1. A degree doesn’t mean you deserve the job

The unfortunate truth is that while you were busting you butt to learn anthropology, science, and statistics, many of your peers were getting jobs. A degree will help land you the interview. But a few years of work experience will probably land the other guy the job.

The textbook rules I learned in my human resources course are nothing like the procedures of most businesses. In fact, most businesses don’t have written procedures. School is nothing like the working world. No one at work revolves around you. In fact, you’ll find that success means you have to revolve around them (and it’ll drive you crazy!).

Your job won’t be glamorous.

My poor cousin dreamed of saving dolphins and marine life, so she went into environmental engineering. She was hired by a huge engineering firm that specializes in treatment plants. Can you imagine being the low man on that totem pole? Talk about the s_its! All she wanted to do was save animals.

But just because she earned the degree doesn’t mean she–or you–is entitled to a corner office with a huge salary, a month of vacation, or an amazing retirement plan. Work hard, and you’ll eventually earn those positions. The problem is that most of us college grads walk in with a sense of entitlement. Some day my cousin might be able to land her dream position, and you will, too. Just know that no one will hand that opportunity to you on a silver plate.

How many people do you know that are getting degrees at the same time as you? How many people are getting degrees at your school this year? Now how many new college grads are there entering this country’s workforce along with you?

You’ve got to prove why your lack of work experience makes you better than (a) everyone who didn’t go to college and (b) everyone else who did go to college. Why should an employer pull your name from the hat?

For me, the edge came from one thing: my senate internship in Washington D.C.. Know your edge over the competition, and push it.

The experiences have to set you apart. Working at summer camp is a blast, but if you’re not going seeking a profession with children, you’ve got to reach a point of saying goodbye to summer camp. Do internships, make contacts, and try different things. What makes you stand above the line of other applicants?

2. Make it a job you love

Many people develop a professional skill set by accident. Art students run pet shops. Women’s studies majors become construction management experts. I think it’s pretty hard for anyone to know exactly where he/she is going to end up. And the people who know from age twelve that becoming a doctor is the perfect profession often find themselves hating their work. After all, a 12-year-old chose their career.

So now you’re walking from that stage with a diploma. Where do you go? My dad always told me,
Katie, make sure your first job is one of two things: something that interests the heck out of ya or something that provides the stepping stones for the career direction that you want to pursue.

I didn’t take his advice, of course. My first job looked like a dream to most people with some great perks–four days a week, flexible hours, discounted international travel… The job didn’t strike me as fascinating, and it certainly had nothing to do with my self-vision twenty years from now. But I pushed to land the job. I nailed all three interviews and won the job over 300 other candidates. I felt so proud… I also felt so miserable.

You have to find a job that you love… or at least like enough to give your best. A full time job is nothing like school or a summer job. Every day for eight hours a day is a lot. It wears you out. And your boss isn’t going to let you leave early to go camping with your buddies.

Don’t pick a job because it’s secure, because you’re parents think it’s great, or because you’re afraid you won’t find another job. You’ll hate getting up. You’ll hate working. And worse of all, you’ll ruin your spirit. You won’t want to do anything but mope during the evening.

3. Make a million dollar money plan

The worse part of life after graduation is all of the bills. You can’t stay on your parents’ insurance, student loans have to be paid, and you’ve got expenses like garbage pickup that you didn’t even know existed. Your friends will be trading in their cars, buying new furniture and houses, eating out more, and spending gobs of money. Live as frugally as you can. And remember this:

if you want to make a million dollars, you have to put in a million dollars worth of work

Life is only going to get more expense as you grow older, so you need to have a plan. Do you want to work six years or 60? Most people chose to work sixty, relatively easy and relaxed years. They’ll patiently work for vacation days and save until they can retire.
You, however, are reading Aridni, which leads me to believe that you’re willing to work like crazy for six years. You’ll give up your weekends, evenings out, and most free time today. You’ll probably collapse into bed most nights. But isn’t it better than 60 slow years? When I work weekends on my own projects, I often want to quit because I feel so tired. Then I think, “If I want to make a million dollars, I have to put in…”

You don’t need to update your net worth every month. But if you really want out of that rat race soon (and believe me, once you enter that race, you’ll probably want to leap out as soon as you can), figure out what money means to you. What do you want money for? Who do you want money for? And what do you want with your time?

4. Think about today.

My last tip is something that I try to ask myself every day:

What can I do better tomorrow to reach my goals that I learned from today?