Start the Job or Graduate School PSY 251 Instructor: Dr. Emily Bullock

Presentation Overview What about: College-to-work transition issues? Professional work-life adjustments? Organizational culture Personal life Managing finances First-year strategies? Quitting? A CIP perspective ?

A survey of 2,000 college graduates found that things would have been easier if they had realized how hard it was going to be in the new job. This finding sets the “gap” for action in chapter 15.

Other Survey Findings. . . Students: Had insufficient information before accepting the job Underestimated time on the job Overestimated feedback on performance Found that the last hired was first fired Had difficulty adjusting to organizational politics and culture Experienced harassment/discrimination (30% reported this and all but 2 were women)

Common Reasons for Termination Poor attendance Failure to follow instructions Lack of initiative All seem related to poor self-management and relationship skills Findings from a study by Gardner et al. (1998)

College Culture vs. Job Culture What are some differences? 1. Time 2. Schedules 3. Teamwork 4. Feedback 5. Holidays 6. Assignments 7. Work cycle 8. Directions 9. Attendance Differences in Boss vs. Professor? a. Class Assignments b. Work Assignments c. Discussion d. Evaluation The Learning Process? At School At Work The college and job cultures differ in many ways, including supervisory relationships, assignments, and learning processes.

Ten Areas of Adjustment: Can you give some practical illustrations? 10.Theory to Practice 8.Adjusting to new locations 7.Recognizing Inadequacies 4.Cooperative Attitude 6.Management Philosophy 5.Accepting Responsibility 3.Personal Expectations 2.Corporate Structure 1.Work Routines 9.Communication

Adjusting to the Organizational Culture Clock and calendar management Impression management Managing the boss Coworker relationships Performance evaluations

Adjusting to a New Personal Life Develop nonwork social relationships Finding leisure interests Healthy lifestyle Managing stress

Financial Adjustments Living arrangements Wardrobe Transportation Food Loans, credit, savings, taxes Financial planning Health insurance

Economic Realities Work-related injuries and health Labor for pay—a fundamental reality Worker as profit or cost item Personal vs. economic relationship with employer

From Career Planning to Career Management Finding mentors Seeking excellence in job performance Ethical behavior at work Challenging your personal status quo Finding work/family balance

Graduate School Compared to the Undergraduate Experience Similar environment and basic skill set utilized to be successful More demanding in all arenas (e.g., academically, time management, faculty expectations) You are a less anonymous student Expected to dress and act more professionally (even outside of class)

Graduate School Compared to the Full-time Working World You are often also paid as a Graduate Assistant making school take on a true work aspect Graduate school often demands that you act like you are at work whenever you are at school More likely to have multiple bosses and competing expectations in Grad School Continue to have low pay in Grad School

A CIP Perspective Self-Knowledge provides the criteria for evaluating job/graduate program satisfaction Expand option knowledge of the program, industry, the organization, and/or your job Use the CASVE Cycle to solve job-related problems and make strategic career decisions Use positive metacognitions to think of yourself as the active designer and actor in your life/career