Going from university to your professional job is an intimidating transition. Many students, myself included, find it daunting. Moving from the comfortable academic environment, where learning is structured and supported, to a professional world that demands you meet your end of the deal — providing adequate work to your employer — is unnerving.

If you’re like me, you feel comfortable in the cozy cocoon of being a student. I would joke that I would be a student forever. I never wanted to feel like the new kid again, and I was intimidated by the idea of a professional job with professional co-workers and feeling like a little kid among “real” adults.

The transition from the relatively sheltered environment of a university to the structured and often hierarchical world of professional organizations is jarring. There is a learning curve that involves not only nailing job-specific challenges but also understanding workplace norms and expectations.

Getting a job is the first part of the struggle. Students and new graduates are having a hard time finding jobs and they are seen as the primary reason for the rise in unemployment rates in Canada.  I personally worked three jobs for six months before landing full-time employment and I consider myself lucky.

The stress of the job search and financial uncertainty is very real. Entering a competitive job market with lacklustre economic and employment opportunities can be disheartening and exhausting and is honestly a job all by itself.

Once you land a job, the troubles aren’t over. A common fear is that students’ academic training hasn’t fully prepared them for the real-world challenges in their careers. A survey by Hult International Business School found that only 24 per cent of recent graduates felt prepared for the workforce. This points to feelings of inadequacy and a fear of failing.

While there are many valid concerns about universities’ ability to prepare students to excel in their careers, it is possible that many students are suffering from imposter syndrome.

Imposter syndrome is a feeling of inadequacy and an unwarranted fear of being exposed as inadequate or incompetent. The reality is that your to-be co-workers started exactly as you are — a fresh graduate. They likely had the same, or at least similar, training and very little experience before they landed their first gig, and you have every right to learn on the job, just as they did. We are high achievers, and we want to do well, and that puts us ahead of many other candidates.

It is clear that recent graduates require more support. Beyond a degree, we need access to career counselling, mentorship programs and financial assistance that can help ease the transition. These supports would help bridge the gap between theory and practice but also alleviate the stress of financial uncertainty. Student services should have our back until we find a job. For now, if you’re a recent grad, I encourage you to check out the U of M’s job search and volunteer resources page, where you can get assistance in your job search, find opportunities to gain experience and find support to help you succeed in whichever job you land.

Transitioning from university to the workforce is scary, but it is also filled with exciting opportunities to grow. You don’t realize how much more you can learn in the workforce that can’t be taught in the classroom. Despite the challenges, whether it’s a tumultuous job search or grappling with self-doubt, this journey ultimately builds resilience and our skills in ways that textbooks never could. Embrace the discomfort and feel confident in yourself — you can do it.