Some issues you may want to be aware of in your transition from student to professional employee are outlined below, along with suggestions to help make this change a smooth one. Peter Myers, author of Your Senior Year and Beyond, speculates that major changes such as moving or getting a professional job affect five major aspects of your life: social, personal, professional, physical, and spiritual. Knowing what you can expect may make these changes easier.

SOCIAL The social aspect of your life is primarily how you spend your free time away from work. It is comprised of your activities, hobbies, clubs, organizations, etc. If you are moving to a new town, the key to success in your new social life is to get out there and try new things! You may have been too busy in college to have been involved in many recreational activities or hobbies. Some good ways to get involved and meet new people are to join professional organizations, clubs, sports leagues, or gyms. Try taking up new hobbies, causes, classes, volunteer activities, or church groups. Be assertive! Ask some of those new coworkers and acquaintances out to lunch or to some interesting activity.

You may be a little down or experience a lowering of self-confidence after moving or starting a new job. This is normal. Your personal and professional skills are being tested all at once, possibly without the presence of your usual support system. So expect to grieve a little for the loss of your old comfortable life. You may experience denial ("I'm not afraid to go to a new city, job, home..."), anger ("Why do I have to put up with these coworkers?"), bargaining ("Maybe I should go back to school."), depression (mood swings, change in appetite, behavior change), and finally acceptance (becoming acculturated, joining your new community). It is important to talk about your feelings with a trusted companion (your phone bills may be a little high at first). Visit family and friends to gather strength from your old support system (do try to make friends and build a new support system). On the job, ask your boss for evaluations and feedback on your progress. This will let you know how you're doing and may highlight your successes. Try thinking about how you handled similar difficult situations in the past, and re-use those strategies.

PERSONAL The personal aspect of life is similar to the social aspect, but also includes family relationships, self-discovery and growth, and financial planning. You will be taking on a new role in life, and you may question previous beliefs. As a student, you may have taken a passive role in choosing your beliefs, accepting the wisdom of teachers and parents. Change sometimes has the effect of turning one's value system on its head. Use this time to discover your own personal beliefs; you may discover strong feelings toward certain causes. Getting involved with people with similar beliefs will help you grow and meet new people. Parents and siblings may find it difficult to accept the new independent you. Try to be a good listener and be assertive. Good communication skills will help family and friends to understand and accept the changes you are going through.

If you are moving to a new town, the Chamber of Commerce is a good source of information on your new home. They will have information on the city and sometimes help on how to find a new doctor (i.e. Ask a Nurse Programs). Probably the best way to find a new doctor or dentist is by word of mouth. To find a new residence, look in the yellow pages for rental agencies (some realty agencies also carry rentals), and check the newspaper for rentals. You may want to ask the realty agents what parts of town are low-crime areas. Some apartment houses have signs that tell if there is a unit available to rent. If you know what neighborhoods you'd like to live in, you might drive through and look for signs. Expect to pay a deposit for a rental (all or partially refundable when you move out). Some landlords will wait a couple of months until you can pay the deposit if you let them know you have a professional job. Sometimes utilities require a deposit or a co-signer. The post office carries free change of address cards that you can send to friends, businesses, credit card companies, magazines, and relatives. Please note, if you change your address at one office at Boise State, this does not automatically change your address at other Boise State offices.

With your new income, you will need to do some financial planning. Many cities offer community classes on budgeting. You will want to plan for rent, monthly bills, student loan repayment, and money for extras such as doctor appointments, car maintenance and registration, insurance, etc. And don't forget to budget for recreation and fun money. If you haven't already, you may want to set up a savings account. A general rule of thumb is to have approximately three months salary in savings for financial emergencies or in case you become unemployed. You may have added plans for savings such as an Individual Retirement Account (IRA) or financial investments. Your employer or bank may offer investment plans.

PROFESSIONAL This aspect of your life encompasses your career plans and how this job fits into them. Can you advance within this company, and do you want to? Is further education in your plans, and will this employer support or finance advanced training? Your involvement in professional organizations falls into this category as well.

Your work skills will be tested in your new job. Most people quit or are fired from their first professional position because of poor adjustment skills, not poor job skills. Be aware that you need to adjust from school habits to employer expectations, which can be very different. For example:

Now is the time to use all the skills you have learned in college such as critical thinking, problem-solving, oral and written communication, time management, stress management, and organizational skills. Don't expect too much from your first job. Most employers say new workers tend to expect a large salary and high level of prestige in their first professional job. Remember, you will have to work your way up and "prove yourself" to your employer.

Each company has an "organizational culture" which consists of standards/rules of conduct (dress, hours worked per week, etc.); climate - personalities of coworkers, mood of office, etc.; authority structure - supervisory structure plus the invisible structure (those who know the system and how to maneuver it may have more power than is implied by the organizational chart); values/philosophy - what's important to the company (relaxed vs. structured work environment, what the company sees as appropriate behavior, etc.).

You can learn about the organizational culture in the interview process, through coworkers, or you can choose a mentor in the organization who can "show you the ropes" and help you to fit in. You can get an idea of the goals, policies, and procedures of a company from the personnel manual. If you know what you value in your work environment, you can search for an organization with complimentary values during the interview process.

PHYSICAL You probably know how stress can affect your health. Remember when everyone was sick around finals? Well, the stress of a new job can be just as damaging to your health. Eating a nutritional, balanced diet will keep you healthy and give you energy for your new job. Exercise can help to alleviate stress as well as keep you fit. You might consider joining a gym, taking exercise or sports classes, or exercising with coworkers. These are all great ways to meet new people. And don't forget your rest and relaxation time. Whether you relax by sitting in the peaceful outdoors, or by talking with a support group, the rest you get will help to keep you healthy and happy.

SPIRITUAL If you belong to a church or spiritual organization, you may find support from that group. Getting involved is a great way to meet new friends with similar beliefs, and your spirituality can help you through the lonely times in a new home and in a new job.

These are just some issues to be aware of during your transition from student to professional. We hope that our suggestions will help to launch you into a challenging new career and a new adventure.

Boise State Career Center 1173 University Drive (208) 426-1747 E-mail: career@boisestate.edu Web site: career.boisestate.edu Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. M-F