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Now that you've got your degree, there's no shortage of  

career advice

  coming your way. Your parents have something to say. Your friends give their opinions. Even strangers feel the need to add their two cents.

Paul Tanklefsky, director of career services and cooperative education at Suffolk University in Boston, and a 25-year veteran of the career field, has a word of wisdom as well, but his may hit a little closer to the heart. His career advice for new college grads? Follow your passion.

Go countercultural
This career advice may sound simple, or even trite, but pursuing your passion can be quite the countercultural move. While the rest of your peers are out there pounding the pavement, sweating to secure that 9-to-5 job that'll earn them financial security, you're looking for something bigger. After all, Tanklefsky reminds us, most working careers span more than 40 years, so you have plenty of time to get a "secure" job later on.

Do it now
It's always a good idea to follow your passion, but as a new college grad, there's truly no time like the present. After all, you probably don't have a spouse or children to support yet, and you likely aren't burdened by a mortgage, either. This is the best time to really see if your dream has "legs," so to speak. This way, you never have to look back at your life and say, "What if?"

Don't buy into the lie
Don't be tempted by the lure of money. Sure, a high salary can be a great ego boost for a college grad, but if you're not doing something you're passionate about, all that money is not going to provide satisfaction. True satisfaction will come from work that you can really sink your teeth into, work that energizes you, work that's a natural outpouring of who you are. After that, big money is nothing but a bonus.

Start at the bottom
Perhaps you'll find your passion in a full-time job, but maybe it's hiding in part-time work, a freelance gig, or even an unpaid or low-paying internship. Don't be afraid to go for the bottom rung now -- it's a much more comfortable place to find yourself in your early 20s than your late 40s.

Be confident
To do all this, says Tanklefsky, you'll need confidence to stand up to the naysayers who want to push you into something more practical. Believe in yourself and in your dream, and remember that this is your time to test the waters. Besides, if you're truly passionate about something, you'll probably be good at it, and you'll quickly make your mark in a way that's meaningful to you. What could be better than that?

One last piece of career advice: don't be afraid to stand apart from the pack, college grads. When you follow your passion, you just may find that all your dreams come true.



Robyn Tellefsen is a frequent contributor to The CollegeBound Network. Learn more about finding a school that's right for you.

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