Tips for Embracing Career Opportunities After Graduation

How I built a 6 figure (non-tech) career in less than 5 years after graduation. A lot of people are obsessed with the linear path of climbing the ladder, one role at a time. ➕ Associate ➕ Senior Associate ➕ Manager ➕ Sr. Manager ➕ Director ➕ Sr. Director/Principal ➕ VP/GM “I’m going to find a good company and work my way up. I’ll put in 60-70 hour weeks to show my work ethic and value. They’ll see I’m a contributor… and I’ll get promoted”. Yep. Slowly. And you'll probably be exhausted. I believe the best careers are built like an artist builds a collection of work. The goal is to build a career portfolio. Here's how I did that the first 5 years after graduation: I worked in different... ✅ Industries ✅ Roles ✅ Sizes of companies (start-ups and corporations) ✅ Cultures I also got experience under different leaders. I ended up with a diverse set of skills and experiences in a short space of time, and quickly become more marketable as a candidate. You can accomplish something similar, and you don’t have to be a recent graduate or intern for this to work for you. Here are the steps to take: ⚡ 1. Embrace learning over a linear path: Focus on continuous learning and personal development. Seek out opportunities that challenge you, even if they seem unrelated to your current role. ⚡ 2. Emphasize skill accumulation: In a rapidly changing job market, the value of a broad, transferable skill set cannot be overstated. Cultivate expertise in diverse areas, investing time and effort in building skills that are in high demand across industries. ⚡ 3. Embrace Varied Experiences: Breaking away from a linear mindset means seeking out diverse experiences, even if they deviate from the traditional career trajectory. Consider taking on side projects, pursuing passion projects, or volunteering in areas that interest you. I believe in you -- go build your portfolio, friend! ____ Enjoy this? I'll be expanding on this in Sunday's Elevate newsletter 🚀 Click the link below to subscribe 🤘

A 21-year old college grad recently messaged me for career advice. Here’s the 10 insights I shared 👇 ——— 1️⃣ Your 20s are all about experiences. Focus less on the destination and more on the journey. • Try different things • Say yes to opportunities • Consider starting a company Take some risks and find what you’re truly passionate about. ——— 2️⃣ Prioritize learning over titles Your 20s are for learning—not chasing titles. Focus on building a bunch of complimentary skills. • Choose challenging roles on purpose  • Consider startups to get more responsibility Learn as much as you can, as fast as you can.  ——— 3️⃣ Build relationships, not numbers Forget follower counts.  And focus more on meaningful, genuine connections. Especially with people that are ahead of you in their career. • Get on their radar • Figure out how to help / offer value • Be consistent & dependable Go deep, not wide. ——— 4️⃣ Find your 'Why' No one likes their job 100% of the time. But if you have a strong core purpose… You’ll get through the tough times better than most. • Write down your 'why'  • Post it somewhere visible.  • Re-evaluate every couple years ——— 5️⃣ Take pride in your work No matter what you do… Dive in with precision and take pride in the details. • Hone your skills • Seek feedback and iterate • Be known for high quality Tip: Watch ‘Jiro Dreams of Sushi’ for extra inspiration. ——— 6️⃣ Life’s a Negotiation There’s not much that can’t be negotiated. • Job scope • Compensation  • Benefits Go for it. You don’t get what you don’t ask for. ——— 7️⃣ Listen More, Talk Less My first boss told me… ‘You don’t need to be the smartest person in the room.’ What he meant was: Rather than shouting answers… I should try listening & absorbing more first. • Actively take notes  • Listen to other perspectives • Absorb, consider, then speak. ——— 8️⃣ ’Be Fierce with the Fierce’ This motto is from my Scottish last name…  But its relevant and means: • Don’t get pushed around.  • Stick up for yourself.  • Don’t give up. Growth happens at the edge of discomfort. Push yourself. ——— 9️⃣ Don’t be a “quiet quitter” An unfortunate trend with Gen Z… But, no one wins when you do the bare minimum. Optimize for job happiness: • Align personal passions with job roles • Ensure your job reflects your personal values Otherwise you’ll waste precious years of growth. ——— 🔟 Find great mentors In real life, or through books, podcasts, etc. Absorb knowledge from: • Leaders  • Entrepreneurs • Philosophers Find people who inspire you in various aspects of life. And go all in. 🏴☠️🏴☠️🏴☠️ **Thanks for reading!** If you enjoyed this, you'll love my free newsletter on *leadership & startups*. Signup link is in my bio.

A recent conversation with a mentee trying to navigate the next steps in their career reminded me of an essential rule I always emphasize: You own your career, therefore you have to be in the driver's seat. They recently received some feedback from their manager that was confusing as it didn’t align with previous feedback. The conversation on next steps was very vague. Reality check: waiting for clear guidance or validation from others can leave you stuck in neutral. Instead, you must proactively manage your own career path. Here are a few things I suggested: 1. Do a Self-Assessment You need to understand your strengths, weaknesses, passions, and career aspirations. Identify what excites you and where you see yourself in the future. Remember they can all change due to new experiences and gaining new skillsets. 2. Seek Constructive Feedback While feedback from leadership is valuable, it’s important to triangulate. Reach out to mentors, peers, and others in your function that you admire for their insights. Feedback is just one piece of the puzzle. Use it as a tool for improvement, not as a definitive roadmap. You never know when you might run into an unconscious bias. 3. Continuous Learning and Development I’m ever curious and always looking for learning opportunities. Look for opportunities to learn from other functions. The business world is continusly changing, and staying on top of the game, requires investing time to learn. Stay informed about your current industry trends but also look for best practices in others. 4. Advocate for Yourself People can’t read your mind, so they don’t know what your career goals and aspirations are. Don’t be afraid to articulate them to your leadership. Express your interest in new projects, responsibilities, or roles that align with your goals. 5. Adaptability and Resilience Career paths are rarely linear. My own has been a lattice. Be adaptable. Embrace challenges and view setbacks as learning experiences. Being in the driver's seat of your career means taking an intentional role in your professional development. While others can give you guidance, the ultimate responsibility for your career lies with you. What else would you tell him?

As numerous college graduations unfold, I'm reminded of my post-graduation days, filled with the urgent quest for a meaningful job. Drawing from years in business, I'd like to share some advice with new graduates about navigating the early stages of their careers. First, don't fixate on your first job title. What matters more is that the role (hopefully) aligns with your field and that you give it your all. My journey began in Geneva, Switzerland, as a graduate student eager to become a journalist. I wanted to work as a researcher at the 1986 Summit between Reagan and Gorbachev. Instead, I was offered the "Head of Food Catering" position at the hotel housing our NBC team. I was initially disappointed, as I had set my sights on research. Nonetheless, I embraced the role with dedication, running the catering operations seamlessly and building relationships with all the NBC anchors and producers. (A bonus for me was that I had food service experience: my dad owned a diner where I had worked!). My efforts did not go unnoticed; my NBC boss, who later became my mentor, assured me that I was destined to be a globe-trotting producer. Only later did I learn that the usual head of catering, a VP of Operations at NBC, was on maternity leave, and they specifically wanted me to step in. This experience taught me that sometimes the full story isn't immediately apparent, and allowing the universe to guide your path can lead to unexpected opportunities. Here's the takeaway: excel in whatever role you find yourself in. Approach each day with enthusiasm and leave with a sense of achievement. Be the reason others smile. Streamline processes, innovate systems, and make a tangible difference. If your role isn't quite what you envisioned, communicate your aspirations to those you impress along the way. Your dedication can pave the way for future opportunities. Remember, every position you hold is a stepping stone toward your ultimate career goals. Commit to making a stellar impression and seize the opportunities that come your way. #mentorship #careeradvice #careertips #jobtips #firstjob #newgraduates #worktips #successmindset

Preparing for opportunities can help you achieve your goals and make the most of life’s possibilities. Be curious about the world and eager to learn new things. Curiosity can lead you to discover new interests, passions, and possibilities. Educate yourself about the things that interest you and the skills that are in demand. You can take online courses, read books, watch videos, listen to podcasts, or attend workshops to expand your knowledge and abilities. Build an opportunity fund that can help you pursue your dreams without financial constraints. You can save money, invest wisely, or create passive income streams that can support your endeavors. Research the growth trends, potential employers, and salary ranges of your desired career. You can use websites like Bureau of Labor Statistics, PayScale, or Salary.com to find out more about the industry and the job market. Network with other professionals who are in your field of interest or who can offer you guidance and advice. You can join online groups, attend events, or schedule informational interviews to learn from others and build relationships. Prepare your resume, portfolio, cover letter, and interview skills to showcase your qualifications and achievements. You can use keywords from the job description, quantify your results, and customize your application for each opportunity. Be ready to act when an opportunity comes your way. Don’t let fear, doubt, or procrastination stop you from taking action. Have a clear vision of what you want and why you want it.