By Bradley Rzendzian, PharmD, MBA
A sad, but true, fact of life is that learning the “hard way” is oftentimes the only way. People don’t tell you important details and it makes life a whole lot harder than it needs to be. As graduation 2019 is upon us, I am hoping to correct that by sharing a few things I wish people would have told me before I graduated.
Job hunting is really time consuming
As many of you soon-to-be/recent graduates know, finding a job takes a lot of effort. Resumes, cover letters, internet searches, phone screens, and interview prep take a lot of time. Coming from someone who was turned down 48 times by one company, I know what it is like to be rejected and feel discouraged. Keep your head up and continue to grind. Remember, work is a lot like school; one of the hardest parts is getting in.
‘Adulting’ comes with paperwork
Housing leases, taxes, 401(k), health and dental insurance, job applications, contracts, and year-end performance evaluations are just a handful of documents you will have to complete on a nearly constant basis. Although overwhelming, these are not a reason to immediately run to Mom and Dad (cough, cough) like I did. Most employers have people and resources you can call and access to learn more about these services and paperwork. You can also reach out to friends, mentors, and family to verify that the paperwork you completed is done the right way.
Stay thrifty, my friends
You will soon get a paycheck. For those of you, like me, who didn’t work during school, a paycheck is money given to you every 2 weeks for working (you will love them!). You have just spent the last 6 to 8 years being poor and living frugally. Now is not the time to start living like Drake or whatever celebrity is cool nowadays. Save money, pay off your loan, and don’t think you are rich because you make money now. Check out Your Financial Pharmacist and you can thank me later.
Upgrade your wardrobe
I know I just told you not to spend money, but one place where you should spend money is on your professional wardrobe. You have a real job now, so dress like it. If you need to learn how to dress, ask fashionable people for help. I typically walk around malls and department stores in my sweatpants, find people who dress nicely, and ask them to help me look like them. It works!
E-mail is WAY more important as an adult
Work e-mail is very different from personal e-mail. Be sure to send messages in a timely, clear, and direct manner. Also, be mindful of what you include in an e-mail. Oftentimes, certain details are better said in person, not written in an e-mail.
If you don’t use it, you lose it
Never stop learning. Ever. If you don’t stay on top of your pharmacy knowledge, you will forget it and you will be sad. Strive to be a lifelong learner, both professionally and personally.
Staying close with friends is hard
Think about how difficult it was to see your friends during rotations in your final year of school. It gets even harder when you add in more distance, real jobs, and new responsibilities. Find a way to maintain these friendships anyway you can. Personally, I set up calendar reminders to text, call, or FaceTime my friends every 2 to 4 weeks.
Finding new friends is even harder
Once you leave school, the pool of people you can meet shrinks dramatically. If you move to a new a place, it can be very difficult to meet people. Get involved in a local pharmacist organization, make nice with people at work, and use technology. MeetUp is an app I use to meet new, like-minded people, try new experiences, and get to know the places I move to.
Be humble, especially at work
Like it or not, you are a Millennial, and as such, carry the stereotype that you are entitled. When you start your job, understand that you still have a lot to learn. Embrace learning, work hard, and be grateful, every day.
Your bedtime will change
Working can be draining, you will get older, and thus will get tired. Take care of your mind and body by getting the proper amount of rest you need.
Take risks
The older you get, the more responsibilities you will have—house, spouse, kids, family, etc. You have a PharmD, which is an awesome safety net. If you strive to do more, such as a residency, fellowship, entrepreneurship, etc., do so now when you have limited responsibilities.
Give back
Find ways to give back to your community. One suggestion on how you can do that is to give people advice and make their lives easier. Don’t make others “learn the hard way.” If a young person asks you about pharmacy school, tell them about all the things you wish you would have known before you applied, started, or even graduated.
Final thoughts
In conclusion, don’t be afraid to ask for advice yourself. In the truest spirit of giving back, feel free to reach out to me via LinkedIn or e-mail with all your questions about “adulting” or fashion-related problems. I will do whatever I can to steer you in the right direction.
Good luck out there. You will be great!