What I Wish I Knew When I Graduated

Pace University asked me to speak to seniors to help them take charge of their job searches.  

To prepare, I asked my network "what they know now about the work world that they wish they'd known when graduating."

I was pleasantly surprised by the volume of responses. Many wanted to share their "lessons learned" and help today's grads find greater happiness and success faster in their careers.  

It was truly inspiring and I had to share these helpful tips:

CAREER ADVICE FOR COLLEGE GRADS

• Choose a career but never settle on a job, keep it satisfying to your soul and lifestyle.
• Every great position comes as the result of relationship first, then qualifications.
• I should have done more soul searching about what I wanted to do instead of just jumping into anything.
  
• Never assume that office work is the only option. Highly skilled, highly paid hands-on jobs go unfulfilled even today! 

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What do you wish you'd known when graduating?  Share your advice in a comment below.  I wish I had taken the time to understand more about the different ways people make a living.  My concept of career was focused on business when I was in college and I didn't know much else.  Luckily, I always knew I could change careers. My Mom was a mid-career changer, going back to medical school with three kids!  Read how she did it here: Career Inspiration from Mom.  

In the words of Orrin Hatch, "There is good reason they call these ceremonies "commencement exercises."  Graduation is not the end; it is the beginning."  Congratulations to the class of 2010!  

 Photo courtesy of Ha-Wee.