Lessons From My (Awful) First Post-Grad Job
by Alyssa Swantkoski
My first job out of college was a royal nightmare.
I know it sounds dramatic, but there's no better way to describe it. Before I tell you about the role and what I learned from it, though, it's crucial to understand how I got there in the first place.
I’m a first-generation college graduate. I attended the University of Colorado - Colorado Springs right out of high school. I spent four years as a double major, earning a B.A. in criminal justice and a B.A. in psychology. For four years, I absorbed as much information as I could about human behavior, government institutions, courts, corrections, and how criminal justice and psychology intersect. With a fierce obsession with Criminal Minds and a strong call to serve others, I knew my career options were endless. I hustled hard and graduated at the top of my class, ready to dive into the working world post-graduation.
Like many new graduates, I was eager to put all of the money spent on school, sleepless nights, textbook readings, and specialized knowledge to work. So I began applying for entry-level roles in my field. Truthfully, I didn't have a dream role in mind. I eagerly applied for positions in courthouses, legal offices, government buildings, and anywhere else that seemed exciting or semi-related to my degrees. Day in and out, I combed through online job postings, scoured the LinkedIn Jobs tab, and searched for the perfect role to jumpstart my career.
Admittedly, I expected my job search to be easy. I thought I'd land my first gig in no time—but days, weeks, and eventually months started to pass, and rejection emails began to trickle in. With every rejection email I received, I felt increasingly more desperate to accept a job offer of any kind. I wanted to work, and I felt an unbearable pressure to secure a job as quickly as possible.
After nearly five months of what felt like an endless hunt, I had the opportunity to interview for a government position I applied for. At a high-level, I thought it would be a great place to showcase my knowledge and expertise. With two undergraduate degrees, I would walk onto the team in a level two position. I'd spend my days working with clients to determine initial and ongoing eligibility for government assistance programs. I'd assist those in need and couldn't dream of a better way to give back to the local community.
As it turns out, the dream was nothing like reality. My days were full of monotonous data-entry, a skill that never required four years worth of studying in college. Clients sat inside my cubicle, no more than a foot away from me, and awaited their application results. When they were ineligible for government programs, I'd hear shrieks of frustration, or worse yet, watch tears fall and hit the chair beneath them. And on days I answered our support line in the phone center, I often spent eight hours getting yelled at, cursed at, or called derogatory names.
Four years of undergraduate studies prepared me to work hard and be a quick learner. Four years of undergraduate studies did not prepare me for monotonous work, the effect of a toxic work environment on my mental health, or how to feel every time a client left my cubicle in tears because they were a couple of dollars over income. I felt helpless and ashamed to be in my line of work. Not to mention, I was barely making $15 an hour.
Although I couldn't see it at the time, I realize now that I was overqualified, underpaid, and uninterested in the position. The stars aligned on paper, but my world had quickly turned upside down. I settled for a job without giving it a second thought because I felt pressured to do so. It turns out that many women feel the same pressure I experienced. Nearly half of women graduating from college are likely to settle for roles in which they're overqualified and underpaid. Even though there are so many ways to make the best of your first adult job, sometimes the best action to take is to move on. After five short months, I left my royal nightmare behind and began searching for my next adventure.
I learned five valuable lessons from my first job that I take with me and continue to refer back to every time I make a career-related decision:
(1) It's okay to take time to think about what type of role and career you want to build.
You don't have to rush into accepting any role post-graduation. Sure, you may have to get a job right away to pay your bills. Do what you need to do to take care of yourself, but don't feel like you have to accept the first job offer you receive. I made the mistake of thinking that I wouldn't get offered any other jobs, which I realize now just isn't true. Take time to understand what type of environment you want to work in, what kind of work you want to do, and where you might want to start.
(2) Accepting a job offer based on feelings of obligation or desperation will not benefit you in the long run.
You are not obligated to accept any job offer, nor do you deserve to feel desperate enough to agree to any opportunity. Initial feelings of obligation and desperation might be your gut instinct, letting you know that this opportunity is not a good fit. Listen to those instincts.
(3) What might appear as the perfect fit on paper may not be all its cracked up to be.
Words are powerful. What might appear to be a perfectly written job description might not be anywhere near close to what the actual job itself is. Ask questions during interviews to help you truly understand whether or not the role is a good fit for you. Make connections and reach out to current employees at a prospective company to get a feel for the environment and culture.
(4) College can provide you with many valuable skills, but it's impossible to *fully* prepare for the working world. Show up, apply what you know, and keep an open mind along the way.
As a sweet, naive 21-year-old, I foolishly believed that four years grinding in college had prepared me to take on the world. I learned so much through lectures, reading textbooks, writing papers and studying my ass off. But I wish someone had told me that no matter how hard I tried to prepare myself for the working world, I would never be able to do so. So many of life's greatest lessons come with time, exposure, and experience. Be open to applying what you know, willing to make mistakes, and always eager to learn along the way.
(5) You don't have to check anyone's boxes but your own.
I obtained two degrees and fell into my first job in my fields of study because that's the expectation placed upon college graduates. I realized later that I don't have an overarching desire to work solely in criminal justice or psychology. While I'm thankful for the opportunity to obtain not only one but two undergraduate degrees, I did so because of societal pressures and corporate requirements. I learned how important it is to focus on checking my boxes rather than everyone else's.
There are broader lessons to be learned from each stepping stone along our career paths. Enjoy the journey, and take each life lesson with you along the way.
Alyssa spends her days working in the digital marketing industry and is passionate about sharing her personal experiences through writing growth, productivity, and wellness features. She spends her free time adventuring through Colorado and beyond with her high school sweetheart, reading self-help books, and practicing yoga in the comfort of her apartment, thanks to the Yoga with Adriene YouTube channel. Catch Alyssa's latest musings at alyssaswantkoski.com.
