The Way Up

CHAPTER 8Overcome the Entry-Level Blues: What to Do When You Feel Like You're Running in Place

I'm sick of us having to be perfect to get the job.

—John Thompson, late Hall of Fame basketball coach of the Georgetown Hoyas and the first African American to lead his team to the NCAA championship

You just landed your first official corporate job. Congratulations! Now what? I was confused after I landed my first position. When beginning your career, it is important to think about your endpoint first and be intentional about your professional development and progression. Of course, it is also crucial to allow yourself some flexibility in deciding where you want to be in 5 or 10 years. But once you decide, create a vision for your career and take action!

I bring this up because I have had junior members on my team who did not quite have a vision for their career. This often led them to making many professional decisions that lacked alignment and cohesion. One of those team members was Monica. She was a local student of color, born and raised in New York City. When she joined my product development team, it was her first job out of college. I always made myself available to such new hires, especially the ones right out of school. In the few times we spoke, I learned that she was really focused on becoming a manager. After 10 months in her new position, she scheduled a one-on-one meeting with me. On the day of the meeting, she walked into my office, sat down, and asked me how to ...