Note to College Grads
Somebody asked me:
What advice would you give to a recent college grad starting a full-time job to be successful?
And, of course, I have numerous thoughts on this.
To preface:
I'm not a career expert.
Nor am I a counselor.
Just some random Black Gen Z on the internet 11 months into his career who plays with data for a living.
So, objectively, I wouldn't categorize myself as "successful" yet.
But I'm still happy to share my learnings with those coming after me, including these.
I don't know everything yet—still figuring it out—but I hope this helps somebody.
PS: Updated as necessary.
1. Establish your value proposition
Your value proposition is the value you provide.
It dictates how useful you are in a setting.
It answers the question:
"What value do I provide?"
And I see four tiers to this:
Yourself
Your team
Your division
The Enterprise
a) To yourself
To feed others, you must feed yourself first.
And the way I see this happening is by continuous learning.
Learning new skills is imperative for being more valuable anywhere you go.
Learn a new, applicable, and marketable skill that will keep you in demand no matter the market downturns.
Cultivate in yourself a habit of learning - your value will never expire.
I talk more about learning and how to be good at anything here.
How to provide value to yourself: Stay learning and applying new skills.
b) To your team
Each team has a different dynamic - learn how you fit and contribute to the picture.
Observe your team members and complement them wherever the chance arises.
If a team project needs Skill A and you're good at Skill A, capitalize on it and deliver some results. Your value proposition will thus become noticeable to the team.
How to provide value to your team: Know where your skills are needed in the team and apply them.
c) To your division
Things get trickier here because the scope is much larger than your team's; kinda like leaving your country to explore a continent. A division has multiple teams, hence the disparity.
Many people are comfortable in the their team's precincts but not to a division because of the potentially countless eyeballs. However, if you play your cards wisely, you can reap substantial benefits from sharing your talents.
People outside your team could use your expertise too; wherever possible, complement them too. Bonus points if you're in a client-facing role - You're subconsciously selling yourself to them through your service to them.
It's through this route that opportunities arise through comments such as,
"Hey, you did a good job for my team! I've an opening at my place I'd like you to consider if that interests you." :)
How to provide value to your division: Replicate your value in any divisional setting when the chance arises.
d) To the Enterprise
This is an extreme one, and the good kind.
And the larger the scope, the more ways to scale your impact.
It could be:
Good PR
Volunteering
Outstanding academic achievement.
List is endless.
Anything goes, provided it's within the bounds of all that's acceptable.
Be a good ambassador for your company - It's through you that many people learn about your employer.
Like a water drop that causes ripples in the ocean, it's encouraging to see how you can showcase your value to the company.
How to provide value to your company: Explore any opportunity to do so, do your best always, and have a positive image.
Provide value wherever you go.
2. Work towards a goal.
Have a 3-5-year goal you want to achieve and curate everything to it.
Visualize where you want to be in X years and hold that goal clearly in your mind.
Then, ensure that everything you do in your job matches up to it, no matter how big or small the task.
Example
Assume you're a Business Analyst wanting to become a Product Manager.
Start by identifying overlapping skills: Analysis, problem-solving, and excellent communication.
Highlight relevant tasks. As a Business Analyst, you're soliciting requirements, analyzing data, and communicating with stakeholders - tasks proportionately important to a Product Manager.
You'd then take on projects relevant to your desired role that liaise with any product management teams around you so you can "drink their wisdom."
Certification and coursework can also help with gaining the necessary PdM knowledge. Often your employer provides free education for professional development.
Network with current Product Managers, learn their work, and help them wherever possible.
And the rest apply: LinkedIn, interviews, etc.
All to prove the point of:
Have a goal
Curate everything you do to it.
3. Be Patient
You will likely spend the first 6-8 months trying to figure out your job. Four if you’re fast.
It's okay to not know everything from the get-go; nobody does.
And learning is a huge component of it.
Be patient.
Stay hungry.
Stay curious.
Stay learning.
4. Gather a support system
You'll need a support system to thrive in your early career - No one can do it alone.
Find some allies, sponsors, peers, mentors, and coaches.
Ally - Someone you "feel" is on your side.
Sponsors - Someone more achieved in the workplace (usually a senior) who knows your work and can advocate for you.
Peer - Someone at the same level as you also seeking the same growth as you.
Mentor - A guide to your growth who shares with you the lessons from their experiences and advises on the best steps to take in yours.
Coach - A more hands-on person who gives you practicable steps to advance your career and improve on your overall performance - like a game coach would do.
These people can be in or outside your workplace and also have varied career experiences: Mid-Career, 10+ years ahead of you, etc.
Your support system will immensely expedite your growth.
5. Mind the conflict
Conflict in the workplace is inevitable; Good thing it's also avoidable.
There is healthy conflict and not-so-healthy conflict. It just is.
Learn to pick your battles wisely and also escalate what needs escalation.
In case of conflict, prioritize:
Logic
Empathy
Fact-finding
Solving the problem
Tactful communication
Finding common ground
Maintaining the relationship
6. Invest in skills
Gaining skills is the best way of inculcating value in yourself.
So, in your early career, skills become your best friends.
Chase skills first, promotions later.
Hone in on 1-2 skills really well - The current economy handsomely rewards specialists who know their stuff.
And two insanely powerful skills I've seen so far:
Leadership
Communication
7. Strive for excellence
Excellence, in my books, means doing your absolute best.
So do your best always.
Put your best foot forward.
There's always someone out there watching you who’s either:
Inspired by you
Competing with you, or
Waiting to grant you an opportunity
Regardless, someone is always watching you from somewhere and for some reason.
Do your best always.
8. Build relationships
Network and create relationships.
You won't be self-made in your career—you will need help advancing through its different stages.
Even think about it: You will need to build relationships if you are to gather a support system as in no. 4.
You will always meet people wherever you go.
Network with those you'd love to build a relationship with
Besides, life is 80% relationships outside of your career —at least one of them will be your next opportunity.
9. Supercharge your performance
As learned from Alex Hormozi and Codie Sanchez:
"Find the hardest worker in the room - Double their output."
Find a super-achiever, learn how they think and how they work, and formulate your own ethic from that.
If you want to earn like the 1%, you have to work like the 1% and emulate the 1%.
10. Overcommunicate
Only if need be.
One of my former managers told me,
"I'd rather you overcommunicate with me, and I have the full story, and we're on the same page, than under-communicate and miss a lot of details."
And I thought that hit home.
Constantly communicate enough on the job to ensure everyone is on the same page.
That way, you are transparent.
TL;DR
All the best.
.
.
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~T.K.K
Updated as necessary.
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