How to Avoid the Mistakes I Made as a New College Graduate

Am I Qualified??

If you have recently received an offer letter for your first real job out of college, you may be able to relate to the joy on this woman’s face. I remember when I was starting my first role out of college - I experienced pure joy when I opened the offer letter, and I was excited to be making real money. But I was equally nervous to start my job and unsure of my abilities. Yes, I had a degree, and on paper I was “qualified,” but aside from a few internships, I had no real-world experience. It was hard to reconcile how I could add any value to the company - after all, what expertise did I bring?

According to BetterUp, I was experiencing imposter syndrome or “the condition of feeling anxious…despite being high-performing in external, objective ways…[which] often results in people feeling like "a fraud" or "a phony" and doubting their abilities.”

In addition to experiencing imposter syndrome, I encountered a few other mistakes in my first job that I will share to help you avoid those same mishaps. I will also share some of the mistakes I have heard from clients of the Wilbanks Consulting Group (keeping anonymity, of course!).

Here’swhat NOT to do in your first real job out of college…

Steps To Take Now To Find the Right Job

One of the biggest mistakes that college graduates make is not starting the job search (and networking!) early enough. If you aren’t yet a college graduate, or if you have recently graduated and don’t yet have a job lined up, there are things you should start now to ensure a successful job search. LinkedIn reminds us of the importance of building a career portfolio as early as possible, and provides other ideas to ensure a successful job search:

Build your resume by gaining skills and competencies throughout your college years. Ensure that you get work experience (internships are great for this - more below), participate in extracurricular activities, and identify transferable skills that can be highlighted during your job search. And when updating your resume, make sure you stand out as a candidate (without lying about credentials, of course). You don’t want to provide a cookie-cutter resume (check out these professional templates), so spend time building a quality resume that highlights you. If you find that you need help translating your experiences into professional resume language, reach out to the Wilbanks Consulting Group for assistance.
Find an internship, whether paid or unpaid, to gain experience specific to your industry or discipline. Often these internships can even lead to a full-time job after graduation, as they can be feeder pools to entry-level positions. But most importantly, they will give you additional experience to add to your resume, demonstrate during interviews, and draw on during your first professional role.
Build relationships by networking throughout college. Don’t wait until graduation to begin networking! Consider attending career fairs and join professional associations for your discipline. These events will allow you to meet people in your field, ask questions, and even learn about job opportunities. And even if you are close to graduation, it’s never too late to start networking. Arrange meetings with college professors and respected professionals to begin professional relationships before you cross that stage with your cap and gown.
Utilize your university or college’s career center. This resource is invaluable for students, as companies will come specifically to find people to fill entry-level positions. The center will also assist you with resume development and job search strategies.

Be open to a variety of opportunities. Often, college students feel that their first job has to be their dream job. Don’t pigeon-hole yourself into one specific area, when you might have skills that could fit several jobs. Be open to exploring new opportunities as they arise. But on the opposite side, don’t accept a bad job just to have a job. Make sure that you accept a job in which you can be successful and continue to build your career.

Common Mistakes Recent Graduates Make In The Job Market

As mentioned in my personal story, I experienced some imposter syndrome when I first started working. It’s common that many college graduates feel underqualified for their first professional job. As someone who has been there, I would encourage you to spend time reflecting on what you do well and the qualifications you bring to your position. Surround yourself with people who will build you up and encourage you as you embark on your new phase of life. And know that you were hired because of the value you will bring to the company; you will live up to those expectations.

However, on the flip side of imposter syndrome is coming into an organization thinking that you know everything. While the company values your opinion and education, there is some credence to earning your stripes. Make sure that you come into your new position with an open-mind and a willingness to roll up your sleeves and work together. According to CBS News, a “sense of entitlement will quickly alienate you from your co-workers and boss.” Along with this, it is important to be a team player, especially if that is a norm for your new company’s culture.

Another common mistake (according to CBS News) for college graduates is waiting for direction. In school it is common to wait for a project to be assigned to understand expectations and deliverables. However, in the workplace, professionals should show initiative. If you see something that needs to be done, do it. Don’t wait for an explicit direction. Of course, if you need to check to ensure you are on track before beginning work, definitely get your supervisor aligned. Don’t just assume that you will always receive specific direction for everything that needs to be done.

Somewhat aligned with showing initiative and not waiting for direction is playing it too safe. As a professional, be open to taking risks. Whether you show risk-taking in a new project, networking group, or even by setting up informational sessions to meet people in the organization, be willing to take risks as a new hire. You will find out more information and meet more people this way.

A common mistake for college graduates is not thinking about retirement. As a recent graduate,retirement is so far in the future that it is almost comical to think about now. However, many employers offer matching gifts to 401(k) programs, and even if they don’t, you are able to put money aside for retirement on a pre-tax basis. That means that your income will be deducted by the amount you contribute to your 401(k) before you pay taxes. So make sure you take advantage of these perks of professional jobs.

Many college graduates don’t consider other benefits of the company - check into Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) and Health Savings Accounts (HSAs), and make sure that you know the rules if you don’t spend all the money on time. Do your research and make the best financial decision for yourself after considering all benefit options. Just because it is offered doesn’t mean that you should take advantage of it, and only you will know. But do the proper research to decide.

Make Sure Any Childhood Habits Translate to Your Professional Job

As one last consideration: once you enter the professional world in your first role out of college, you are seen as a competent adult. Is there anything that is a normal habit for you that needs to be changed as you enter the workforce? For instance, are you dressing professionally enough? Are you making eye contact with colleagues when speaking? Do you tend to text or email when an in-person conversation might be easier and quicker to reach resolution? Do you typically expect someone to “cover for you” or expect an “extra credit opportunity”? Some of your daily habits may need to be evaluated in light of your new position as a career professional.

Not all childhood habits are negative; however, they might still not be appropriate for the workplace. For instance, as a child raised in the south, from the moment I could speak I learned to say ma'am and sir. I was also taught to address adults as Mr. or Mrs. [Last Name]. Once I began my first professional job, out of habit I referred to my colleagues with “sir/ma’am” and “Mr. or Mrs. [last name].” It only took a few funny looks to determine that in a professional setting, I was seen as an equal and a professional, and I should not use these titles. I quickly learned to call people by their first names and eliminate the sir and ma’am. (Of course, then I had to retrain my brain so that I didn’t forget to use the same respectful terms at home with my parents!)

Consider all of your “norms” to see if you should develop new habits as you enter your new phase of life as a professional.

Secure Expert Help For Finding Your First Job

If you find yourself struggling with imposter syndrome, writing a resume that accurately demonstrates your transferable skills, or even overcoming childhood habits, reach out to the experts at the Wilbanks Consulting Group. We would be happy to come alongside you to provide guidance to ensure you have a successful start to your first role out of college!

Challie SherrillMay 7, 2024Comment