So, you’ve graduated college. My guess is you’re probably feeling a little bit lost right about now. I know I did.
It’s not terrifying like when you lost your mum at the supermarket when you were little it’s more of a numb, blurry feeling. A general sense of uncertainty about your life and what it will hold.
The good news? It will pass. You will move on from college and you will find a brilliant job. In the meantime here are 6 things you shouldn’t accept along the way.
Rude bosses
Yes, you’re the newbie and yes you’re at the very bottom of the career ladder but that doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t stand up for yourself. You are not the office scapegoat and you do not deserve to be made feel inferior under any circumstances.
If you feel like you’re being treated unfairly or even being bullied in the office you should report it. Never accept that it is part and parcel of your day-to-day life.
Anything below minimum wage
Too many graduates don’t know their worth. You might have to undertake an internship to get the job of your dreams but even a three-month internship should be paid.
Do your research. You should be aiming for at least the industry standard for an entry-level position in your sector. If you’re not sure what to expect then enlist the help of a mentor in the same field. While few people like to talk about their current salaries, most don’t have a problem with discussing it retrospectively.
Unreasonably long commutes
Don’t accept a job with a crazy long commute. It may seem totally achievable at the interview stage but are you really willing to spend three or four hours commuting every single day? Probably not.
Either move or try and find a job closer to home. There’s no point regretting accepting a job a few weeks in.
Bad company culture
Even if your interviewer was nice and the salary is great, this might not be the job for you. You need to make sure that the company’s culture and values align with your own.
Look at the company’s social media pages, talk to former employees and check them out on Glassdoor. It’s perfectly acceptable to turn down a job offer if their beliefs do not match up with your own.
For example, you might be passionate about equality but you know the company contributes to the gender pay gap.
A job in an irrelevant field
Don’t panic. If you’ve been job-searching for a while you may be tempted to accept the first job offer that comes your way. Maybe it’s in a different field or maybe you just really need the paycheque.
Try and avoid taking a job that you have no interest in. If the role will not help you to eventually reach your dream career then it might be a good idea to hold out for something better.
