One Year Out: What Recent Graduates Want College Seniors to Know
Updated: 2 days ago
If you're a college senior, this question is probably on your mind:
'Where will I be this time next year?'
Maybe you'll be living in a new city, heading to work every morning, solving problems you didn't even know existed the year before.
Hard to picture?
Maybe you have some ideas about the kind of work you'd like to do. Or a few industries that interest you. But what your day-to-day working life might actually look like? That's probably still a little fuzzy.
Fair enough.
After all, how much do most college students really know about what people do all day in the jobs they're considering?
That's one reason I recently checked in with ten alumni of our Career Boost: Activate advisory program who've made the leap from college into their first full-time jobs. They're working in fields ranging from corporate development and digital privacy to engineering, entertainment, healthcare, legal services, product management, and tech sales.
I asked them what they do all day, what gives them energy, what drives them crazy, and what advice they'd give college students getting ready to follow in their footsteps.
Here's what jumped out.
Their Experiences Contradict The Headlines
Spend enough time reading the headlines and you'd think nobody's getting hired.
But these recently coined young professionals are doing some pretty interesting things.
Tyler E. helps evaluate businesses for potential acquisitions. James M. develops products for NFL fans. Carlos E. helps protect people's personal information online.
Chris W., an engineer, works directly with customers solving technical problems. Eliza T., a healthcare philanthropy professional, helps donors understand the impact of their generosity. And Joe T., a paralegal, gets a front-row seat to complex legal disputes.
Real jobs. Real responsibilities. And people who were sitting in college classrooms not so long ago.
Of course, a handful of recent college graduates doesn't represent the entire job market. But their experiences are a reminder that interesting opportunities exist, including some you might not even know about.
They're Excited About The Work They're Doing
One thing I wanted to understand was what gives these graduates energy at work.
Not just whether they like their jobs, but why.
Eliza told me:
"I genuinely love working in healthcare and feel that it is where I am meant to be."
James loves seeing products he's helped develop make it to market.
Chris enjoys "working on problems with my hands."
And Tyler enjoys being involved in major decisions affecting business owners.
Different jobs. Different sources of satisfaction.
Several also mentioned their coworkers and managers as reasons they enjoy their work.
Here are a few important questions you should be (soon) be ready to answer:
What kinds of activities, challenges, or experiences give you energy?
What kinds of problems do you most enjoy solving?
What roles do you naturally gravitate toward when working with others - on teams, in classes, or on group projects?
What naturally captures your attention, and how do you decide what's worth exploring more deeply?
Those questions may tell you more about your ideal career than an impressive-sounding job title.
No Job Is Perfect - There Are Always Tradeoffs
I can thank Tyler for using the phrase, ‘Choose Your Suck” during our conversation. It’s a catchy reminder that being satisfied in your career is about making the tradeoffs that are right for you.
Because no job is perfect.
Tyler can tolerate “soul-crushing hours” (for now) because he loves the work.
James recognizes he may not be with his current company forever, but he's gaining valuable experience developing products for a leading online retailer.
Chris doesn't love his commute, but he does love solving technical problems in the automotive industry.
And Carlos finds his company's culture somewhat unsupportive, but he's willing to make that tradeoff while building valuable professional skills.
Welcome to working life.
Finding a strong-fit job doesn't mean finding a perfect job.
It means knowing what matters most to you, which tradeoffs you're willing to make, and which ones will eventually drive you crazy.
For some, demanding hours are worth the experience and growth opportunities. For others, work-life balance is non-negotiable.
Knowing the difference matters.
What's On Their Minds Now: 'How Long Should I Stay?'
Even though these graduates are relatively new to their jobs, they're already thinking about their next steps.
And they're generally optimistic about their own careers, even when they're less enthusiastic about their companies or industries.
Chris wonders:
"How long I can stay at my company and how I can leverage my experience... to get me my next job?"
Carlos asks:
"When do I start to look elsewhere? How do I recognize closing doors before they're closed?"
And Tyler is wondering whether he'll get promoted this year.
These young professionals aren't expecting their first jobs to be their last. They're gaining experience, learning what they like, and thinking about where to go next.
Your first job matters. But it doesn't have to determine the next 40 years of your life.
Their Advice For College Seniors: Don't Wait To Start The Process
This may have been my favorite part of our discussions.
I asked what they'd do differently if they could rewind the clock.
Their advice?
Learn how the job search process actually works. Chris commented, "I feel like so many people don't even know how to start."
Don't wait to start exploring. Eliza wishes she'd investigated more career paths earlier in college. She might have discovered her interest in philanthropy sooner.
Talk to people. James recommends learning about lots of different industries through exploratory conversations. "It's better to figure out what you won't like now than after two years on the job.'
Understand How Economic Value Is Created In Different Industries and With Different Companies. Tyler commented, "Before every networking conversation or interview, do your homework. You should know what industry the company is in, how they compete, and how they're different from their competitors.'
Knowing how to navigate the job search process, explore career possibilities, build professional relationships, and understand how companies and industries create value isn't something you're automatically taught in college.
The good news? You can learn.
So, Where Will You Be A Year From Now?
Maybe you'll be helping design a new product. Working on a major acquisition. Solving an engineering problem. Or supporting a cause you care about.
Or doing something you haven't even considered yet.
And yes, you might have an annoying commute, frustrating assignments, or a boss who occasionally drives you nuts.
That's part of the deal.
But you could also be learning an enormous amount, working with interesting people, and discovering what you want from your career.
You don't need to have everything figured out today.
But you can start exploring, asking questions, and getting smarter about where you might fit.
A year from now, you might be surprised how far you've come.
A Little Guidance Can Go a Long Way
Wherever you are in your career journey, it helps to have someone experienced in your corner. IQ Catalyst combines personalized guidance, practical tools, and a structured approach to help you move forward.
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