Walter Hickey
Politics Reporter Walter Hickey on graduation day at the College of William & Mary.
It's graduation time, and everyone is
sharing their best advice for graduates.
So we decided to ask our editorial and senior staff here at Business Insider, "What do you wish someone had told you at graduation?"
Our colleagues had a lot to say, from how important it is to take care of your finances to not worrying about the first five years after graduation (you read that correctly: the first five years aren't all that important, according to SAI Senior Editor Jay Yarow).
But advice is all relative.
As Politics Reporter Walter Hickey says, "Ignore all the advice. Statistics insist."
So we decided to ask our editorial and senior staff here at Business Insider, "What do you wish someone had told you at graduation?"
Our colleagues had a lot to say, from how important it is to take care of your finances to not worrying about the first five years after graduation (you read that correctly: the first five years aren't all that important, according to SAI Senior Editor Jay Yarow).
But advice is all relative.
As Politics Reporter Walter Hickey says, "Ignore all the advice. Statistics insist."
Alyson Shontell, Senior Reporter, SAI
Alyson Shontell, far left, is a proud Syracuse alum.
"Join a startup when you graduate run by seasoned, smart founders.
In an ideal world, you'll pick one that will grow far bigger than it is when you
join it. Either way, you will get tremendous experience and get to try your hand
at a number of different roles, which can help you decide what you actually want
to do with your life. And if the company grows, your career can grow with
it."
Steve Kovach, SAI Editor
Alex Davies, Transportation Reporter
Alex Davies at his graduation from Macalester College.
Alex Davies
You'll have a good time, and won't have to worry about a career for a year. When you come back you will seem more interesting to everyone, including potential employers.
It's not like you'll be missing out on a booming economy, either, and none of the people in my graduating class who left the country for a year had more trouble than usual finding a job upon their return."
Henry Blodget, Founder & CEO
"The real world doesn't care where you went to school or what you did when
you were there. Your diploma might help you get a job, but the moment you start
working, the only thing that will matter is how much you help your bosses,
colleagues, employers, clients, and/or customers.
So, congratulations on your success — you deserve it. But if you want to do well in life, forget about all of that and start helping."
So, congratulations on your success — you deserve it. But if you want to do well in life, forget about all of that and start helping."
Mamta Badkar, Money Game Reporter
Mamta Badkar, center, at Business Insider's SAI 100 party.
Mamta Badkar
Jim Edwards, Deputy Editor
Jim Edwards
But over the years, depending on the career you've chosen, huge gaps can open up in the lifestyles of you and your friends, based on money, depending on the career paths they've chosen.
Some of my friends are millionaires, and others are barely employed and in chronic debt — and a lot of that goes back to the careers we chose when we were 22.
It's amazing to me that personal finance issues weren't a core part of the math curriculum during my education, even though that's the one way that numbers affect everyone in society."
Linette Lopez, Clusterstock Editor
Linette Lopez, far right, at Business Insider's SAI 100 party.
Jay Yarow, Senior Editor, SAI
Jay Yarow
Also, go travel a bunch. It's better to travel when you're younger than when you're older, I assume."
Julia La Roche, Clusterstock Reporter
Julia La Roche for BI
Julie Hansen, President & COO
On a related note, think hard about graduate school. It can be enormously helpful, even critical, in certain career paths. Or it can be a self-indulgent waste of time (aside from the intellectual development, which has its own merits). Don't go to grad school just for a pedigree or because you're not sure what else to do. But do invest in your own education where it helps you get to the next step. Take an accounting class as a step toward general management, for example. Take a negotiating class or a legal class or whatever is relevant. It makes you smarter at what you do, and it signals to the higher-ups that you're serious about taking the next step. And if graduate school makes sense for your career, think hard about how you sequence it with your job and family life. It's never perfect, but timing matters."
Jessica Liebman, Managing Editor
Chris Anderson, Senior Editor
Chris Anderson, center (with the dark button-up shirt).
Chris C. Anderson
You're going to go through a range of emotions. Hey, this is an exciting time. You're off on a new path. But there are a couple things you need to remember above all else.
Don't let money rule your life and your decisions going forward. Yes, get that debt paid off if you have it. Do what you have to do to live comfortably, but don't let money drive you. If you play to your passions, interests and goals I think you'll find yourself happier in the career path you end up choosing, and that the money will eventually come.
Travel, definitely travel if you can swing it. I highly recommend living overseas and experiencing a new culture. Look into it; it's easier than you might think.
You have plenty of time to build your career; be driven but don't forget to live a little and enjoy your twenties."
Vivian Giang, Careers Reporter
Vivian Giang on graduation day with her sister, Victoria.
Vivian Giang
You can still have fun and spend time networking. Networking doesn't have to be a job. In fact, the best networking relationships are those that involve a friendship. And becoming friends with people in different industries gives you insight into where that industry is headed."
Julie Zeveloff, Senior Editor
Julie Zeveloff
Also, learn a little something about personal finance, and how to track your money and balance your checkbook."
Sam Ro, Senior Editor
"You're not gonna like your first job."
Jen Welsh, Science Editor
Jen Welsh
I also think that after a couple years of being out in the working world, your brain is clearer and more focused on what you want to do in the long run, so be flexible in what your future plans are. This could also mean you should keep taking classes at your local community college — get to those electives you never had time for. You never know what will excite you and how that knowledge will be useful in the future."
Mandi Woodruff, Your Money Editor
Mandi Woodruff
Trust me. You'll be instantly more memorable to a hiring manager if you've got an epic travel adventure to chat about than the same ho-hum internship every other Tom, Dick or Harry will have."
Max Nisen, War Room Reporter
Max Nisen, far left, on graduation day at Pomona College.
Max Nisen
"Every single decision you make in the next few months is going to feel way
more significant than it actually is. Almost nothing you do when you're 22 or 23
is going to have all that much bearing on your career, and most of the pressure
and anxiety is manufactured.
If you have a choice between two jobs, take the one that makes you nervous.
Not a job at a company that's unstable or sketchy, but something that you're
under-qualified or under-experienced for. Nervous is better than bored.
And if you're practically minded, learn to code and learn to cook. It's
easy to say you'll take nights or weekends to do it once you're working, but
from personal experience, you'll probably just want to sleep."
Aimee Groth, Senior Editor
Vivian Giang / Business Insider
Walter Hickey, Politics Reporter
Now get some more great advice
Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/business-insider-advice-for-college-grads-2013-5?op=1#ixzz2UbJRG6GR
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