Advice for 2018 university graduates ... after my 30-plus years in the game!
AS MY graduation from university approached in 1984, I began to feel very stressed. Time was passing and, shortly, I would enter the working world. With my finance degree, would I be able to find a job? Like many university students, I’d spent most of my time socializing, lastminute cramming for exams, and hanging out with the ‘cool crew’.
I had worked part-time jobs, but I really didn’t understand how businesses worked by making hamburgers at Burger King. I was uncertain about what it took to get a real job, and worried about half of the stuff where I had stretched the truth a little on my résumé. It was definitely a creative document. My goal was to get a job so that I could buy my dream car – a Toyota GTS-Twin Cam 16 – and start enjoying life!
I felt very stressed. I sought out a wiser head for advice. He laughed.
“Don’t worry, Donovan, that’s normal, I really didn’t really know anything about business when I graduated. I had some summer jobs while I was at university, but all I did was file papers and got the company’s name on my résumé.”
He suggested that I start reading the business section of the newspaper and also The Wall Street Journal. And so I did.
The key to finding a job is to convince someone to take a chance on you, and someone will if you prepare and try hard enough. Once you get that job – whatever the pay you agreed to – from the first day you must show genuine interest in your role and seek to understand everything about what you are asked to do – and things related. But remember – pace yourself.
Commitment and performance are what will allow you to stand out. The rewards will come as you become more valuable to your team and the company – over time. As you grow,
developing relationships with the professionals in your company and with people outside your company will be key to advancing your career. Remember the little guys – they count and deserve your respect also.
Focus on being yourself and building your personal brand over time. Be different – avoid being the one to complain. Be the person who openly raises issues and works with the team to resolve problems. Seek to guide your decisions and actions underpinned by your courage, integrity, pride and desire to compete. Show leadership in small yet important ways and people will respect and trust you. Always remember a basic leadership principle – praise in public, criticise and provide feedback in private.
As you grow with your company, seek to develop other professional business relationships that will bring you into contact with an expanded network. Remember, Jamaica has many challenges – play your role and find a cause you like and volunteer to help the less fortunate.