3 Tips for Recent Graduates on Finding the Right Workplace Fit

First job out of college

So, you’ve left the Ivory Tower and are taking your first steps into the working world. Soon you’ll be filling out 401k forms (after you figure out what a 401k is), perusing IKEA’s catalog for sensible yet inexpensive furniture, and trading in your Air Force Ones for penny loafers.

But before you do, think twice about how you choose your first job out of college. After all, it’s how you’ll spend most of your time and energy most days of the week. You should love what you do! Otherwise, it’s going to suck — hard.

Here are a few broad pieces of advice as you select your first real job (or your second one, if you’ve already pulled the trigger and later realize that your first one stinks):

1. Know yourself. Yeah, you’ve probably heard the adage a hundred times (“That’s the line from The Matrix, right?”). For realz, though, being self-aware can greatly impact how you present yourself and communicate your value to your potential employer in your interviews, not to mention your résumés and cover letters. More importantly, though, introspecting about your skill set, what you can feasibly be passionate about, the types of people you want to be around, and what workplace values are important to you will help you set the standard for places you would consider working. If you get to know yourself better, not only will you be better at communicating who you are, but you’ll also have a better grip on where you want to be.

2. Know your boss. Unless you’ve started your own business, nearly half of professionals agree that their boss is the single most important factor in determining whether they are happy at work, according to a recent study. Whether your potential boss is Richard Branson or Michael Scott, you need to assess whether s/he’s a person for whom your willing to toil and sweat. It’s horrible working for someone you don’t respect. Needless to say, most people work best for bosses they respect, like and/or can talk to.

3. Know your workplace. Imagine you go on a date where you and your partner have different values, don’t like each others’ personalities and don’t find each other physically attractive. Chances are you wouldn’t be in an exclusive relationship with that person a year down the road. You’d think the same would be true for choosing a workplace (with which, practically speaking, you’ll spend more time than a romantic partner in the upcoming years). Interestingly, most professionals aren’t careful about choosing where they work, resulting in a staggering 46% departure of new hires within a year.

These are just the basics of how we think you should be thinking about finding your first (or second job) job. The hard part is actually doing it. Good luck! We’re cheering for you.