The tight job market is not the only challenge facing today’s college graduates. They also must overcome their own misconceptions about how best to launch their careers. Six common career myths…
Myth: My first job will set the stage for the rest of my career. If I don’t get my foot in the door of my dream profession now, I never will.
Reality: Applying for a job isn’t like applying to college — rejections are not the final word. If you don’t land your dream job right out of school, you can apply again in the future, as many times as you like.
The secret is to continue to acquire new skills and experience relevant to your dream job. Try to find work in a sector that is related in some way to your dream profession… or work that involves some skill that you will need. Improve your résumé during your free time by volunteering in the sector… freelancing… or taking relevant night classes.
Example: Your dream is to work for a major recording company. If you cannot land this job right out of college, volunteer to manage a local band or assist at a local radio station.
Myth: It’s important to get your first job with a big, well-known company.
Reality: Landing a job with a well-known company isn’t necessarily any better for your career than working for a smaller firm that is not a household name. Many entry-level employees discover that they have a broader range of responsibilities and greater access to upper management at a small company, which helps their careers in the long run.
Myth: Now that I’ve graduated, I need to start a full-time job immediately.
Reality: Employers no longer frown upon applicants who have a gap between the end of their college years and the beginning of their careers — as long as this time was spent productively.
Freelance for a year… start your own business… volunteer for a year with a nonprofit. Just be ready to explain to potential employers why this experience makes you a better potential employee.
Myth: My first job should be related to my college major.
Reality: Many college grads go into fields completely unrelated to their majors. Just make sure you have some relevant skills and experience on your résumé. Accept an unpaid internship in the field… or sign up for relevant night classes at a community college.
Myth: I need to choose my career path immediately — jumping from profession to profession will hurt me in the eyes of potential employers.
Reality: The only way to be certain that a profession is right for you is to give it a try. If it’s a bad fit, it’s better to switch to a different career now, while you’re still young, than to stick it out and spend the rest of your working life in the wrong field. Employers will not hold an early career change against you as long as you can make a plausible case that the previous experience will somehow benefit you in this new role.
Myth: I should take the highest-paying job I can find.
Reality: Take your most lucrative job offer only if the job is something you really want to do. Your financial responsibilities are likely to be lighter in the years immediately after college than they will be in the future. It is better to accept a lower income now if that is what it takes to build a career you enjoy.
