If your college graduation is right around the corner, you might feel you're ready to take the real world by storm. Your plans might include getting a job, your own place and exerting a little independence. But even if you're mentally ready to begin your adult life, the transition from college to real world can be challenging. Some of your bad college habits might follow you into the workplace. However, if you can kick these habits now, you'll have a smoother adjustment period. Here are seven habits you need to kick before you graduate.
1 Partying Too Much
As a college student, you might have a lot of energy and are able to party hard and attend class the next day. After college, however, you might discover that it's difficult to maintain the same routine and perform at work. Rather than wait until after graduation to curb your party ways, start now. This doesn't mean you can't go out and have a good time with your friends, just make sure you're being responsible.
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2 Procrastination
Some college students have a habit of waiting until the last minute to study and complete assignments. This might work in college, but in the real world where there are deadlines and time constraints, procrastination is the kiss of death. Some of your work assignments or projects might be time-consuming and more challenging than expected. If you wait until the last minute, there might not be enough time to finish by a given deadline, which doesn't leave a good impression with your employer.
3 Staying out Late
If you're not a party animal, you might have a habit of staying up late and only sleeping a few hours every night. Whether you're watching TV, playing video games or surfing the Internet, you'll need as much energy and rest as possible to perform at your best. Going to bed at a reasonable time might feel “uncool.” But the truth is, you're not a kid anymore. Aim for at least 7 to 9 hours of sleep so you can give your employer your best.
4 Speaking Unprofessional
Now that you're getting closer to graduation, it’s time to clean up your speech. Whether you use profanity or slang, getting into a habit of speaking professional and using proper grammar is highly beneficial as you transition into the real world. What you say can leave a good or bad impression. If you don't speak clearly or if you can't write a grammatically correct sentence, employers might feel you're incompetent to handle certain tasks.
5 Sleeping in Late
In college, you might schedule all your classes for the late mornings or afternoons so you can sleep late. But in the real world, your days might begin as early as 8 AM or 9 AM. Even if you don't have an early class, get into a habit of waking up early. Use this time to catch up on your studies, chores or start an exercise routine.
6 Saying Too Much on Social Media
You have the freedom to say and post anything you want on your social media accounts. Just remember that some employers research job candidates before offering them a job. If an employer stumbles upon your social media account, what might they think about your character? Make sure you clean up your social media accounts, or change your privacy settings so your updates and photos are not visible to the public.
7 Not Keeping up with Current Events
As you transition from college into the real world, it's also important to know what's happening in the world. Talking to your friends about celebrity gossip or music is okay, but don't limit yourself. In the workplace, your coworkers might have discussions about politics, economics, current events, etc. Being able to contribute to these discussions shows that you're a well-rounded person.
You might feel you have the rest of your life to be an adult and mature. However, the way you carry yourself after receiving a degree can determine whether you're offered a job, and it can affect how well you perform at work. What are other habits to kick before you graduate?
