Fatherly Advice for Grads
With Commencement complete and the world slowly returning to normal, it’s time for college graduates to either continue their studies or enter the workforce. Since June is also about Father’s Day, we’ve compiled some paternal advice for recent grads as they navigate their way through the somewhat daunting task of landing a first job..
- Do what you love and you’ll never work a day in your life. In short, try to match your career with something that you truly enjoy doing. That way, work won’t seem so much like, well…work.
- Put down your phone. While you sit in the reception area waiting for an in-person interview, don’t be consumed with your phone. While you may in fact be checking your cryptocurrency portfolio or reading a bestseller, you look no different from someone who is scanning TikTok. Bring a copy of the New York Times and read it (or just pretend that you’re reading it).
- Say yes to coffee. If you interview in person, someone will inevitably offer you coffee, tea, or a bottle of water. Even if you’re not particularly thirsty, take them up on it. Most people will decline the offer; by saying yes, you differentiate yourself. Plus, free coffee is free coffee—and there’s really no downside to free coffee.
- Look people in the eye. When you chat with someone, shake their hand, or do a COVID-friendly fist pump, don’t forget to make eye contact. Otherwise, you give the appearance of someone who’d rather be someplace else—and no one wants to hire that person.
- Be confident, not cocky. There’s a fine line between the two. Make sure you know the difference.
- Send a hand-written thank-you note to the people with whom you interviewed. It’s a warm, personal touch that makes you stand out (in a good way). If you have terrible handwriting, consider asking a friend to write it for you.
- Know your place, rookie. Once you land your first job, don’t alienate your coworkers by acting like you run the place. Your time will come.
- There are winners and losers in everything. Everybody wants to win, but you can’t win them all. Learn from your losses, move on, and be better prepared for next time. You’ll always be dad’s favorite (and dad hates participation trophies).
