Navigating the transition from college to career

Navigating the transition from college to careerNavigating the transition from college to careerIm attending my 10-year college reunion this weekend in Providence, RI, where Im excited to reconnect with old classmates and hosta BossedUpBook Tour stopwith my college bestie, Vanessa.If you or anyone you know is in the area, please feel free to join me onSaturday, May 25 at 11 am here.Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and moreAs I see so many happy graduates proudly posing with diplomas this time of year, Im reminded of all the things Ive learned over the past decade about making that transition. Its a big shift. All our lives up until graduation day weve been mastering the species of performing, perfecting, and pleasing others. Life after graduation requires a few big mindplatzdeckchen shifts that I wish Id known about earlier. I share a lot of those lessons learned in my new book, Bossed U p, but here are the top take-aways I want every new grad to keep in mind.Make Your Own SyllabusThe days of figuring out what the professor wants from you and then going home to put your nose to the grindstone and deliver it are officially behind you. The workforce rewards a more proactive approach the kind of person who sees a need and fills it who steps up to make things better, even if that means trying something new or different who speaks up assertively. Dont wait to be handed a rubric for success, because more often than not, its not coming.Everything is NegotiableAs students, were conditioned to follow the rules. But outside the confines of academic life, things are often more negotiable than they might seem. Got a job offer that you like but dont love?Ask for more Have a work schedule that makes getting to the dentist or doctor near-impossible? Ask for the flexibility you need.My sister, Isabel whos 11 years younger than me recently landed an internship here in Colorado for the summer. The amtsstube shes working in initially offered her only 2 days of work a week, but when she learned that her college would only provide a summer stipend if she worked more than that, she was feeling stuck. I encouraged her to ask for what she needed to make it all work and what do ya know they were happy to alter their initial plans.Dont be afraid to ask for what you want. If you dont, no one will for you.Build in Your Own BreaksPart of the reason I found myselfburning outbefore the age of 25 is because I was waiting for the end of a semester that was never going to arrive Life after college doesnt come with the built-in breaks that students become accustomed to. If youre waiting for permission to take a break, youre going to be waiting for a long time. Look at each week, month, and quarter in life after college and build in time for breaks.Find people and activities that leave you feeling refreshed and make them a priority. Take a vacation evena mini oneor a staycat ion every three to six months. Schedule reminders for dentist appointments and annual check-ups. Learn to set a budget and spend time learning how to make the best financial choices you can. Part of adulting means learning to take care of yourself, and the reality is that takes time. Only you are going to make the time, so be proactive about building in breaks.Seek Out the Support You NeedYou know how most colleges have career centers and high schools have guidance counselors? Well, in life after school, youre on your own, kid.Im only partially kidding. Heres the scoop some of your peers are going to have the privilege of coming from families with connections and friends in high places who can open doors for them. If thats the position youre in use it. If youre like me having family connections was never really my experience you can still take the kampagne toland meetings with important peoplewho can influence your career trajectory. It takes time, effort, and some skill to lear nhow to connect with people,but it isimportant.Its not enough to be good at your job. To really cultivate the career you want, youre going to have to build your network, grow your power and influence, and not be shy about seeking out support.Want more guidance on navigating the college to career transition?Pick up your copy of my new book,Bossed Up,and then register to join me formy upcoming webinarfor recent grads on how to transition from college to career coming up on Thursday, June 13.This article first appeared on Bossed Up.You might also enjoyNew neuroscience reveals 4 rituals that will make you happyStrangers know your social class in the first seven words you say, study finds10 lessons from Benjamin Franklins daily schedule that will double your productivityThe worst mistakes you can make in an interview, according to 12 CEOs10 habits of mentally strong people