Now What, Grad? Your Path to Success After College
By Chris Palmer
Now What, Grad? Your Path to Success After College is designed to help you succeed in your
career and find fulfillment in your life after you graduate from college. Here are a few tips to
help you find that success and fulfillment. The book expands on these points—and a lot more—
and shares scores of insights to keep you focused on what really matters as you chart your path.
Setting a course
The key to having a happy and successful life is determining who you want to be, what you want
to do, and how to achieve your goals. As you begin this important and exciting process, I urge
you to develop a personal mission statement that prioritizes your life roles, values and goals, and
that reflects what you care deeply about.
Launching your career
The right career for you will be one that matches your interests, goals, and skills. Compile a list
of your skills and areas of knowledge. In addition to technical skills, be sure to include broader
capabilities and assets such as leadership skills, social skills, and volunteer experiences.
Remember that an employment interview is about more than you needing a job. It is an
opportunity to show why an organization needs you. Highlight your experience and skills and
relate them to the organization’s mission. Avoid rookie job applicant mistakes that make you
appear unprofessional, such as submitting resumes or cover letters with grammatical and
typographic errors, dressing inappropriately for an interview, or arriving late for it.
Managing your time, energy, and talents
Learning doesn’t stop after you leave college. You’ll open yourself up to a wider range of
professional opportunities by expanding your skill set through classes, reading and other
educational experiences. At the same time, to be at your best it’s important to learn and practice
effective stress management techniques. Keep yourself healthy by scheduling time for social
activity, physical exercise, mental relaxation, and reflecting on the purpose and meaning of your
life. And constantly develop your leadership skills. Take action and initiative; remain goalfocused; be reliable; plan ahead; be a good listener; and be on the alert for opportunities to grow
personally and professionally.
Communicating for results
Be courteous and civil to your workplace colleagues by practicing punctuality, treating others
fairly and respectfully, attending to work tasks promptly, and praising with specificity highquality work from your peers. If you are planning a meeting, organize and plan for maximum
effectiveness. Identify your meeting goals, carefully select your meeting participants, encourage
participation, note precisely what commitments people make (and their deadlines), and make
sure the next action steps are clearly described.
Now What Learning Points