors Program, all of which solidified her decision to stay.
Jessica networked, but not as much as her friends and as a result her friends had more opportunities. But she started early in the job search process. It was stressful and difficult for her to deal with rejection. She found herself constantly monitoring her emails to see if companies replied to her applications or interviews. Ultimately she landed a position in a two-year rotational program through the college placement office. She is very excited, because it will allow her to experience different areas of finance. Her summer plans include vacationing in Manchester, moving in with two former college roommates and starting her new job in August.
Her advice to future grads is to start early, try to get a couple of interviews under your belt and build your confidence. Each of these recent grads had a different college experience and approach to handling their job search. They came with different personalities, interests and skills, yet all succeeded in transitioning and landing a job. But the one common thread or underlying theme shared by all of them was the power of networking: building contacts and establishing relationships. What held true back in 1987 when I graduated, still holds true today.
So to the upcoming College Graduating Class of 2011, what can you do now to prepare yourself for the transition?
• Focus on finding your passion or interests early in your college career. Participate in social activities related to these topics. If you can connect your passion to your professional pursuits, you’re golden!
• Start the job process early. If you apply the law of averages, the more applications you complete, the greater your chances are to get recognized and get an interview. Leverage your contacts from professors, to fellow students to colleagues you worked with during internships.
• Discover yourself, your strengths and weaknesses, interests and dislikes. Use what you learn to target your search.
• Leverage the college/university resources to write your customized cover letters, resumes, practice mock interviews, check job boards. You’ll develop a confidence and understanding of what you can bring to the table.
• Establish a LinkedIn account and start developing a professional online presence in your area and build your personal “brand.” LinkedIn has a great video tutorial for Grads getting started.
• If you haven’t started to network it’s not too late, begin now. Studies show that 75% of jobs are placed before they are even publically posted. While this statistic is alarming, you can take advantage of this reality by leveraging your network so you will know ahead of others when a position becomes available. Build relationships and contacts with former teachers, professors, school personnel, family, friends, professional associations, etc. Join or attend local trade group association mixers and social events. Remember networking is a two way street. By assisting others, you establish goodwill that very often comes back to benefit you down the road.
• Leverage social media. However, be careful what you post with Facebook and other similar sites because you must assume that job recruiters WILL Google and/or do a background check on you. You do not want a picture of you downing tequila shots surfacing during your job search. Develop your professional online presence through business-related sites such as LinkedIn or Plaxo. Use Twitter to research companies or industries, set Google alerts to keep up to date on industry trends or companies that you’re following.
• Take advantage of your generation’s technical know-how by leveraging the capabilities of devices such as iPads, iPhones, DROID phones and other technology during your job search (e.g., using your iPad to present statistics or a Powerpoint presentation during an interview).
• Be patient and solicit advice. Understand that this is a process and that there will be ups and downs. Don’t be afraid to ask questions of your professors, advisors, mentors, alumni, family and friends. Talk to grads that have gone through it. Get their advice.
Since my baby will be starting college in the fall, I would love to hear from parents about how the transition was for them. Join me next month as we explore this topic and get the parents perspective.
Great Article Carol! I can’t wait to hear what the parents have to say!