If you are about to graduate college, this is for you. One of my biggest frustrations coming out of school was the lack of available literature on exactly what the working world did from 9 to 5, so Ill try my best to shed some light on it. From personal experience:

First, your degree is nothing more than a certificate of attendance. Yes, even an MBA. It simply says you were capable of waking up on time for four years instead of sleeping in when the weather sucked. Having a 'business' degree does not entitle you to act like Ari Gold. I promise you, you haven't learned anything. In fact, at the rate things are changing, you probably did yourself a disservice getting that MBA instead of entering the real world or starting your own thing on the side. It's all outdated.

Try to work for a small company that gives you some sort of control and the ability to make mistakes. Direct interaction with upper management/the owner is a plus. The danger in working for a hulking leviathan (any company on the Fortune 500) is that you will inevitably be handled with kids gloves, not learn anything, and think this existence is normal. You won't be allowed to make mistakes or have any say in anything. It's dangerous to their bottom line. This does NOT equal experience. It's glorified day care with a side of brainwashing thrown in.

Speaking of day care, my last job had a 'training' class for recent college grads. I was lucky to have prior experience and didn't have to take it. Wearing a suit does not make you important. Wearing a pink tie does not make you Trump Junior. Seriously, this is not where you want to be, I'd take the small company over the big one any day and I've worked at both. 


As a real world example, I came from a small company to a big one and was a top performer immediately, simply because so much less was expected of me, and then I got lazy. The people I worked with at the large company would be eaten alive by people at the small company, I have no doubt.

You won't do much. So don't act important. 


Be humble. 

Career fairs are not fair. If recruiters are seeking you out, how good can the job really be?

Take on a mentor. And when I say mentor, don't hope someone assigns you one. Find someone who strikes you as interesting and ask to learn from them. If they say no, they are probably bitter/overly self-important and not worth your time anyway. I've always loved telling people everything I know because it forces me to learn more to stay ahead of the curve. The good ones will say yes.

Finally, understand the days of working for one company for 40 years are over. Don't plan on being there long term. And start something on the side, no matter how dumb it might seem. And invest X % of your paycheck towards growing your idea, it will keep you sane. You need something to look forward to on your own terms.

Oh and stay away from garbage insurance/financial planning jobs. These are bad. If you are 22 and being courted by a company to be a 'financial planner' it simply means they want you to bug all your friends and family about their shitty life insurance policies. You aren't Gordon Gecko and you aren't managing a hedge fund, no matter how cool it might sound at first.
 


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