Think BIG About Your Future (In Spite of What's Happening Now)
The world has come to a screeching halt. Or at least, so it seems.
Thank you, #COVID.
And few are feeling this more completely and dramatically than those young adults in the graduating class of 2020.
Hooollly, heck.
I mean, was it not a hot minute ago that your top concerns were:
Who's our graduation speaker going to be? (Please let it be Jimmy Fallon.)
Will my parents kill me if I take a gap year?
How much loot will I score from my relatives?
That list has now been toppled.
Toppled by larger and more immediate concerns, like, "Will I have to take the first job that's offered?" and "Are my parents going to make me pay rent if I move back home?" and, "Should I really listen to Uncle Joe, who insists I settle for nothing less than a job at a Fortune 100 company with stability (ha!) and killer benefits?”
I mean, seriously, how are you supposed to think big about my future when you can barely score a solid internet connection for your stats final?
Is it even appropriate to think big right now?
Of course it is. There is NEVER a time when you should not be thinking big.
Please read that sentence again. And, for the love, please don't listen to anyone who tells you otherwise. (I’m being serious here.)
Surely, if you're a new grad or soon-to-graduate college student in search of your first (official) job, it’s important to acknowledge that we’re looking at a whole new ballgame right now. No one will argue this.
But this doesn't mean you have to abandon ship on your big dreams, big goals or big plans.
Oh, heck no.
It does, however, mean you’ll probably need to operate a bit (or quite a bit) differently than you would have if this were “normal times”.
But, if you’ve got it in you to put some serious heart, hustle and firepower behind this, there’s no reason to believe anything is impossible.
So, how do you think big about your future, in spite of what's happening now?
Here are my top 5 recommendations:
1. Be comfortable with being uncomfortable
Change and uncertainty are hard for nearly everyone, even the most “glass-is-half-full” among us. Most people will do anything to avoid that suspended animation state during which we don’t know what happens next. We like certainty. We like progress. We like locking in on a decision and getting the heck moving.
But, in times of extreme challenge (ahem, now), this discomfort can actually serve as the kindling that enables you to start the fire — to grow, to get creative, to tap into grit and resilience you didn’t know you had (but will certainly serve you both now and for the rest of your life.)
You very well may be uncomfortable for a while as you transition from college to career. And that’s absolutely OK.
2. Believe that it's possible
It doesn’t matter who tells you something is not possible. You’re going to have people all around you (for the rest of your life) telling you what you ought to do, what they would do, what a smart person would do. What’s practical. What’s not.
But, here’s the thing: they’re not you. And many (mannnnny) people build their careers and lives around self-limiting beliefs, for reasons of upbringing, cultural cues, and low self-esteem. But beliefs are not facts. And, until or unless you allow that to sink deep into your pores, no matter the circumstance, you’ll find a way, you may limit your future success.
Need help with this one? Here’s a great article: 9 Self-Limiting Beliefs that are Holding You Back from Success
3. Be relentless and resourceful
There’s a textbook way to do things. But that’s not always going to take you the distance, particularly in the midst of a global pandemic. If you are thinking BIG about where you want to go — whether that’s in your next job or your career overall — you absolutely have to dig in and figure out new ways to get yourself onto the radar of the companies you want to work for and the influential people you need to meet.
Creative ways. Strategic ways. I’ll even argue scrappy ways.
You are competing with roughly a bazillion people for jobs right now. How are you going to set yourself apart? How are YOU going to be the one who gets the attention of people who can make a genuine difference in your career or your life?
(Not by doing things the textbook, same-as-everyone, phone-it-in way.)
4. Be the person people root for (and want to help)
A lot of times — and this is everyone, not just young adults — people are so nervous about approaching others for their advice, their support or their guidance that they do one of two things:
Nothing — It’s too scary and that person will never respond to me anyways (faulty thinking, btw)
Full court press — As in, cold-approach strangers with an inappropriately large ask (e.g. “Hi. We’ve never met. Here’s my resume. Please take it to the hiring manager for this position.”)
You can imagine how, in each instance, this isn’t going to net out the way you hope it will. So, what can you do instead? Simply put, become someone that people want to help; someone that people root for and welcome conversation with because you’re humble, curious, brave and authentic.
Instead of “Dear Sir, I am writing to request an informational interview. Here is my resume blah blah blah,” try something like this:
“Hi, Mr. Thomas — You’re one of the most interesting automotive industry professionals I’ve ever come across. You’ve come a long way in your career in 10 years and I can’t help but wonder, “What’s his secret??” I’m a recent college grad with a passion for cars and a degree in mechanical engineering. May I ask you a couple of questions about your work?”
Do you see the difference? One is, “Hi. I’m awkward and really just looking for you to do something for me.”
The other says, “I find you interesting. I’m curious about your work. I would love to learn more (no strings attached.)”
See the difference?
Interesting read related to this: A Curious Mind: The Secret to a Bigger Life.
5. Take small, deliberate steps every single day
Through any job search, you’re bound to have slow days, bad days, disappointing days. And you may very well have more days like this through these crazy COVID times. You may run into a patch or situation that will suck so many eggs that you're inclined to simply throw your hands up and say, "You win, life. I give."
Don’t cave. Never, ever cave.
This is where you dig into every reserve you’ve got and commit to small, deliberate steps … every single day.
They don’t have to be leaps, strides or even gallops. Even the smallest steps in a forward direction will keep you moving forward. And that marathon-like approach (along with optimism, passion and no small amount of sheer stubbornness) is what’s going to take you the distance.
Now may feel very much like the wrong time to dream BIG. But I will argue this vehemently.
“You’ll never find a better sparring partner than adversity.”– Golda Meir
Congratulations on all that you’ve achieved, graduate. I’m so excited for everything that’s about to unfold for all of you.
Dream big. Be bold. And celebrate all of those small victories along the way.
Are you working to land your first job?
Are you graduating in the class of #2020? (Or, is your son or daughter?)
Good news.
we’ve just launched How to Land Your First Job, a comprehensive online guide just for you.
Oh, and if you’re the parent of a new grad, it comes with a bonus guide just for you, “How to Help Your Kid Get a Job (Without Being THAT Parent)”.
How to Land Your First Job is an easy-to-digest, actionable guide takes you step-by-step through the process of creating a winning job search strategy, and a new grad resume, LinkedIn profile, and cover letter to accompany that strategy.
It also provides tips on networking, interviewing and navigating the specific challenges of job search during #COVID times.
We know this stuff is challenging. Allow us to break it down into super digestible chunks and get you out there.
The world is waiting for every last bit of what you have to offer.
more to help you think big …
