What to expect once you enter the “real world”

There’s nothing quite like college. Television, movies, blogs, or books won’t prepare you for what it will be like living on your own for the first time. Four years or more of partying, studying, and trying to figure out where to go next will go fast. The time you spend in college is intended to prepare you for the “real world” once you graduate.

Expectations often differ from reality. Perhaps it is because college shelters us from the rest of society. You live in a microcosm with other like-minded students. You can even go four years without leaving the campus if you want.

Graduating college will hit you hard if you are not ready for the realities. Here are 15 points to expect when you enter the “real world” that Mr. Career Guide experienced:

1. Taxes. “I got money in the baaaannnnnnkkk,” I sang to myself as I studied the money deposited into my account. “Hey, that’s a lot less than I was expecting?” The government will take at least 30% of each paycheck. The federal government, the state government, social security, income tax, and not to mention medical benefits are automatically deducted. Let’s not forget our 401k contributions. What’s left is a paycheck that is less than expected. There are two things in life guaranteed, death and taxes. When you enter the workforce, be prepared to pay your fair share. You’re an active member of society now. Taxes are a necessary evil. You’ll find yourself more concerned with how the government is spending your money. That raise you’ve worked so hard for will be less than expected due to an increase in your tax rate. Slowly, you’ll start wondering why the government is taking all your money. No one teaches you how to do your taxes growing up. Sadly, personal finance is a gap in our education system. Be prepared for confusion when you see your first paycheck. Taxes suck but it is your civic duty 😊.

2. Your parents deserve more credit. It wasn’t until I left school and started working for a few years that I truly appreciated my parents. They did so much for me growing up. I’m sure yours did too especially if they helped pay for school. Raising kids is hard. It’s a thankless job. Now that you are out there paying bills, thank your parents. If you have any level of empathy, you will feel thankful for what your parents did for you. Raise a glass to the ones that brought you into this world.

3. No one cares what you’ve done in life. In reality, there will be few people that are impressed with what you’ve accomplished in life. All that matters are the skills you bring to the table and how you will use them moving forward. Use the experiences you’ve compiled thus far as a guiding light in your life. Bragging about your accomplishments won’t get you anywhere. What you’ve done is for you and those closest to you. The older I get, the more I realize most people you meet do not give a s*** about your success. It’s a hard pill to swallow when you enter the “real world.”

4. You have to look out for yourself. No one will care about your career as much as you. In the working world, you need to look out for yourself. Managers may have an expectation for your future. Usually, that expectation does not align with your career goals. If you don’t speak up and speak your truth, you’ll be left in a job you hate. In large organizations, new employees are resources. Individual strengths and specialization have not been acquired through experience. If the organization needs something done, they get resources to do it. As an entry level employee, that may be you. Those tasks may be mindless, and your manager needs it done. Don’t let your lack of experience serve to your determinant while others slot you into non-ideal roles.

5. Find someone who takes an interest in your career. There will be plenty of people in your career who will tell you what you should do. You may look up to some of these folks. The majority, you won’t. If you find someone that has a genuine interest in your career, latch on. It is rare for a coworker or boss who sincerely cares about your success. It’s sad but true. If you find that occasional gem of an individual, ask them to be your mentor. There’s nothing better than having someone more senior help you navigate the career journey. Listen to their advice and lessons learned. I once had a mentor who cared deeply about me. When I told him I was leaving the firm for a competitor, he said, “they won’t value your experience like we do.” Turns out he was right.

6. Mindless tasks await you. Don’t worry we all have to do them. In college, the tasks you were given had a purpose. The objective of them were to attain a good grade, prepare a presentation, or to read chapters from a book. In the “real world,” you will be required to do mindless tasks. Your manager may not tell you the purpose of them. But you’ve got to get them done. In corporate America, there is a world of mindless tasks. It’s okay but don’t let ego get in the way of completing them.

7. Reinvent yourself every 3 to 5 years. The world is changing fast. Sadly, a lot of the skills acquired in college will be irrelevant by the time you start working. As the pace of technology increases, you will need to reinvent yourself every 3 to 5 years. To stay competitive in the marketplace, think long term and identify emerging skills. Maybe your organization offers training courses, take them. Read books on future trends. Listen to podcasts and audio books. Consume knowledge as much as you can. Don’t get caught up in the B.S of the daily news cycle or social media. With the emergence of Artificial Intelligence (AI) professions will change. Be prepared to reinvent yourself to stay competitive.

8. Living is expensive, but consumerism will make you a slave. Money is an asset for financial freedom. Use it wisely. Life is expensive. Bills suck and will eat up your paycheck. But if you want to escape the rat race, resist consumerism at all costs. Don’t go into debt for a new car. Pay off credit cards and consumer debt. I was not financially responsible my first few years out of school. I bought a brand-new Jeep Wrangler that put me in the hole 26k. The monthly payments ate away my take-home pay. Buying that Jeep and other credit expenses set me back. Don’t keep up with the Jones’s. Most of the Jones’s you see in the “real world” are broke and in debt.

9. Live within your means. I can’t state this enough; your twenties are a great time to stack cash. Responsibilities are minimal. Once you graduate school, live the next five years as if you are broke. Live like you are a college student in your twenties. Use every salary increase or bonus to pay down debt and save money. Compound interest is on your side. Use these golden years after school to increase your net worth. Live within your means.

10. It’s okay to move back in with Mom and Dad. Everybody is doing it right? Living at home with Mom and Dad after school can be a great way to pay off debt and stack cash. You will be sacrificing some of your independence. However, your future self will thank you. I lived with my parents for a year after I graduated school. I started my first job and stacked as much cash as possible. There are a lot of young professionals living with their parents. It’s okay if you need too, don’t be ashamed by it. Sometimes the buffer from school and the “real world” through your parent’s basement will ease the transition.

11. Is anyone actually working or just reacting? Once you spend a few years in corporate America you realize most people are just reacting. Reacting to emails. Reacting to PowerPoint presentations. Reacting to leadership messages. Reaction doesn’t necessarily mean you are working. The higher you go up the totem pole, the more you must react too and manage.

12. Communication skills are key. The biggest factor for project failure is lack of communication. If you can communicate, you will go far. You’ll be surprised how big of a skills gap this is when you enter the workforce. If you can hold a conversation, write a clear and concise email, or use PowerPoint to convey simplified messages of complex problems, you will stand out.

13. You can’t fake experience. The more years you have under your belt, the more value you hold. Fancy degrees, certifications, and training, look good on a resume but experience is everything. Three to five years’ worth of professional experience opens doors. No one will care where you went to school or your GPA. Those metrics don’t matter. Experience does. Take advice from those who have more of it than you. Acquire it by diving deep into your work and becoming an expert.

14. Perfect Job, does it exist? Some careers create a powerful allure; fighter pilot, teacher, non-profit professional, football coach, entrepreneur, etc. You’ll find that most of your coworkers fantasize about leaving their jobs for careers that offer deeper meaning. Others are attracted by high-status, high-pay occupations such as law or consulting. While others I’ve worked with want to work in broadcasting or self-publishing, which maintain a glamorous allure. The irony is that there are probably just as many people itching to get out of these roles as fighting to get in. In all industries, it is easy to find people who dislike what they do. Instead of focusing on what you dislike, focus on being content in a job. Through experience, you will be able to determine what you like and dislike. From there you’ll be able to make an informed decision on the perfect job.

15. There are managers and there are leaders. There’s a difference between managers and leaders. Don’t get confused by fancy titles. Typically, someone is promoted to manager because they are relatively component. They’ve also been on the job long enough to instill trust. But just because someone has the title of manager in their name doesn’t mean they are a leader. Leaders exist throughout the ranks. Gaps in leadership skills are abundant in the workplace. Be prepared to have a lot of managers, but few leaders. It doesn’t matter the title, you can be a leader.

The “real world” is a wonderful place. You get paid. Work with smart people. Contribute to society and maybe you even make the world better. Be prepared for the transition from college into the 9 – 5 grind.