Find a Job you Love

I started this blog in hopes of writing about my transition from college girl to career woman. Well, I'm five months into my full-time role and obviously haven't spent much of my free time on a personal blog. With some encouragement from my friend Anna-Lisa, who was so nice to give a shout-out to girls like me in a recent blog post, I felt the need to get back in the blogging saddle again!

So now I'm promising to blog weekly with insight and lessons I'm learning along the way, starting with a timely post for my soon-to-be graduate friends! Last spring, I blogged about the power of passion. I've since read posts from bloggers who are frustrated by the overused "passion" cliche.

I know passion isn't the sole ingredient to career success, which is why developing real skills is so critical for making progress in a career. Some of those skills include the ability to prioritize, provide solutions, balancing multiple projects, managing time and meeting deadlines, just to name a few.

However, after spending only 20 weeks in the workforce I can tell you my experience has relied on both my skills and passion alike. You see, it's Sunday afternoon and between watching the Chiefs play (hopefully they show up to the game sometime soon) and writing my personal blog, I've got a few things to work on for my job! My motivation to work on projects after the office is closed and on weekends is a direct product of the passion I have for the job I love. So as you're searching for your perfect post-graduation position, don't forget to pursue the jobs that will make you happy and leave you fulfilled when the day is done.

Needing an Attitude Adjustment?

This transition from college to career is seeming to hit me a bit harder than the move from high school to college. I mean, my friends and I had a photo shoot on the Francis Quadrangle to commemorate our "last first day of school" as you can see below. So yes, we're being a bit sentimental and possibly a tad dramatic, to say the least.

Now don't get me wrong, the papers, projects, articles and busy work will not be missed. It is the opportunity to be surrounded by friends, and make priceless memories that are really getting to me. For that reason, I know this is a typical challenge for soon-to-be and even recent college grads and that it's nothing new with my generation!

Luckily, someone had the wisdom to remind me not to forget about the future ahead of me and I wanted to share that for others going through this, too.

Just because one amazing chapter is closing, doesn't mean the next page doesn't have as many equally or possibly more wonderful experiences waiting for us to enjoy. Change isn't always bad, which is something this stubborn girl forgets too often.

So here's to celebrating the "firsts!" Just today, I stopped in at my future office to pull together some cool agriculture facts for a project with a local radio station. As I started to save the document, I made my FIRST folder on the computer!

Sure, it's a corny thing to get excited over, but knowing how much I'm going to love this job just makes me get a little giddy. Okay, let's be real. I can't think about it without grinning from ear to ear! So for the job searchers out there, I want to remind you to seek opportunities you'll enjoy. Even if it's not the most glamorous or high paying role, my dad once told me, "It's easier to go home hungry at night when you love what you're doing all day."

Obviously food is essential (and let's not forget to thank a farmer for providing us with our daily needs). However, my dad's advice should be a reminder that living extravagantly with a job you hate sounds pretty darn miserable.

It's all about attitude, so start focusing on the positive because no one likes a pity party! That's a lesson that can help anyone, no matter their stage in the professional world!

Editor's note: Now, if my friend's advice was just a plea to get me to shut up with my whining about my last this-and-that, I'll never know. However, it's proof we've got to keep our ears open, because you never know when someone is about to tell you something you've been needing to hear :-)

The Power of Passion

Am I the only one annoyed by Facebook status updates from friends who obviously hate their jobs? You know the type:

"Tom hates his job."
"Cindy wants to quit."
"Bob can't wait for vacation."

Sure, we can all be accused of complaining about things when our day has been frustrating. However, this constant negativity makes me question those friends who've obviously not followed their passion in life.

One of my favorite quotes is from Confucius. He said:
"Find a job you love and you'll never work a day in your life."

Loving a job or career has everything to do with passion. For me, that passion is agriculture. It's the chance to educate others about farms and food. It's the chance to introduce farmers to consumers, and vice versa. It's the opportunity to write about the farmers who don't take vacation days or sick leave, so we'll have food on our tables tonight. That's my passion. It's my purpose, something greater than me, what keeps me going when the work gets tough, and the reason you won't see me complaining about work via social networks!

Have you found your passion?

Show Some Leadership

One of my earliest memories revolves around learning to order my own food at a restaurant. Hearing my Dad say, "Show some leadership," at the age of three should have been a good indicator that I was not destined to be a shy person! On the surface, that experience may seem trivial. However, I was taught how to speak up at an early age. Even the simplest action of ordering my own chicken strips obviously left a very lasting impression on me as the first step in my road to becoming an outgoing girl.

Overtime, Dad's advice evolved beyond food orders to more important situations. Those three simple words have become a staple phrase in my family and always surface in situations that require me to take chances and be bold. As I approach graduation and begin planning for the future, I've used this encouragement to keep on trucking. I know I'm not the only one out there who needs a little extra motivation to take that leap and jump into all the uncertainties that life after college has to offer!

So, as a student, how can we "show some leadership" when all we hear about is a tight job market? It's simple. If you don't apply for a job, you aren't going to get the job. Unlike star college athletes getting recruited for a professional team, it's less likely that an employer will be the one to make the initial contact to discuss career needs with the average student. So as the sole person in charge of your future, here's a little nudge from a girl who stepped out on a limb and got the job.

In my experience, I had to get up the courage and ask for a position that didn't technically even exist until I showed interest. I don't know if I call that luck or preparation, but either way it's proof that sometimes being bold and showing some leadership can get a person further than imagined! So my challenge for the week is to encourage other students to "Show some leadership" and make an effort on their path to career success!