Surviving the Transition from College to Career: A Guide for Parents and Graduates
[Ed. note: This belongs to our series of posts featuring tips for recent grads from LinkedIn users. Robb Pardee is a leadership and career coach focused on developing next generation leaders. His company Strategic Leadership Coach offers coaching and training services to organizations and individuals to maximize their potential.]Graduation is an exciting time overflowing with dreams and aspirations. Here are a few suggestions to make this transition as smooth as possible for both the graduates and the parents:
1. Manage expectations – Schedule a purposeful conversation to discuss everyone’s expectations regarding the career search. Take advantage of this time to get everything out on the table in terms of needs and desires.
2. Acknowledge emotions – The graduate may be experiencing fears of failure or sadness about leaving college friends behind. Parents may be uneasy about moving closer to an empty nest. It is okay to grieve your losses even as you celebrate the opportunities.
3. Develop healthy boundaries – The graduate is moving to a new level of responsibility in their lives and it is essential for a shift to take place in the parent / child relationship. Behaving as a responsible independent adult starts at home but bears fruit in the workplace.
4. Learn the skill of job searching – Parents can offer support and input, but need to avoid undermining or enabling the job search. Respect the boundaries and allow the graduate to take responsibility for the search and doing the real work.
5. Utilize resources – Reduce your anxiety by engaging support from college career centers, alumni associations, and web resources. If you still need additional support seek out a qualified career coach or counselor.
Enjoy this time in your life and remember that as big as this feels your decisions are not set in stone.
Check out the rest of of our posts featuring tips for graduating students here
Tags: leadership-coach, robb-pardee, strategic-leadership-coach
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LinkedIn Guide for Grads « Strategic Leadership Coaching’s Weblog May 1st, 2009
[...] a part of “Seek Week” I wrote a guest post entitled Surviving the Transition from College to Career: A Guide for Parents and Graduates check it out for a few tips on navigating parent/graduate relationships during this important [...]
Dr. Debi Yohn May 2nd, 2009
Rob is so right. Graduation from college is another major shift. Lets face it, college is a wonderful environment that is hard to leave in many ways, although the graduate is ready for the next step.
I remind parents, “If you do your job right, they leave home.” This is rights of passage. Yet parents do go through a grieving process, especially the helicopter parents and snow plow parents… They will need to find another purpose.
The shift needs to begin long before graduation. Parents need to allow students to advocate for themselves and make decisions. The student then experiences the consequences, both good and bad. This is the University of Life.
It is an amazing experience to watch your child mature and become independent adults. As they figure things out, smile to yourself, and think… I didn’t do so bad!
Chris Surovick May 28th, 2009
the only thing i’d like to add is for parents, and I am one now also, is to keep an open mind in all aspects…we aren’t a bunch of al bundy’s looking to live our lives through our childrens…let the children learn and discover their own successes and mistakes…as hard as that might be…
Hemal Thakkar June 4th, 2009
Recession : Poor financial position ,
This is universal truth, it’s not possible by single to avoid or unexcept.
This is not a natural disater, this is man made disaster, & can be cure by us.
Mental stability, be ready for the worst tomorrow then today.
Avoid extra expenses like, avoid branded items where it is possible, avoid wastage, as saving is also one type of earning only.
If anybody has any doubts please free to contact me.
Thanks
Scheherazade Mason June 5th, 2009
Jason Seiden has a great set of short videos for parents on his blog, covering 10 ways parents can help their new grads get a job.
They’re specific and good.
http://jasonseiden.com/parents-4-steps-to-getting-your-college-grad-a-job/
Alvion Harris August 8th, 2009
In addition to the tips be willing to wait for the right opportunity. It could take longer than you think. Don’t spend too much of college or after college pleasing others. Find the path that fits you best.
-Alvion Harris