Advice To College Graduates

[Free To Canoe]

This article is from Motley Fool on May 6th. It seemed like mostly good advice but I will let the teeming millions on the forum decide.

Unsolicited Advice for Everyone About to Graduate College


More than a million people will be awarded a bachelor's degree in the next month.
Congratulations!
Not that you asked, but a few words of advice...
If a company didn't hire you because your SAT scores weren't good enough, don't feel bad. Be relieved. A company that short-sighted is probably a miserable place to work anyway.

[mod edit to comply with copyright regs]

 

[frayne]

Excellent advice for people of all ages and walks of life.

 

[ProspectiveBum]

It is a good list. My favorite was this one:

A strict office dress code is your first sign that things are about to suck.

In my experience, this is exactly right.

 

[steelyman]

Spelling counts.

 

[tulak]

Spelling counts.

Your right.

 

[MooreBonds]

[-]Your[/-] Ur right

FIFY. Have to think in the mindset of the texting generation!

 

[Hermit]

My advice: GET A JOB!

 

[Free To Canoe]

Some more of the advice:


Once you're hired, no one cares what school you went to. They care about: Whether you're pleasant to work with, whether you're good at your job, and whether you make them feel good about themselves (in that order).
Be totally honest in job interviews. Embrace reality if you're not a good fit.
Don't feel bad changing careers. The odds that you have your life figured out at age 22 are barely higher than at age 18.
Get comfortable with the idea that some of what you were taught in school doesn't apply to the real world. You'll have to unlearn some things.
A long commute will ruin your life. There are only so many good podcasts that can support your sanity through rush hour.
A strict office dress code is your first sign that things are about to suck.
People get accustomed to their income, but the misery of an awful workplace and long hours are enduring.
Don't suck up to your boss. They can smell your insincerity from a mile away. Impress them with good work.
Realize that a pound of emotional intelligence is worth a ton of book intelligence.
Say "I don't know" when you don't know.
Live in a big city at least once, and not one you grew up in.
Realize that some things you're certain are true are either wrong or incomplete.

 

[Car-Guy]

In my experience, (after almost 40 years working for a couple of mega corps), what school you went to and your GPA can certainly help you to get your foot in the door (hired) but does almost nothing for you once you are on the job. Schools and GPA's are good indicators of your potential (maybe), but it's what you actually contribute, how well you can work with others, demonstrating leadership, and willing to go the extra mile that are "some" of the bigger factors that will determine your career success.