Comments on: Career Wisdom for New College Graduates http://www.delightfulwork.com/2008/06/30/career-wisdom-for-new-college-graduates/ Tom Volkar ~ Career Coaching Your Leap to Self-Employment Thu, 20 Nov 2008 22:04:20 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: Sebastian http://www.delightfulwork.com/2008/06/30/career-wisdom-for-new-college-graduates/#comment-1197 Sebastian Mon, 27 Oct 2008 10:58:22 +0000 http://www.delightfulwork.com/?p=76#comment-1197 As someone who has just started University, this post is very interesting. I really have no clue what I would enjoy and would be best at, so I opted to study something which I perceived to be useful to anything I may want to do in future (business/finance). Now I'm just waiting until life guides me to my true purpose. As someone who has just started University, this post is very interesting. I really have no clue what I would enjoy and would be best at, so I opted to study something which I perceived to be useful to anything I may want to do in future (business/finance). Now I’m just waiting until life guides me to my true purpose.

]]> By: Tom Volkar http://www.delightfulwork.com/2008/06/30/career-wisdom-for-new-college-graduates/#comment-915 Tom Volkar Sat, 06 Sep 2008 16:17:29 +0000 http://www.delightfulwork.com/?p=76#comment-915 Jewell you are going to be fine because already at this young age you are holding yourself to higher standards. Relax, most of us don't fully address these questions until we are in our forties. Take the pressure off. You'll make tons of mistakes in the coming years and learn from them all. No one has to get it right on any one move. My article only invigorated the courage that was already withing you. Be sure to keep in touch and let us know how everything turns out. As for your choices perhaps they don't have to be "either or" right now. Is there a way to make "both and" work? Jewell you are going to be fine because already at this young age you are holding yourself to higher standards. Relax, most of us don’t fully address these questions until we are in our forties. Take the pressure off. You’ll make tons of mistakes in the coming years and learn from them all. No one has to get it right on any one move.

My article only invigorated the courage that was already withing you. Be sure to keep in touch and let us know how everything turns out.

As for your choices perhaps they don’t have to be “either or” right now. Is there a way to make “both and” work?

]]> By: Jewell http://www.delightfulwork.com/2008/06/30/career-wisdom-for-new-college-graduates/#comment-909 Jewell Fri, 05 Sep 2008 00:45:09 +0000 http://www.delightfulwork.com/?p=76#comment-909 My 23rd birthday is just around the corner and as it approaches I've been having this growing 'empty' feeling. I must say this was one of the most refreshing articles I've read all day. I recently graduated from the University of South Carolina(2007 alumni) last year and have been fighting myself b/t what I 'should do' and what I 'want to do' career wise. I majored in broadcast journalism, writing is my ultimate passion, and I'm currently working a 9mth. graduate internship with a top 30 news station. The position was supposed to help me find my way and to a certain extent it has, but it has also left me feeling empty, undecided, and fearful. The broadcast field is dwindling at an increasing rate....cutbacks, job freezes, and lack of job positions are everywhere you look. I want to work in news, but I've been confused and a bit frightened lately b/c I truly want to go freelance. I still want to get my name out there and make money...eventually...but I know I lack work experience that would land me freelance gigs. But @ the same time I don't really want to be on the local evening news every night making a name for myself, but w/ NO money in my pocket.(How it's currently been in recent mths.) So....I just applied to an $11/hr. full-time photojournalist position w/ a local news station and a public relations specialist job with a local library b/c it pays $20k more than the entry-level reporting job would. I'm left feeling empty b/t wanting to do what I love and wanting to keep my apartment lights on. Your article has certainly given me some much needed courage this evening that I CAN make it as a young person....and that I can make it on my own!!!! My 23rd birthday is just around the corner and as it approaches I’ve been having this growing ‘empty’ feeling. I must say this was one of the most refreshing articles I’ve read all day. I recently graduated from the University of South Carolina(2007 alumni) last year and have been fighting myself b/t what I ’should do’ and what I ‘want to do’ career wise.

I majored in broadcast journalism, writing is my ultimate passion, and I’m currently working a 9mth. graduate internship with a top 30 news station. The position was supposed to help me find my way and to a certain extent it has, but it has also left me feeling empty, undecided, and fearful. The broadcast field is dwindling at an increasing rate….cutbacks, job freezes, and lack of job positions are everywhere you look. I want to work in news, but I’ve been confused and a bit frightened lately b/c I truly want to go freelance. I still want to get my name out there and make money…eventually…but I know I lack work experience that would land me freelance gigs. But @ the same time I don’t really want to be on the local evening news every night making a name for myself, but w/ NO money in my pocket.(How it’s currently been in recent mths.) So….I just applied to an $11/hr. full-time photojournalist position w/ a local news station and a public relations specialist job with a local library b/c it pays $20k more than the entry-level reporting job would.

I’m left feeling empty b/t wanting to do what I love and wanting to keep my apartment lights on.
Your article has certainly given me some much needed courage this evening that I CAN make it as a young person….and that I can make it on my own!!!!

]]> By: Tom Volkar http://www.delightfulwork.com/2008/06/30/career-wisdom-for-new-college-graduates/#comment-580 Tom Volkar Mon, 07 Jul 2008 18:33:30 +0000 http://www.delightfulwork.com/?p=76#comment-580 Sterling yes it's funny how an unexpected turn like a layoff will give folks the boost they need to do what they've always wanted to do. Thanks for stopping by and sharing your thoughts. Robin you're right everyone's path is unique and we can't help but see things form our own perspective. The important thing was that you made the leap. Congratulations! Sterling yes it’s funny how an unexpected turn like a layoff will give folks the boost they need to do what they’ve always wanted to do. Thanks for stopping by and sharing your thoughts.

Robin you’re right everyone’s path is unique and we can’t help but see things form our own perspective. The important thing was that you made the leap. Congratulations!

]]> By: Robin http://www.delightfulwork.com/2008/06/30/career-wisdom-for-new-college-graduates/#comment-579 Robin Mon, 07 Jul 2008 05:05:18 +0000 http://www.delightfulwork.com/?p=76#comment-579 Hi Tom - I really agree with everything you are saying. I "jumped into the abyss" when I was 30—a LONG time ago—when I resigned from school teaching without having a job to go to - but then I saved up for a year before doing it, so maybe it wasn't exactly abyss-jumping! Everyone's path is just so unique, I guess - Robin Hi Tom - I really agree with everything you are saying. I “jumped into the abyss” when I was 30—a LONG time ago—when I resigned from school teaching without having a job to go to - but then I saved up for a year before doing it, so maybe it wasn’t exactly abyss-jumping!

Everyone’s path is just so unique, I guess - Robin

]]> By: Sterling Okura http://www.delightfulwork.com/2008/06/30/career-wisdom-for-new-college-graduates/#comment-575 Sterling Okura Wed, 02 Jul 2008 19:03:25 +0000 http://www.delightfulwork.com/?p=76#comment-575 Great message Tom. Not just for graduates, but for anyone experiencing (or ready to experience) a shift in life. Several of my peers have recently been laid off from their jobs during the economic downturn and are now happily self-employed consultants. Love the powerful quote and message you end the post with. Thank you for the inspiration. Sterling Okuras last blog post..<a href="http://bizlift.com/blog/2008/06/29/guest-appearance-on-couchcastorg/">Guest Appearance on CouchCast.org</a> Great message Tom. Not just for graduates, but for anyone experiencing (or ready to experience) a shift in life. Several of my peers have recently been laid off from their jobs during the economic downturn and are now happily self-employed consultants.

Love the powerful quote and message you end the post with. Thank you for the inspiration.

Sterling Okuras last blog post..Guest Appearance on CouchCast.org

]]> By: Tom Volkar http://www.delightfulwork.com/2008/06/30/career-wisdom-for-new-college-graduates/#comment-574 Tom Volkar Wed, 02 Jul 2008 15:40:08 +0000 http://www.delightfulwork.com/?p=76#comment-574 Slade you make an excellent point. More than half of us change our minds frequently regarding our "right" livelihood anyway. Why put so much pressure on yourself to get it right the first time at such a young age? That's one reason why I'm such a staunch supporter of self-employment. If mistakes are inevitable we are far better off to make them on our own behalf then in service as an employee. At least when we are calling the shots we can adjust and profit form our mistakes. Shilpan the important thing is you awoke in time. You seized your freedom and I commend you for doing so. Marelisa this could be one of those areas where we simply disagree. I do not undervalue having a mentor. It's an especially good strategy in a trade or a profession. I can't imagine a glassblower not having some form of apprenticeship for example. However your last line made me laugh out :) loud for three reasons. 1). I'm not condoning that anyone jump blindly into the abyss. 2). Blindly isn't the problem; hesitating on jumping is. I would rather see someone jump than waiting their whole life for the timing to be just right. 3). Sometimes it's the jump itself that leads to a career that we could not see before we made the jump. That's what happened to me and I'm very grateful for it. Thanks for speaking your mind so eloquently. Slade you make an excellent point. More than half of us change our minds frequently regarding our “right” livelihood anyway. Why put so much pressure on yourself to get it right the first time at such a young age? That’s one reason why I’m such a staunch supporter of self-employment. If mistakes are inevitable we are far better off to make them on our own behalf then in service as an employee. At least when we are calling the shots we can adjust and profit form our mistakes.

Shilpan the important thing is you awoke in time. You seized your freedom and I commend you for doing so.

Marelisa this could be one of those areas where we simply disagree. I do not undervalue having a mentor. It’s an especially good strategy in a trade or a profession. I can’t imagine a glassblower not having some form of apprenticeship for example.

However your last line made me laugh out :) loud for three reasons.
1). I’m not condoning that anyone jump blindly into the abyss.
2). Blindly isn’t the problem; hesitating on jumping is. I would rather see someone jump than waiting their whole life for the timing to be just right.
3). Sometimes it’s the jump itself that leads to a career that we could not see before we made the jump. That’s what happened to me and I’m very grateful for it.

Thanks for speaking your mind so eloquently.

]]> By: Marelisa http://www.delightfulwork.com/2008/06/30/career-wisdom-for-new-college-graduates/#comment-573 Marelisa Wed, 02 Jul 2008 00:57:00 +0000 http://www.delightfulwork.com/?p=76#comment-573 Tom: Working in a place where you're learning the tricks of the trade, especially if you're fortunate enough to have a supervisor who is like a mentor to you, is not putting your dreams on hold. Quite the contrary, it can greatly shorten the learning curve so that when you do strike out on your own you don't have such a hard time of it. I agree that we should all be courageous and set out on our own, but there's planning and preparation involved. You don't just blindly jump into the abyss. Marelisas last blog post..<a href="http://abundance-blog.marelisa-online.com/?p=163">How Gratitude Can Change Your Life</a> Tom: Working in a place where you’re learning the tricks of the trade, especially if you’re fortunate enough to have a supervisor who is like a mentor to you, is not putting your dreams on hold. Quite the contrary, it can greatly shorten the learning curve so that when you do strike out on your own you don’t have such a hard time of it. I agree that we should all be courageous and set out on our own, but there’s planning and preparation involved. You don’t just blindly jump into the abyss.

Marelisas last blog post..How Gratitude Can Change Your Life

]]> By: Shilpan | successsoul.com http://www.delightfulwork.com/2008/06/30/career-wisdom-for-new-college-graduates/#comment-572 Shilpan | successsoul.com Tue, 01 Jul 2008 22:45:14 +0000 http://www.delightfulwork.com/?p=76#comment-572 Tom, As I read every word, I felt that you were talking to me looking straight in my eyes. Yes, I'm trained to be a lost soul in the four walls of mental mutiny but after working for about 14 years, I realized that I was selling my dreams for the green. I was insane. I started my business while still at work but with determination to never see those four walls in few years and yeah! that happened. If you ask me about a job, I'd laugh at you. Do I worry about money?Yes I do but I'll never go back to sell dreams, ever! Shilpan Tom,

As I read every word, I felt that you were talking to me looking straight in my eyes. Yes, I’m trained to be a lost soul in the four walls of mental mutiny but after working for about 14 years, I realized that I was selling my dreams for the green. I was insane. I started my business while still at work but with determination to never see those four walls in few years and yeah! that happened. If you ask me about a job, I’d laugh at you. Do I worry about money?Yes I do but I’ll never go back to sell dreams, ever!

Shilpan

]]> By: Slade | Shift Your Spirits http://www.delightfulwork.com/2008/06/30/career-wisdom-for-new-college-graduates/#comment-571 Slade | Shift Your Spirits Tue, 01 Jul 2008 21:15:14 +0000 http://www.delightfulwork.com/?p=76#comment-571 Tom, What a great idea to post a commencement address! For many years now, I've counseled and coached college-age students, particularly on career, life purpose, etc. I have to say that I adore working with people at this stage of their lives, but could we, as a society, have picked a worse time to focus this pressure to figure everything out, in one big, well-crafted decision? I was one of those people who was quite clear on who I thought I was and what my skills were from the time I was a child, and I still don't feel like it counted for much until I was in my mid-30's. I bought into a path that was so much harder than it needed to be. I honestly don't think people should be expected to "pick a major" until they are 29. And then they should know that there is a very good chance that the best path for any individual doesn't exist until they invent a unique version for themselves. Challenging topic - I commend you! Tom,

What a great idea to post a commencement address!

For many years now, I’ve counseled and coached college-age students, particularly on career, life purpose, etc. I have to say that I adore working with people at this stage of their lives, but could we, as a society, have picked a worse time to focus this pressure to figure everything out, in one big, well-crafted decision?

I was one of those people who was quite clear on who I thought I was and what my skills were from the time I was a child, and I still don’t feel like it counted for much until I was in my mid-30’s.

I bought into a path that was so much harder than it needed to be. I honestly don’t think people should be expected to “pick a major” until they are 29. And then they should know that there is a very good chance that the best path for any individual doesn’t exist until they invent a unique version for themselves.

Challenging topic - I commend you!

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