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"The definition of \"entry-level\" has evolved over the course of the past decade or so. Whereas graduates brandishing fresh degrees in, say, the class of '98 may have expected to score a job based on prestigious educations alone, today's candidates increasingly find \"1-3 years of work experience\" a prerequisite even for entry-level listings.\nFor recent college graduates, the transition to the working world after years of academia can be a shock to the system \u2014 and today's employers expect junior hires to hit the ground running. As a student, there's a sense of direction and a slew of resources and advisors at your beck and call. Professors encourage you to come to them with questions during office hours, and every test or assignment is clearly outlined on the first day of class. \nSorry grads: There are no syllabi in the working world \u2014 and while 77% of recent grads believe they'll receive formal employer-sponsored training at their first job, only 48% will actually experience such preparation. In other words, the class of 2014 should expect to adjust to their new roles without much hand-holding.\nTo ensure you're at the top of your game, below are a few tips for learning how to thrive in a post-grad professional environment.\nTry out a role through an internship, fellowship or apprenticeship\nIf you don't already have an internship or two under your belt by the time you're walking across the stage toward your diploma, expect to spend some time working your way up the ranks in your first professional endeavor.\n\"I think a lot of recent college grads forget that it's very rare for anyone's first job to be their dream job,\" says Amanda Augustine, job search expert at TheLadders, a comprehensive job-matching service. \"It's a stepping stone. You're getting into that role to gain whatever relevant skill sets or industry experience is required in order to move up.\"\nAugustine hammers home the importance of building your resume and garnering experience before graduation. \"If you aren't interning, you're at a great disadvantage against the competition,\" she says. \"Really, the internship has turned into the entry-level position.\"\nBut recent graduates without internship experience shouldn't panic; it's not too late. \"There are companies offering real-life apprenticeships these days. Fellowships too,\" Augustine says. She suggests the following sites as excellent resources for grads seeking internships or other resume-boosting gigs: Career Rookie, Internship Programs, InternMatch, Internships.com, WetFeet, TheMuse,  CollegeRecruiter.com and AfterCollege.com.\n\nImage: Flickr, NHC_UHIFor grads seeking full-time employment, Augustine stresses the importance of flexibility with expectations. \"Don't be afraid to take the administrative job \u2014 the customer service job, or the secretary or receptionist position \u2014 if it's putting you into the industry or company in which you're interested,\" she says. \"These roles provide an opportunity to look at someone who is in a position two or three levels above you and ask yourself, 'Do I still think that work is interesting?' \"\nThough \"experience\" certainly won't pay back those student loans, it will provide invaluable insight about future career paths and professional interests, talents and skills. \nAsk for clarity regarding expectations\nChief complaints about the millennial workforce often include an inflated sense of entitlement and over-dependence on managers and superiors \u2014 but Augustine says employers should take into consideration that this is a generation accustomed to a constant state of feedback. Many of today's young adults grew up inundated with social media, complete with comments and \"likes\" on essentially every aspect of their lives.\nThat being said, most managers won't accept \"But that's how it works on Instagram!\" as a valid reason why you're knocking on their door every ten minutes to ask a question. \"The biggest thing you have to understand is that you're in charge of managing your own career,\" says Augustine. \"Employers are not necessarily expecting you to have a complete set of hard skills already under your belt, but you need to be a self-starter in your first role. Don't assume that your boss is going to be your mentor and your coach.\" \nSetting expectations from day one can help you thrive in the professional jungle. Augustine emphasizes there is a balance between being a sponge and teetering on the verge of needy. \"Figure out the right frequency with which to approach your manager, and the right channel \u2014 and figure out if there are other people you can talk to instead of going straight to your boss,\" she says. New hires should ask clarifying questions when they first start, such as: What am I expected to learn? What am I expected to accomplish within the first 30 days, 90 days or over the course of the year?\nTake steps to prevent burnout\nHere's another reality about today's young workforce: The \"connected generation\" is tethered to phones, tablets and other tech \u2014 which means they are continuously plugged into work emails and an on-the-job mindset. This is another reason it's crucial for managers and team members to maintain clear channels of communication regarding expectations and workload.\nDarrell Silver, co-founder and CEO of Thinkful, an online school that teaches students to code, has an insightful take on the employer-to-employee cycle of feedback. \"I think it's a misperception that millennials are more demanding of their employers \u2014 what's actually going on is that today's workers expect to spend their entire lives connected to the job. As a result, they expect something in return,\" he says. \"As a hirer, it's important to recognize this. You want [to hire] people who are aspirational and occasionally demanding, because it often means they're demanding of themselves, too.\"\nBut there is such a thing as being too self-sacrificing for the sake of a burgeoning career. New hires should take steps not to spread themselves too thin and to develop a healthy work/life balance in order to mitigate burnout. Silver suggests employees dedicate specific blocks of personal time throughout the work week, adding that actually scheduling a couple hours on a calendar to set aside these chunks of \"me time\" can be effective.\nAnother way to cultivate work/life balance is to expand horizons by getting involved in outside projects or developing new hobbies, which can liven up the monotony of a post-grad routine. \"Never stop moving,\" says Silver. \"By working on new projects, talking to new people and learning new skills, you show independence and curiosity. If you show that kind of enthusiasm in your own efforts while looking for a job or starting a new position, it signals something very strong about your potential.\"\nLearn how to creatively problem-solve\nOften, the roles that push you outside of your comfort zone are the ones with the most potential for upward mobility and, ultimately, fulfillment. Learning how to make on-the-spot decisions, meet deadlines and solve difficult problems will serve you well as you advance toward a more defined career path.   \n\nImage: Flickr, rubygirl jewelryInstead of panicking when tasked with an unfamiliar project, there are a few steps you can take to handle such situations with dexterity. Augustine suggests new hires talk to others who have previously held their role, look at past projects associated with the position, research generic information online and ask intelligent, straightforward questions when receiving new assignments. \"You don't want to invest a lot of time creating a 30-slide PowerPoint presentation when your boss is expecting a few bullet points in an email,\" she says. \nIf your question is straightforward, consider asking Google before turning to your boss. You can find a great deal of helpful material online with a quick search, including sample press releases, sample sales forecast spreadsheets and sample project plan templates.\nSeek networking opportunities through peers, mentors and continued education\nIn part due to the rise of social media, millennials are inherently skilled at networking \u2014 at least from a social perspective. \"Now it's time to take those skills and apply them to a more professional setting,\" says Augustine. \"Networking with people in the same industry [allows junior hires to] start learning the nuances of their new roles, which they might not get an opportunity to learn as thoroughly in the workplace alone.\" Augustine suggests getting involved in industry-related activities, conferences or Meetups to connect with potentially valuable professional contacts and exchange advice.\nAnother thing to keep in mind: Your education isn't over after graduation. There are a variety of platforms that offer continued education services and can help students fill gaps in their skill sets. Thinkful, for example, offers mentor-guided online coursework for students who wish to learn to code, with a time commitment of about 7-12 hours per week, depending on each student's customized curriculum. \nResources like Thinkful are especially helpful for those new hires disappointed by a lack of formal training in their new roles, or for anyone thinking about shifting career tracks. \"Our classes work by trying to replicate the training experience that people are actually looking for,\" says Silver. \"You have someone you can tap on the shoulder and ask for help.\"\nIf you're retroactively regretting not taking that 8 a.m. Intro to Finance or upper-level marketing course in your undergrad career, Augustine suggests a couple other helpful options for continued education and networking, such as Skillshare, Coursera, General Assembly, Toastmasters or enrolling in courses at a local college.\nFor developing softer skills, such as leadership or management, Augustine recommends thinking outside the box. \"If you've got horrible stage fright and can't give a presentation, maybe consider taking an improv class. If you need to work on management/leadership, volunteer for a cause you really care about and offer to head up a committee or project,\" she says.\nAdapting to a new job is a learning experience that extends beyond the classroom; taking charge of your own path and developing self-sufficiency can be the difference between mediocrity and success in the post-grad landscape. \nHave something to add to this story? Share it in the comments.\nMashable Job Board Listings\nThe Mashable Job Board connects job seekers across the U.S. with unique career opportunities in the digital space. While we publish a wide range of job listings, we have selected a few job opportunities from the past several weeks to help get you started. Happy hunting!\n\nAssociate Director, Social Media &amp; Digital Marketing at The College Board in New York, New York\nAssociate Strategist at Knock Twice in New York, New York\nSocial Strategist at Disney Interactive in Glendale, California\n\n\n"^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://mashable.com/2014/06/01/new-grad-self-sufficiency/>