5 Things We Wish We Knew Before Starting Our Careers

5 Things We Wish We Knew Before Starting Our Careers Welcome to Recruiter QA, where we pose employment-related questions to the experts and share their answers Have a question youd like to ask? Leave it in the comments, and you might just see it in the next installment of Recruiter QA Todays Question The transition from college to career can be a difficult one. In this special edition of Recruiter QA, we asked recent grads to tell us some of the things they wish they new before setting off on their first post-college job hunt.Weve also included some insights from Dr. Mark Goulston, a leading expert on career success. If you want to hear mora from Dr. Goulston, sign up for the upcoming webinar, 5 Ways Youre Getting in Your Own Way at Work (And How to Stop). Register today and youll receive a free download of Dr. Goulstons best-selling book, Get Out of Your Own Way at Work Conquer Self-Defeating Beh avior at Work. 1. Its Okay to Look for Work Outside Your Field of StudyNo one told me this, but I learned it quickly in my career It is okay to pursue a job that you didnt specifically go to school to study. I was a nursing major, but needed a part-time job while I was in school. My temp stelle at a tech company, Edgenet, seemed like a strange job to accept at the time. But I loved the company, the people, and the work there so much that 11 years later Im still with the firm. Because of that experience, I encourage young job seekers not to fixate on the perfect position you think you need now the one you went to school for. Instead, consider the type of organization you want to work for and the kind of environment you want to work in. Do you thrive in a fast-paced office? Do you like structure? Do you want a close-knit community? If you find the right environment, the right job will come.Also, the saying Its not what you know, its who you know is an adage for a reason. I wouldnt ha ve known about the position at Edgenet while in school if I didnt have a connection who pointed me to the opening. Network as early and as often as you possibly can. Dana Becker, Edgenet 2. You Dont Have to Settle for Your First Job OfferIt is really exciting to receive an offer, but you have to be realistic with yourself. You dont have to absolutely love every part of your first job, but its important to understand that you will spend most of your week there.When you didnt like a class you were taking in college, you could drop it in the first few weeks with no consequences. With your first job, you have to feel confident that you can manage a full day of doing this job five days a week. I have seen many friends realize the job they committed to was making them miserable. Many of them werent even able to make it through a full year at their first jobs. But they accepted the jobs because it was convenient and helped lower the stress of graduating. Really take the time to think about whether or not the job youve been offered is the right fit for you. Trust me, working somewhere that you dont dread going to every day is worth waiting for. Emily Hagen, Hub Recruiting Mark SaysFind a way to do something anything that you truly enjoy and that might pave the way to another career or job. Consider doing something you would love to do but never thought you could and then volunteer to learn more about it.3. Experience Is EverythingEven though spending your time watching Netflix eight hours a day in college sounds like fun, youre wasting your time and life away. If I could tell my freshman self anything, it would be to get involved in the community. Find a nonprofit you can spend your time with and build your professionalism, even if its not related to your field. Who knows you might change your major or career path like I did. Josh Trecartin, Red Branch Media 4. College Life Is leid the Same as Work LifeJumping into work life from college life was like stepping in to a cold shower it woke me up. The daily routine of going to class, doing homework, and goofing off with the bros in between classes was nowhere near real life. Professors didnt often describe what it was actually like to do real work at a real job. Now, I realize that when you go to work, you are expected to focus and be productive and engaged instead of sitting around doodling and acting like you are paying attention. You are in one place, working on one thing for an extended amount of time, rather than constantly moving around, doing different things. There is a lot more satisfaction in real work. John Lewis, Red Branch Media Mark SaysIf you are someone who has been able to succeed or at least get by without preparing, youre not likely to change until you get that wake-up call. Maybe it will take getting fired or missing out on a great opportunity. But sooner or later, you realize that your persona, chutzpah, bravado, and bravura arent enough.5. Dont Rely Solely on Advertised PositionsPositions posted on employment websites and various career centers are convenient and easily accessible to job seekers. But thats the problem They are accessible to everyone. Hundreds of resumes flood the inboxes of HR departments that utilize online posting methods, so the gunst der stunde of your resume actually catching the eye of the hiring manager is slim. On the flip side, the amount of open positions never posted online is staggering but why are so many never publicly promoted? In short, managers want to either hire from within or talk to someone that has been referred. Think about this in dating terms Are you more likely to trust someone you meet on Tinder, the ever-so-promising dating app, or someone you meet through one of your close friends?The secret to finding these positions lies within your network. Leverage your connections with people you have worked with in the past as well as family, friends, and others who arent necessarily part of your professional net work. Another strategy with surprising success? Reach out to companies that capture your interest to learn more about them. Setting up informational interviews will give you not only the opportunity to meet with some important executives, but also the chance to express your career goals and ask about the industry. While the people you meet through these interviews may not be hiring, they know others in the industry who might be Katie Bassett .openingBlock img width 100% height 100% max-width 640px display block clear both align center float none margin-left auto margin-right auto margin-bottom 20px .openingBlock .alignleft width 100% height 100% max-width 640px display block clear both align center float none margin-left auto margin-right auto .middleBlock img border-radius 150px -webkit-border-radius 150px -moz-border-radius 150px box-shadow 0 0 8px rgba(0, 0, 0, .8) -webkit-box-shadow 0 0 8px rgba(0, 0, 0, .8) -moz-box-shadow 0 0 8px rgba(0, 0, 0, .8) .middleBlock strong fon t-size 24px color 1f77a0 .middleBlock .contributorBlurb max-width640px displayinline-block clearnone font-stylenormal font-size 16px color 666666 background f9f9f9 .middleBlock .contributorBlurb p font-style normal font-size 16px color 666666 .middleBlock .contributorBlurb .socialIcon border-radius 0 -webkit-border-radius 0 -moz-border-radius 0 box-shadow none -webkit-box-shadow none -moz-box-shadow none