Transitioning from College to Career: Advice from Marquette Alumnus Kevin Duhig
According to Michael Kramer and Ryan Bisel, anticipatory socialization can be described as a process facilitated by social interactions, in which non-group-members of a corporation learn to take on the values and standards of the company they aspire to join, Kramer & Bissel, 2016). This process can be a stressful one, as potential job candidates struggle at first to acclimate to new workplace norms. Making the transition from college to career can be difficult. No matter what field you enter, the requirements of a full-time job require facing new responsibilities and challenges that may prove to be difficult at the start of a new career. Michigan State University offers some pointers on how to make this transition with ease. Some tips listed are, spend your time wisely, remember learning doesn’t end after college, learn your company culture, find a professional mentor, and form good spending habits.
In order to understand what the transition from college life to work life looks like, I spoke with Marquette Alumnus Kevin Duhig. Kevin graduated from the College of Business in 2002, holding a major in Information Technology and Human Resources. His current title is Director of Sales & Account Management at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois. To get a better sense of Kevin’s background, I asked him if he had ever second-guessed his career path. Kevin responded, “I thought the college of business would be my best bet to jump-start a career right out of college. I also knew that Accounting & Finance didn’t interest me. I landed on Information Technology as a major because back in 2002 because I thought it was a hot field that would give me a good chance at employment post-graduation. Human Resources interested me too — so I figured why not explore that as well. So my decision to major was both practical…and on a level — very indecisive. I didn’t know exactly what I wanted or what I loved doing — I just knew I wanted to work and I figured ‘What gives me the best shot at employment?’ I admire people who know exactly what they want to go into during or after college — that just wasn’t me”. I found Kevin’s response to this question very honest, carrying a sense of nobility. Although he was unsure about what major to choose, he made a practical decision that would be beneficial in the long-run. Many seem to struggle, worrying about what might happen if they choose the wrong major. Instead of exhibiting fear, it can be beneficial to consider alternatives and make a decision. I found that there was much to be learned through Kevin’s rationale.
In addition, I asked Kevin about how he transitioned from college to career, and he offered the following tips. “Routine. Get into a healthy routine — mentally and physically. The job market was tough in 2002 and I didn’t get a ‘dream job’ right after graduation. But I did get into a routine. I’d wake up — exercise — go to work — get home — eat dinner — and apply for jobs. At the time I used Monster to apply for positions — but I’d also mail my resume out (in an envelope) to employers who I really wanted to see my resume. I think that getting into healthy, productive patterns — helps alleviate the anxiety and uncertainty that post-graduation can cause.”
As I am beginning to reach the second half of my college career, I only found it fitting to ask Kevin if he had any advice to give to a rising junior on how to be marketable for a good job in your field. Kevin stressed the importance of getting an internship. Kevin described how he had two internships, one at Johnson Controls as an eCommerce Specialist, the other at Harley Davidson as a Workstation Support specialist. Kevin reflected on these experiences, “When I finally started applying for jobs, I knew that the ‘real world’ experience of an internship adds a layer of credibility that goes well beyond a 4.0 GPA”. Kevin described some of his time at Harley Davidson, as he recalls installing Y2K software on company desktops and repairing email and monitors when not working properly. These experiences allowed Kevin to go that extra mile and learn some practical skills that made him employable and distinguishable. Kevin had the following to say about internships. “I think getting an internship adds so much credibility to a job applicant. An internship shows that you were able to work and succeed in a non-classroom environment. If I was hiring someone right out of college — I’d separate resume’s by internships and non-internships — and 9 out of 10x I’d want to interview a candidate that had an internship”.
In addition to the importance of internships, I also found it important to discuss some of the skills needed to be a top performer in the workplace. I asked Kevin to name the top 5 skills he thought were needed to succeed in the workplace. The skills he listed were, people skills, communication skills, courage, patience, and other writing and technology skills. In addition, he emphasized the importance of simple skills as he described that “Using proper grammar can be lost art, so use spell check, be articulate, concise, and clear in your writing.”
During his time at Marquette, Kevin was exposed to many experiences that helped him earn the knowledge and skill sets to find a career. In addition, he also formed a community of friends, unique and exclusive within the Marquette community. Kevin described the following of his time at Marquette. “The community of Marquette itself — that shared purpose you have with your fellow classmates — this is your ‘last stop’ before the real world — I find that I miss that vibe.”
In closing, I wanted to ask Kevin what made him choose the employers that he has worked for. Kevin said, “I’ve been at BCBS for 16 years — I started in 2003. It’s been the only company I’ve ever really worked for. As I stated above — I just wanted to be employed after college so I didn’t put much research into ‘why I wanted to work for Blue Cross.’ I knew Blue Cross was a reputable company and I hoped they’d hire me! Thankfully — it all worked out. I’ve been unimaginably lucky in my career and Blue Cross continues to give me opportunities to grow professionally — so hopefully I’m here for another 16 years”.
