Being An Adult Sucks

     Plain and simple, the second hardest transition of the American young adult is getting a "real job." For the sake of argument, let's say the definition to the colloquial "real job" is a position in an established company that requires more than two years relevant work experience, a bachelor's degree in field, and an annual salary greater than $40,000. I'm inspired by current career change from HR to Business Analytics to share my research and personal experience of having the much desired real job.

1. Realize your future isn't set in stone

     Get a job. Go to work. Get married. Follow fashion. Have kids. Act normal. Watch TV.

Repeat after me, "I am free." Life doesn't follow a template. I received my first full time job related to my field before I graduated college. Most individuals in my graduating class still don't have a job relevant to their field, including my engineer friends. First thing to do is to create a career path before the beginning of your final year of college. Second thing is allow changes to your plans to happen. Create your best case scenario, follow it, and allow what happens to happen.

2. You are the only you

     We all know that it's wrong to lie on your resume, but not to stretch the truth. When you start looking for the job to help you enter into you career path, stop! By exaggerating experience, education, and even interests and hobbies, you have now shattered your credibility. The most basic job requirement is trustworthiness, and now you have a permanent stain on your eligibility for a real job. I once told an employer that I knew SQL Server so that I would get a job in data entry, and it turned out that SQL was the only thing I worked with all day. That job lasted three months. I received good pay for a part-time job, but it was one of the worst jobs I ever had. And I've been a housekeeper.

3. Myth: Your first job should be about experience. 

     Truth: Your first has two roles: to earn your own money and to build core skills. Unless it is the only job you've had, your employer doesn't care about you job at Subway in high school. What she does care about is what you learned at that job. In the interview, you refer to relevant work experience and education. You prove your relevant job skills through examples from you high school job. 

4. Work/Life balance is impossible

     According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, America has built a reputation as being the most brutally hard working of all nations, second to Asian countries who work an average 60 hour work week. Half of your 16 hour day is made up of work. Sometimes work will consume your day and other times you will have all the free time in the world. Focus of time management and working smart, not harder. 

5. Time is what makes success

     Work hard to master skills and fields; create circumstances to be successful, such as moving to the right city, working at the right company, working with the right people, working on the right projects, have a great mentor, and remain open to new opportunities to develop and grow. Success takes time, commitment and focus.

6. Now about taking risks

    Imagine a bell curve. On the left hand axis is playing it safe, and on the right hand is risking everything. There is no benefit from doing the same thing everyday and risking everything for a small reward. Find the happy median of working with what you know and stepping out of your comfort zone. Start acting like the person you want to be. 

7. If your career is your heart, mentors are your lifeblood

     There is nothing more impactful on your career and personal development than having great mentors. Mentors are people who have experience in your field and are willing to guide you, provide you with real feedback, and help you grow (Read "The Mentor Catalyst"). The thing that a great mentor can do is offer a different perspective on something you are thinking through based on their experience, or ask you the tough questions, or make that introduction. Find a mentor and openly engage with him or her. I've been fortunate to have a few really great mentors in my career and know that I would not have been able to develop into the person that I am without their influence.

8. Be the kind of person everyone wants to work with

     When you have a problem, who do you go to? The busiest people are those individuals who will get things done. They are junior and senior members of the team and come from all parts of the business. They are creative, thoughtful, assertive, natural leaders and function well inside teams. They are the first to get called on when there is a challenge, and the last to go if there is a layoff. 

9. Your goals and passions come first

      So many times I've spoken with men and women at career development conventions, and I always hear the same thing, "I want this job, but what about my job now?" If you are not in the field you want to be in; regardless of job availability, salary, and stability; you do not belong to that job position. If you are not passionate about your job, you will retire a very depressed person. One of my best friends quit a job he despised and hated with the IRS ($65,000/year) to become a freelance photographer. At half his original salary, he tells me every time I see him that quitting his job was the best choice of his life.

10. Know the value of kindness 

     You are among the luckiest in the American society. You have an education. For those changing careers midstream, you have experience. As you make your way through the ups and downs of your career, be humble and gracious. Know the value of every position in a company. You are neither the first or the last who thinks that you have to be a jerk to be a leader. A random act of kindness is the most impressive thing you can do for another person.