I can’t stress this enough. Many of us get a degree in something and end up with a career in something else. (e.g. I’m a programmer, writer, web specialist with an MS in Microbiology.) Much of the value of College is learning to study, do research, interact with people, handle assignments, meet deadlines.

I’d add:

At the end of the day, go home. Have a life. So many bright-eyed new employees want to make a Good Impression, thinking I should Stay Late and Work Hard. Sadly, overwork tends to be rewarded by people assuming you will overwork. And nothing protects you in a layoff.

Be diligent, careful, and productive. Don’t slack. Ensure that you do quality work. But, at the end of a good 8-hour day, it’s OK to go home. Come bak tomorrow when you’re fresh.

Many years ago, I was in a staff meeting in early December. Management was looking for volunteers to work the week between Christmas and New Years – a company holiday week. A freshly minted coworker said “I have plane tickets to visit my family. What should I do?” I said “You should get on the plane.”

There will always be more work than there are people or hours available to complete it. Learn early to balance your job with the rest of your life.

I’m 21, a junior in college, and hear much of this advice from my parents every so often. In fact my mom told me just yesterday to start saving my money (for the like 100th time haha).

Great post, and invites conversation to the readers with the engaging question.

Thanks Tim

1. Stay out of debt. I can’t stress
this enough. I went to a good state school and left with no student
loans and great credit. Freedom from financial burdens means you
can pursue work that is meaningful to you, work that won’t leave
you wanting to put a rope around your neck.

2. Save as much as you possibly can. Take your
paycheck, however meager it might be, and automatically, every month,
take out a percentage for savings. You’d be amazed how much
it accumulates merely through the passage of time. My wife and I
have only been married for two years, but through good savings,
we now have enough for a downpayment on a new house.

3. Take a year off after undergrad. I know so
many people who went to grad school because they didn’t know what
else to do. Bad idea. You’d be better off travelling, working odd
jobs, doing soul-searching without exams, papers, or student loans.

4. Learn the web and develop and maintain an online presence.
Find your passion and blog about it. Make sure that when people
Google you, the first thing that comes up is examples of your work
and what you do, not drunken Facebook pictures. Don’t put anything
on the ‘net you wouldn’t want your employer or random strangers
to see. You don’t need a resume when you have an awesome website.

5. Read good books. I recommend The Adventures of Johnny Bunko for a fun
pep-talk and guide to how to approach your career path, and Do What You Are for
a good general overview of what type of work you might be well-suited for.

-Pick an interesting-to-you major. Unless you’re going into something very specific where you need a very specific background on your resume, you’re better served by seeking out engaging work/ research/ volunteer/ entrepreneurial experience outside or alongside the classroom.
-Get a job and work while you’re in school, even if you don’t need to.
-Graduate early if you can. You won’t miss much and the momentum helps.
-Debt is the great inhibitor and destroyer of dreams. Avoid it.
-Study abroad is great, but you may get better bang for your buck with travel during summers or after graduation.
-It pays to be nosy about the workings of your business. Invite yourself to high-level conversations, or start them and listen.
-*And especially*: Ask for feedback/criticism regularly. Even if you don’t get any, people will like that you asked.