10 thoughts for students eye-balling the adult world

by Mark Pollard on April 16, 2009 · Comments

in Human behaviour

I’ve spoken to a few groups of students lately about what I do, what I’ve done, and as part of the process I forced myself to think of 10 bits of advice I’d go back in time and give myself if I could. Some of these points echo another post (9 things I was too stupid to learn at school) but with a slightly different slant.

1. Make stuff you care about
There is a lot of external pressure (teachers, parents, girlfriends, boyfriends) around how you spend your time as a young adult (“How does what you’re doing earn you money?”) and it’s easy to feel alone in a passion, but ‘making stuff’ will help you become more self-aware and develop new skills. It’s also a great way to fail more quickly – the more you fail (well, the more you try), the more you will learn.

If you look at someone like Sydney-sider Natalie Tran whose frequent YouTube videos are watched by millions of people, she simply took a camera one day and started making videos for her YouTube channel – the best sort of CV and networking asset anyone could wish for.

2. Stay curious and restless
Between the new demands of entering the workforce, dealing with new responsibilities (debt, expenses) and wanting to maintain a busy social life, it’s easy for our child-like curiosity and energy to get eroded. Every now and then, I’ll hear someone say “I don’t have time to read books, or websites, or blogs.” Firstly, I find this hard to believe, and, secondly, this is a pretty ignorant state of being to accept. Curiosity is an excellent trait. The more you read, the more you expose yourself to new stuff, the more ideas you’ll have… and every now and then they’ll be good ideas. Stay hungry.

3. Stand out
The world doesn’t need more of the same. Be bold or be overlooked.

4. Network
When I was in the early days of my magazine, I kept coming across this advice of ‘get a mentor’. But, to be honest, I had no idea where to look – LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook… these things weren’t around. The advantage of new social networks is you can reach nearly anyone in your field with a bit of research and a well thought-out approach. Do it. But be useful, conversational, specific – don’t communicate for the sake of it. Go to industry events, help put on industry events. Get involved.

5. Stories are key
Humans communicate with stories – re-telling stuff we saw on TV, interesting research, what we did on the weekend… If you define ’story-telling’ broadly, you’ll find that it’s part of nearly every profession as well: academics explaining their ideas, logo designers, musicians, etc. Be a student of story-telling – it will help you develop relationships as well as communicate ideas.

6. Enjoy randomness
A lot of professions thrive on being able to explain everything, on being process-driven, rational. That’s all good and well, but find a place for personal and professional randomness. It will keep you energised.

7. Don’t just take briefs
Whatever you end up doing, keep an eye on the bigger picture. Anyone can take a brief from a client or a boss, pass the baton and get things done. You’ll become irreplacable if you think about the real issues at hand, offer deeper insight into a problem.

8. Be good to work with
This is tougher than it sounds. We all get drained, we all have different opinions. Just don’t be a douchebag. Life’s too short.

9. Love simplicity
There’s this great Bruce Lee quote (somewhere) that explains his point of view on the journey of a martial arts student. It goes something like this: before you start a martial art a kick is a kick and a punch is a punch; after you’ve mastered it, a kick is a kick and a punch is a punch. His point: along the way every student wants to learn fancy, aerial spinning kicks and complicated techniques, but experience takes the master back to the simple stuff that works. Simplicity is hard – but strive for it.

10. Values first
At any point in time, most people will be able to articulate their values. Your values will change but deciding to take your values to work with you every day shouldn’t. (Read Kate Richardson’s ‘Living a values-based life‘).

Thoughts?
What advice would you pass onto a student about to enter the workforce?

Photo courtesy of Jennifer Buehrer.

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Tagged as: Education

  • Awesome builds.
  • Hi
    I came across this blog via Wotnews.

    There are some really good pointers there. I would like to add a few more - currently studying so I too am quiet new. Short intro to my background: I'm a third year student working in the industry, I am also managing/keeping in touch with students my age and many of them in the same industry/specialisation.

    Some things to add:
    1. Be very patient but firm when asking for a meeting or a result due to your request conflicting/adding to their commitments
    2. Obtain as much confirmed information / facts as you can before submitting information on to other people (there is going to be this degree of ambiguity ie in marketing, social media, events but at I aim to be better)
    3. Emails need to be: to the point, direct, and if relevant have a deadline to prevent actions not being undertaken
    4. Nurture relationships with people in the industry who somehow manage to become your mentor - you will know which ones they are. They sit down and have a chat to you, they provide encouragement and give advice, you trust them with your issues or with something that you feel isn't right.

    My observations based on other young people:
    1. Be aware of what you say to whom
    2. Be aware of what you tweet/write on Facebook (privacy settings is your friend). My opinion of someone would change if, for example, they brag about BSing a marketing assignment 2 hours before it's due and getting a 6 because the tutor was stupid (or something really awful). What happens if I become their employer? I guess that's a whole new topic to explore?
    3. In terms of communications - Twitter and Facebook is helpful but email is best for important messages. If it's sent on Twitter or Facebook it's most likely going to get lost amongst all the other features (unless I encourage a DM or a tweet back).
  • 1. Communicate, Communicate, Communicate.
    2. Even when you are doing nothing, make it seem like you are doing something.
    3. CC: Everyone.
    4. Plan (I use beachball charts to track my items, actions, timings, check dates and progress) "Know it, love it, be it."
    5. Do. "Get into it, Get involved"
    6. Check. Mistakes happen.
    7.Act. If youve done the "Plan, Do, Check" and you have found you are still not complying/getting to where you want to be" ACT!
    9.Make sure you are at least communicatiing the plan 6 - 12 months a head of when its due.
    10. Make your plans visable. Find a spare wall space and use it to show progress, and make it look alive.
    11. Allow others to comment, make recomentations. Even the boss is peer reviewed.
  • erietta
    For those about to enter work world I would say: active listeners make good team players.

    For those who don't know where to start I would say: Pursue something that suits your personality -- get to know yourself. When I was a youngin my ears would shut as soon as I heard the word advice but I do wish I had found out that nugget much earlier. It enouraged me to think about myself instead of trying to project myself in a world I could not yet comprehend.
  • Kelly
    Hey Mark
    I am an adult in an adult world, but I got something from this list - stuff the kids!
  • chris, syd Aust
    Where is this digital department you speak of Katrina :p
  • I now realise I posted #13 twice, which actually now makes sense since my #13 (version 2) is saying the same thing as your #3.

    #15. Re-read and triple check what you've written before you post it.
  • All brilliant advice Pollard. Very important build Matt Moore.

    I’m still relatively new at this game but I’d also add these as a footnote:

    11. Know when to listen your gut. Not your imminent beer gut (although this will arguably help you with tip #4 on ‘networking’) but the one that helps you live your values (tip #10) (i.e. choose a workplace culture that you admire, and feels right for you – it’s just as important to your happiness there as the business itself). Your gut will also tell you when you’ve got a good idea – trust in your abilities and speak up.

    12. Modesty is a virtue. It can help you learn and break through the hierarchy if you relinquish your presumed Gen-Y-know-it-all attitude, and admit you’ve been in the industry for all of 5 minutes. In other words, do have a point of view, but show that you want and need to learn more – and more opportunities should flow.

    13. Fake confidence. I do this a lot when I’m nervous – which is almost all the time. You’d be amazed at how the believability and acceptability of what you’re saying is amplified 10 fold when it’s said with confidence - and unfortunately, how many idiots there are in the business world who’ve got ahead with a lot of confidence and not much else.

    13. Be known for something. Don’t just fade into the background as another grad or account exec. Be known for being the person that is really good at X. Who is always willing to do Y. And has a clear career goal of being Z. Everyone else is likely to be preoccupied by their own world and problems - so don’t underestimate the need to be vocal about it (minus the arrogance).

    14. It’s your career not anyone else’s. At the end of the day, you’re the only one who is going to get you to where you want. Unfortunately, there aren’t always many others who care enough. But moreover, opportunities are given to those who show initiative and real interest in the first place. So talk to and align yourself with the people who will help you get there (e.g. if you want to learn more about that thing called ‘digital’ – go talk to the digital department and help out however you can)…
  • I'd add:
    11. Don't go out without your mini trampoline!
    By following your passions, interacting on the social web and through general networking you will encounter lots of very cool people - very cool people who are also very very busy people!
    So remember that the 'quick email' you wrote asking for advice/ chance to meet for a coffee may seem like a small ask to you but for them its often going to be placed quite a long way down their 'to email' (let alone 'to do' list).
    This means that 4 out of the 5 people of those people who you contact will probably never get back to you but don't lose heart as 1 out of the 5 will!!
    Those knock backs will sting, but just be ready to really fly when that number 5 comes along!

    p.s. Oh and when you do finally make it into the big bad world don't forget how hard it was to break in and how much loyalty/respect you had to those people that helped you out, BE THAT PERSON!
    Thankyou @Will_Humphrey @jmacdonald @samflemming
  • I like this list Mark.

    A critical skill is listening to others and deciding what to act on and what to ignore. I suppose you might call this "discernment". Everyone is an expert (apparently) and you'll get more advice than you know what to do with. Much of this advice is inappropriate (but not necessarily wrong). Discernment can only be developed through trial and error and it goes along with self-knowledge. Much advice from others is wrong for you but it was right for them.

    A genuine mentor will be alert for opportunities for you beyond simply working for (or hanging out with) them. If they are not, then find another mentor.
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