4 things I’ve learned in my first year out of college

By Addy Miller
Communications Specialist

Graduating college is a huge accomplishment in one’s life. Many are ready to move on and start the next chapter; however, that doesn’t mean this time isn’t marked with many struggles, endless questions, stress and worries of what’s next to come. As a member of the graduating class of 2022 at Purdue University, I am just about at my one-year mark of being “in the real world.” The adjustment of exiting the education system and entering the workforce was not necessarily easy. Until accepting a position with Bohlsen Group, navigating both my work and personal life as an “official adult” was pretty difficult (and that’s not to say it still isn’t). Here are four things I have learned amidst the transition from one phase of life to the next. 

It’s okay to not love your first job

My first job after graduation was a remote post-grad internship with a global PR agency. I was initially very excited to start the position, but I soon realized that it was not at all what I had pictured it being in my head. I did not love it, and for a while, I really questioned everything I had worked for over the past four years. 

Despite it not fitting my preferences, my first job still taught me many things about the PR industry and myself. I thought I would love being fully remote and having the flexibility that it came with, but I quickly realized how much human interaction at work meant to me, especially as a new grad living in a new city. I also learned that working in a big agency with multiple office locations and thousands of employees wasn’t a fit for me. Although I was just an intern, I felt like just a number in the corporation and understood that even as a full-time employee, I would probably still feel the same. 

The pressure of finding a job before graduation is quite daunting to a lot of students, causing some, like me, to accept the first offer that comes their way in hopes that it works in their favor. I put a lot of stress on myself for not having it all figured out like I thought I should have, but looking back on it, I am glad that I took the opportunity to learn more about the PR industry, grow as a professional, and digest what I like and don’t like about the industry. Not loving my first job led me to Bohlsen Group and ultimately made me a better and more experienced employee. 

You may lose touch with friends you thought were forever 

Once you leave the little bubble that is your college campus, maintaining your friendships becomes extremely difficult. No longer will you be living right down the street from your best friends. You’re more than likely hundreds of miles away, located in different cities on completely different schedules. Once a majority of my circle moved away and started their new lives, I noticed a major shift in our relationship. Going from spending days on end to a vague text here and there was an adjustment that I never anticipated having to make. At first, it was a hard pill to swallow knowing that my friendships would never be the same. Now that I am more settled in my post-grad life, I am able to look back and appreciate the times we had together and the forever memories my college friends gave to me. 

Learning never stops 

Truthfully, I have learned more about the PR and marketing industries in the months out of college than I did in the years working to get my degree. Every day, I continue to learn more and figure out my style of doing things, allowing my confidence to grow. Getting hands-on experience with pitching journalists, writing press releases, and building media lists is something that no amount of college classes could have prepared me for. In a job, you make mistakes and then try again to make things better. It’s a constant cycle that will keep preparing you for your next step and it’s a different type of learning than what’s taught in the classroom and textbooks. I have certainly absorbed a lot from my experiences and have no doubt that my knowledge and capabilities will continue to grow. 

Life isn’t “boring” once you graduate 

Everyone is always told that college is the best time of your life, which I don’t disagree with. I thoroughly enjoyed my college experience and will always appreciate those memories. But, being told that can leave a lot of worry about the future, especially for a post-grad. I processed it like, “You’re telling me I just experienced the only good time I’ll ever have for the rest of my life? And all the years to come are going to suck?” I’ve learned that this is not the case at all. 

Your years after college don’t have to be boring. I find that staying consistent with a routine, picking up new hobbies, and keeping out of my comfort zone helps me to stay busy and content through the adjustment period of college to work. As someone who thrived in the college-atmosphere, I am happy to say that I am just as content having a full-time job. Establishing a routine and continuing to go out and gain new experiences and memories helped me settle into this new chapter.