Starting Work as a Young Professional
Landing that first “adult” job after college brings so many competing emotions. While it’s incredibly exciting to graduate and get that first paycheck, it is exhausting entering into a world that can feel lonely and overwhelming, especially if you don’t feel prepared.
You might even feel angry. Why didn’t school prepare me for this? A completely valid question.
Starting out as a young professional can be thrilling, but it also brings a unique set of challenges as we adjust to this new aspect of life.
Today, we’ll discuss:
- Why is the adjustment to my first “adult” job so difficult?
- How this transition reflects the realities of “adulting”
- Is it normal to struggle with your first adult job?
- How to handle your entry into young professional life?
Why Your First Job After College Feels Overwhelming
While that first entry into the professional world can be incredibly exciting, it can also present us with challenges we might not have seen coming. Finally getting paid to work after endless studying throughout college is great, but it also comes with the added pressures of performing. You may feel like you don’t belong or that the responsibilities that come with your new paycheck are a bit too much.
This process, known as the school-to-work transition, is notoriously hard for new grads. It brings on anxiety, imposter syndrome, and uncertainty on multiple levels.
There are many different factors that can influence how tough this transition can be, including:
- Education/type of degree: Did your degree or college adequately prepare you for the demands of your first job?
- Time spent in school: Were you in school for 6-7 years? If so, moving into professional life may be a bigger adjustment.
- Social context: Do you have the proper support networks to help you through this?
- Labor market context: What does the job market look like as you leave school? If finding that first job is quite tough, your transition into work may be hard as well
These findings make sense. If you easily find a job out of college and have a strong social network to support you, it is understandable that going from school to work may be more manageable for you.
Another reason this adjustment is tough is the gap between what employers value and what schools emphasize. Many employers report they look for graduates with strong communication skills, ethics, the ability to learn quickly, and be part of a team. This is different from what most students report their schools taught them, which creates confusion and frustration for new graduates and their employers.
Adjusting to the realities of “adulting”
At the end of the day, exiting school and entering the workforce represents a significant transition into “adulting.” The idea of “adulting” relates to the ordinary tasks that we often associate with adulthood: paying bills, doing chores, keeping appointments, and (of course) working in a full-time job.
One aspect of this change that people report most challenging is adjusting to a new schedule. In school, our schedules often allow for more flexibility outside of class time. However, when we join the workforce we have to adjust. We often have to be in the office or be logged on for at least 8 hours each day, leaving us with little time to complete all the other activities in our lives. Some people appreciate this new structure, while others may find it much harder to adjust.
Is It Normal to Struggle with Your First Job After College?
You may have just experienced this transition into adulthood and are left wondering whether you’re the only one struggling with this. It may be comforting to know that you are certainly not alone in this struggle; most people struggle with this transition in some capacity.
This entry into adulthood and young professional life is a tough one for many. This makes sense though! You were in school for four years or more and already spent time adjusting to new schedules, studying for exams, making new friends, and growing up.
Additionally, that first job out of school might require you to move to a new city, make new friends, move into that first apartment, and adjust to a new culture. All of these changes are hard, take time, and are part of growing into this next phase of life.
How to Make the Transition into Professional Life Smoother
No matter how you feel about stepping into your first adult job, there are concrete steps you can take to make this transition smoother.
To make sure you handle this change well, one of the first things you can do is remind yourself how challenging the transition is and that it will take time to adjust. If you go into that first job expecting everything to be picture perfect, you may be in for a rude awakening.
This transition is too hard for many of us to handle so easily. Even if your first job doesn’t require you to move to an unfamiliar city and leave your friends, you are adjusting to a new schedule, new demands, and a new setting.
Nonetheless, there are actionable steps you can take to try to handle this transition smoothly:
- Keep a calendar: Track your appointments, events, chores, and social plans to make sure nothing creeps up on you.
- Stay in touch with friends: They can help you get through this adjustment.
- Be courageous: Tell loved ones you need help. They’ll happily support you.
- Build a routine: Schedule time for meals, errands, and workouts to maintain stability
- Have fun: Be intentional about scheduling fun and downtime into your life!
As you are working through this, make sure to take time for yourself. This is a difficult aspect of life and you don’t need to make it worse by being hard on yourself. You deserve the same kindness that you would give to your friends who are going through this (and likely are).
From Campus to Career: A Group for Young Professional Men in NYC
Finding camaraderie with other people going through the same thing as you can also help. We offer a therapy group, From Campus to Career, to help with exactly this transition. The group brings together men in New York City who are adjusting to the “real world” of work, relationships, and responsibility. Together, we’ll talk honestly about the challenges of early career life, share strategies, and support one another in building confidence and direction.
Learn more about the group and sign up here.
Let’s Explore this Transition Together
If transitioning to your first job feels overwhelming, you don’t have to deal with it by yourself.
At Lightline Therapy, we specialize in helping high achieving adults going through life transitions, career uncertainties and the complex emotions that accompany them. Together, we can unpack your feelings, understand what’s beneath the surface and create a plan to help you tackle this transition.
Book a free consultation with me, and let’s work together to make this change feel less overwhelming and more empowering.
FAQs
1. Is it normal to hate your first job after college?
Probably more normal than not. Many graduates find the transition to full-time work overwhelming at first. It takes time to adjust to the responsibilities, structure, and pace of professional life. Over time, most people discover that even if the first job isn’t perfect, it’s still a valuable stepping stone that offers innumerable life and career lessons.
2. How long does it take to adjust to your first job?
Adjustment doesn’t mean perfection. It means building confidence and routine over time. Everyone’s pace is different, and some roles or workplaces may take longer to feel natural. The key is to recognize progress, not just focus on the end goal. And if it’s been years and you still feel like you haven’t adjusted, that’s a good sign that the job probably isn’t for you.
3. What if my first job after college isn’t the right fit?
That’s common too. Your first job doesn’t define your career. It’s better to view it as a stepping stone that helps you gain skills, experience, and clarity. Many professionals change paths multiple times before finding the right fit. No matter how bad of a fit your first job is, it can still be a good place to gather tools you’ll carry with you into the next role.
4. When should I seek support if I feel overwhelmed?
If the stress feels unmanageable or affects your mental health, talking with a therapist can help you process the change and find strategies that work. It’s important not to wait until you feel completely burned out to ask for support. Early intervention often makes the transition smoother. You don’t have to go through this process alone, and getting help sooner can save you from unnecessary strain.
