The day had arrived, I waked up in the morning feeling like any other day throughout my student life. I had dressed a bit more formal than I normally did to go to class and took the bus. It was the last time I was taking that bus to uni. That day, I wouldn’t sit down on a chair listening to the teacher, but all the opposite.
Unstoppable
I’m writing this post a bit more than a year after I presented my thesis. I remember feeling excited, I wasn’t too worried about doing well on the presentation, because I had chosen a topic I was quite passionate about. I knew I had done a good job.
Once I left that room where I spoke about Open Innovation for half an hour in front of a row of teachers and a few students, I felt empowered. I walked down the hallway with the compliments of the jury in my mind, feeling unstoppable, it was the time I had been waiting for two years.
There was a little bit of truth in that thinking, I was free. But I had no idea how hard it would be life after uni where grades don’t mean much…
To know what you want, do what you don’t
I graduated in business and marketing already with some experience in digital marketing, mainly in social media management. Plus I had an advanced diploma in business communications that I took during my gap year in England.
At that moment, I had pretty clear that I wanted to work in digital marketing. However, I didn’t know exactly in which area so I decided to first specialise in digital marketing paying a (pretty expensive to be honest) course from the digital marketing institute in association with a local business school. After that, I planned to start learning design and photography, which I’m still doing. The purpose of this? Becoming a freelancer, how? I had no idea — Now I learnt how but we’ll leave that for another post 😉 –.
While still in uni, I had looked for different ways to learn digital marketing; as it wasn’t the mayor of my degree. I got my first experience through an internship in a magazine while I was living in England (which I loved). Back in Galicia I took another internship in a super cool small digital marketing agency (where I still go for coffee and advice). But in between, I also did some remote work for an international start up, and it was then when I felt in love with the idea of freelancing. Actually, I always had the entrepreneurship bug, though management is not my thing (that could be a third post); so freelancing made more sense.
He who studies books alone will know how things ought to be, and he who studies men will know how they are.
Charles Caleb Colton
Welcome to the jungle
During my last two years in uni I spent plenty of time planning what I would do after graduating. Strategising how to reach my goals. I know, not everybody does this, many just worry about squeezing their last months of naps in the afternoon and parties on Thursdays, clever people. But I knew landing my dream job wouldn’t be easy so I needed some clarity.
When you’re a student, you know that if you study, you pass. It’s that easy. However, out there, in the wild — let’s call it “the jungle” — nothing comes easy. Why? Because you constantly depend on others decisions. The more you think about the outcome of decisions that are not under your control, the more you’ll despair.
In the case that you want to land on a job, the more you think about others deciding to hire you, the more frustrated you’ll become. If you want to gain experience freelancing, well, in that case you’ll have to work on your decisions but earning money won’t depend on you while you’re still building a portfolio.
Once you land on your new job, you’re not finished either. If you’re lucky enough, your first job will be your dream job, otherwise you’ll learn where you don’t want to work. If you were smart on your job search and worked hard, it does depend a bit on you, but still, more people are taking decisions.
So, what do you have control over? Learning from failure and correcting the things that led you to bite the dust. I mean to be unsuccessful, we’re not going to war, no worries. So, If you work hard and don’t give up, you’ll reach your goals. Or maybe some new goals.
Success is simply a matter of luck. Ask any failure.
Earl Wilson
Today I feel like not feeling
I would say the first thing you feel after uni is excitement, the second, insecurity, and the third, failure. You’ll probably commit mistakes, and you’ll always feel it will be the last time but it won’t. And there is a fourth if you chose entrepreneurship, when you compare yourself with those classmates who are already working and climbing the ladder.
And then, the most dangerous feeling, indecision. There is a small line in between indecision and giving up. Meaning that you drop your plans and get into the first job that comes across. Or in that expensive master that will land you in a good company (not criticising expensive masters if that was your first choice from the beginning). Sacrifice your dream doesn’t often go well as you can end up accepting that you won’t pursue a fulfilling career anymore. But, I believe indecision is good when you learn how to channel it.
I find myself indecisive all the time, however I’m very clear about the main things that I want. I’ve learned to use indecision to set up my priorities although I have to constantly take over so it doesn’t paralyse me.
Indecision may or may not be my problem.
Jimmy Buffett
My reasoning, correct me if i’m wrong
Definitely life after uni is not easy, life in the jungle is cruel. Everybody is fighting the same battle and there’s very few people that will help you. It’s not because they are assholes, they just have the same problems that you have. But, lots of things depend on you and for those that doesn’t, you just need to be persistent. That’s what successful people say (hope it’s true).
In my personal experience; learning from failures, persistency and listening to others advice wisely, without letting them decide for you; — I said it over and over you need to focus on what what depends on you! — there is a way out. Just keep in mind that it can take longer than choosing the first job that comes across. And remember that you can’t compare yourself to others that are not chasing the same things as you, surround youself with a few likeminded that cheer you up instead.
Last by not least, each career path has it’s own process and timings, ask any doctor…
I thought it would be hard to write 800 hundred words about this topic but I ended up with more than 1200! So whatever you are planning, just do it 😉
Thanks a lot for wasting you time - I mean investing - reading my thoughts. Feel free to tell your own experience on the comments, maybe I can help - or you can help me! - Also subscribe and give me a like if you found this post interesting so I find motivation to keep writing more stuff!
Diego Banks :) 