After I graduated from UBC with a BA in English Lit and History, I looked at my near-empty bank account and took the first job that I was offered. It was an administrative assistant position for an appliance company. I had spent the better part of my undergraduate education analyzing language and what it revealed about the writer’s personal and historical contexts, and now I spent my days inputting data, crunching numbers, and deciphering customs-related paperwork. It was, to put it mildly, a rude awakening.
What I wish someone had told me as a new graduate was not to discount what I had accomplished in earning my degree. I had fully absorbed the myth that a BA was “useless” in the “real world” and that employers weren’t keen to hire “liberal arts graduates.” To decline a job offer then, when I was a brand new, unemployed Arts alum, felt like it would be (and I’ll try not to overstate this) an insane decision, even if the description for said job made my heart sink a little…
Thankfully, I still learned a lot in this position. It showed me that no experiences, even the ones that seem like a disheartening detour, are ever wasted. (Case in point: I discovered that it is empirically possible for an English major to go from fearing spreadsheets to loving them. Moreover, being able to whip up spreadsheets to track budgets, manage projects, or analyze results turned out to be a super useful skill to have in the creative and editorial roles I eventually moved into.)
I do wish, however, that as a young alum, I had believed in the value of my degree — and the skills I had to learn and demonstrate in the course of earning it — a whole lot more. The ability to think critically, research strategically, distill and connect complex ideas, and present a compelling and cohesive argument (often under deadline duress, while juggling school, work, and other commitments) are all foundational skills that a university education affords, transferable to many, many jobs.
So the advice I give to new graduates today is what I wish I’d heard when I was starting out: Don’t underestimate what you’ve achieved in reaching this milestone. So much is learned and honed and tested in the process of acquiring your degree — so much that you have to be proud of. Pursue what intrigues you and, above all, don’t pre-disqualify yourself from a potential opportunity or path because you don’t think you have what it takes. Say yes to yourself, and let someone else be the one who says no to you.
Of course, hindsight is always (maddeningly) 20/20. The silver lining, though, is that it often offers the kind of clarity that can benefit others just starting out on their journey. That’s why we recently asked UBC alumni for the advice they wish they’d received when they landed their first job after graduation. Many alumni generously shared their learnings, and we’re delighted to feature a selection of their stories and insights. If you’re a new graduate in search of, or just settling into, a full-time position, we hope the following reflections will be helpful as you kick off this new chapter. Congratulations on achieving this milestone!
What advice do you wish you’d gotten when you started your first job?
Curiosity is a superpower. Stay curious and never stop asking questions. Don’t be afraid to explore unfamiliar topics or ask “why” even when it feels basic; that’s how real learning starts in life and the workplace. The more you seek to understand, the faster you'll grow and stand out.
~ Magdalena Blasiak, BA’99
Ever heard of the 80/20 rule? 20 per cent of what you do counts for 80 per cent of the results.
School typically prepares you for the 80 per cent of work that only delivers 20 per cent of the outcome. At work, continue being a student — keep learning, experimenting, and collaborating with others — and strive to master the 20 per cent that may have not been taught directly, but creates 80 per cent of the results. This will ultimately take you where you want to go.
~ Eric Grant, BASc’22
It will be a tough adjustment — in university you are free to manage your own time, your own work. When you enter the working world, at least in corporate, it is difficult to reconcile the fact that you do not have freedom from 8-5. But you get that freedom back in other ways, not having to study on weekends or late at night.
Think of yourself in first year all over again — you are a first-year adult and it will take some time before you feel like you have the hang of things.
~ UBC grad, BA’22
One piece of advice I wish I'd gotten when I started my first job is that, more often than not, no one in the room actually has all the answers. Everyone’s figuring things out as they go. So instead of waiting for permission or worrying about being “right,” lead with curiosity and kindness. Ask thoughtful questions, share your perspective, and trust that your voice has value — because it does. You don’t need to know everything to make a meaningful contribution.
~ Altay Otun, BA’14
You know more than you think you know. This is critical to your success as a new graduate in any field. Trust what you have learned and lean on it when you question yourself in your role. Newly acquired learning takes time to become fully present in your work life. And in your work life, more learning should be your goal. Some say, myself included, that you are always learning and that no one knows “everything.” This mantra or philosophy should be your guiding light to becoming an attentive listener, active engager, and positive employee in any discipline.
~ Nancy Cromarty, BEd’90, MEd’02
Always ask for more.
There is usually room for the company to go higher than they offer so always ask for more. The worst that will happen is they'll say no.
~ UBC grad, BASc’13
Work isn't like school — the person who performs the job best doesn't always win. Instead, it's about who you know and how you play the game. If you don't advocate for yourself and tell others what amazing things you are doing, no one will notice you. Also, find a leader who will have your back and advocate for you.
~ UBC grad, BCom’93
Culture matters — try to find a group of colleagues that make work exciting and share your drive and ambition. And if you get it wrong, don’t be scared to move on. Nothing works without good teams.
~ Rob Schonfeld, BCom’95
It's your first job, not your last. Don't be afraid to look elsewhere, talk to others, and perhaps move offices if you need to. Remember that you ARE valuable, no matter how new to your profession you may feel at first.
(Also... send projects in early if possible. At one of the companies I worked for, there was an unspoken rule that if it was due in two weeks, it was actually due in one! Yikes!)
~ Meagan E. Abercrombie, JD’21
It's a small world. You will run into, rely on, learn from, and work with people you've met before. We burn bridges when we don't think we'll see or need those connections in the future, but that's a mistaken assumption. Ideally, leave people and places better than how you found them. It may be cliché to say, "You don't get a second chance to make a first impression," but you won't truly understand that adage until a few years have passed and you have your first experience of a past relationship that turns into an incredible opportunity, or worse… a lost opportunity.
~ Ben Liu, BA’99
I wish I’d been prompted to ask myself: "Why do I want this career?" I was so focused on the what, where, and how that I never really got into the why. I spent the first 10 years of my career as an engineer and never felt a sense of fulfilment. All the promotions and raises didn't help answer that question. I wish I had taken a pause to consider why I want to work, and how I think it's going to make a real difference — in my life and that of others.
~ VJ Terzic, MBA’18
Whether you land your dream job or not, invest in your interests outside the job. At the end of the day, you are not your title, your specialty, or your company. You are allowed to keep exploring, to keep discovering, to keep shaping a path that fits you like a glove. Make space for play, follow your curiosity, and invest energy in creative pursuits — not to "find your passion," but to discover how you come alive.
~ Paula Amiama, BCom’13
When I started my first job, I wish someone had told me: “You don’t need to have it all figured out right away — and your unique path is your strength.”
I took a Bachelor of Commerce in Business Management, which was considered a very generalized option. In fact, I was one of only two students in my graduating class who chose this path — most others gravitated towards more specific concentrations like marketing, finance, or accounting. At the time, I felt uncertain, almost like I was going against the tide. I questioned whether I had made the right decision and worried that I wouldn’t land on a competitive job in the market.
But looking back now, I realize just how far I’ve come. That broad foundation gave me flexibility, adaptability, and a wider lens to see how different pieces of a business work together. It taught me how to connect the dots across disciplines — something that’s proven to be incredibly valuable in the real world.
I still remember a piece of advice a friend gave me, and it’s something I carry with me to this day: “Only one employer needs to bet on you.” If you can show that you have the skills, the drive, and the potential, then someone will take that chance. And that’s exactly what happened for me.
Today, I’m working as a Project and Budget Analyst at the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia. It’s a role that not only challenges me but also allows me to make meaningful contributions through financial analysis, cross-departmental collaboration, and project leadership. I never imagined that choosing the less-traveled path in university would lead me here — but it did.
So if I could go back and give myself one piece of advice, it would be this: Believe in your choices, trust your journey, and don’t be afraid to carve your own path. Success doesn’t follow a template — sometimes, it’s the detours that get you exactly where you need to be.
~ Florencio Mende Jr., BCom’22
