It’s wild to think that it has been almost two years since I graduated from UBC. Amidst a global pandemic, it has not been a traditional post-graduate experience. From all the Zoom meetings to the infamous “Can you see my screen now?”

My time after graduation has been something that I will never forget.  Although my graduation cohort entered the “real world” faced with many challenges, I was able to start working right away in a field that was outside of my studies (more on what helped me to achieve that in another blog). There are many ups and downs in life, and I wanted to share three lessons that have helped me navigate the post-university journey.  

Lesson 1: There is no roadmap

Contrary to popular belief even after university not everyone has it figured out. Surely, at some point in your undergrad, you got asked the golden question. 

“What do you want to do after grad?” 

As a Political Science major turned Kinesiology major, who is now working in the marketing space, I may be a great example that I surely didn’t know what my next move was post-grad… and that is ok. I’d like to preface by saying that it is important to recognize that everyone operates at their own pace and everyone’s goals and aspirations are different. Unfortunately, it can be easy to get caught up in seeing people share how they’ve got a job at a FAANG company (Facebook, Amazon, Apple, Netflix, Google) or are getting their dream job, however,  it doesn’t mean that you have to be at that same stage in life. 

I knew that upon graduation I wasn’t going to work in a Kinesiology-related role right away, and instead pivoted towards gaining experience for a marketing role. Fast-forward two years later and I am still trying to understand what I truly want to do, and that may even change another two years down the line. Although it may seem like you need to know everything upon getting your degree, the reality is that things change and people change, and it isn’t a race, but instead a journey for you to enjoy. ‍

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Lesson 2: Take risks
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Life after university is a period of exploration. You may be exposed to a new environment, a new role, or just have the time now to try different things. Student life can get busy and tiring which doesn’t give much opportunity for someone to take risks. Even post-grad you might think that your area of study is where you should work, coupled with imposter syndrome these thoughts can steer you away from what you truly want to do. 

I took a risk in actually trying to find work in the marketing industry, a reality that I wasn’t sure would transpire. Every risk you take isn’t always going to be a success story, but the action itself is what allows you to build the confidence to navigate future risks. ‍

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Lesson  3: Connect with others‍

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Throughout your undergrad, you might’ve heard the saying “Your net worth is your network”. If you are like me I just dismissed it as another cheesy business student phrase that got taught at a networking event. Fast-forward to post-grad life, and while I think the saying can be interpreted in various ways, there is some merit behind it. 

Making connections in a post-university environment is a lot different than when you’re a student, especially during a pandemic. Before I dive into the after university aspect, I do want to say that if you’re a current student be sure to maximize the ease of access when it comes to making connections. It can be as simple as joining a club or going to an event.

There are tons of events on campus that allow you to have an opportunity to meet someone that could open doors for you whether it be now or in a few years, however, the important part is to always keep an open mind when meeting new people. Not everyone is going to be a  “good fit” and sometimes that can be discouraging. Lastly, the connections you make shouldn’t have a transaction-based foundation but instead, come from a place of genuine connection and desire to learn more about the individual. Networking can be scary especially if tackled alone, so grab your friend and take a look at what events your school has to offer. You never know who you’re going to meet.

If you’re looking at where to start or how to expand your network further, LinkedIn is one of the best platforms to do that. Younger Aaron thought that LinkedIn was only made for business students and that as a Kinesiology major I had no reason to use it… boy was I wrong. If you currently don’t have a LinkedIn account I highly recommend you get it set up and update it with a nice selfie and your latest accolades. I noticed the impact of LinkedIn when I was job searching after graduation and was able to land my first FT job thanks to a connection I had made on the platform and commenting on his post. You never know what doors can open for you if you’re looking in the right places. 

Outside of LinkedIn, another recommendation for networking would be a platform called Lunchclub. The idea behind the app is that you set up your profile for interests and the people you wish to meet, set up a weekly time that you’re free and then the algorithm does the rest. I’ve met people from all over the world and taken out the admin work of trying to set up a time with someone. If you want to try it out you can sign up here.

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Hopefully, these three lessons provided some value to those who are either nearing graduation or are currently living it. It is a rather confusing time in life, and not being sure what to do next is normal, and others relate with you as well. 

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Thanks for taking the time to read this short blog, and if you have any questions about anything I mentioned feel free to email me at me@aaronrodc.com or shoot me a message on LinkedIn.