PDF Summary:Getting from College to Career, by Lindsey Pollak

Making the transition from college to a successful career can be challenging, especially when you're unsure where to start or how to stand out in a competitive job market. In Getting from College to Career, Lindsey Pollak offers practical guidance for launching your professional life, from understanding your strengths to building valuable connections.

Pollak explains how to use your university's career center, gain experience through internships and volunteering, and build a strong professional network. You'll learn strategies for researching companies and industries, preparing for interviews, and presenting yourself effectively to potential employers. Whether you're still in school or recently graduated, this guide provides actionable steps to help you move from academic life into a fulfilling career.

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(Shortform note: In Intern Nation, Ross Perlin argues that internships don’t always provide the benefits Pollak describes. He explains that unpaid internships, in particular, often don’t provide the training and mentoring that would help you develop your skills and grow your professional contacts. Instead, they often involve doing routine support work that doesn’t help you figure out your preferences and aversions in your career.)

Pollak also suggests temporary jobs as an option for gaining experience and building your network. It’s similar to a work placement in that it provides on-the-job experience, though you can decide how long you want to stay. However, unlike an internship, you shouldn’t count on receiving coaching or mentoring. Temp work can help you get a position in the industry you're interested in and in a major corporation, which can impress employers. You’ll get to observe how the organization operates and the atmosphere there, and you can draw on this experience to decide whether you’d like a career in a corporate setting. To secure temporary work that can boost your career opportunities, Pollak recommends researching firms that focus on your desired fields.

(Shortform note: Labour economist Guy Standing, author of The Precariat, argues that the rise of temporary jobs is a negative development for workers. He claims that the “precariat”—a new class of people who lack job security and stable employment—are trapped in a cycle of short-term, casual, and insecure jobs. He explains that this “precarity trap” leads to chronic economic insecurity, erodes occupational identity, and denies people the possibility of a predictable career or coherent life narrative. While Pollak suggests that temporary jobs can be a stepping stone to a corporate career, Standing’s perspective highlights the risk that such jobs may instead lock workers into a cycle of instability.)

After securing temporary work, maximize its benefits. Treat it like an internship or full-time employment. Demonstrate your abilities, make connections, and gain real-world insights. Request more tasks and build relationships with your colleagues. You can also ask for a meeting with an HR representative to talk about your interest in any potential full-time openings.

(Shortform note: The rise of the gig economy has changed the nature of temporary work. Many companies now use staffing agencies to fill temporary roles, and these agencies often use digital platforms to match workers with jobs. This means that maximizing a temporary job often means prioritizing the agency’s feedback and your public ratings, which follow you to future clients. In The Gig Economy, Diane Mulcahy explains that your reputation is your most important asset as an independent worker.)

Volunteering can also help you develop skills, cultivate leadership abilities, and expand your network. Pollak explains that volunteering can help you develop skills and gain relevant experience. It can also help you develop leadership abilities by accepting additional responsibility. Additionally, volunteering can grow your connections by introducing you to fellow volunteers, nonprofit staff, and donors. These contacts can provide employment opportunities, professional guidance, and mentorship. Volunteering can also lead to employment in a volunteer organization. Pollak suggests that college students participate in a minimum of one activity outside the classroom to aid their career preparation and employment hunt.

(Shortform note: Sociologist Nina Eliasoph, author of The Politics of Volunteering, would likely disagree with Pollak’s suggestion that students should volunteer to advance their careers. Eliasoph argues that contemporary volunteering initiatives often train young people to approach social problems as apolitical, feel-good service projects, encouraging them to donate their unpaid labor in ways that normalize existing inequalities, divert attention from structural causes, and discourage collective political action or criticism of the institutions that benefit from their work. She would likely be skeptical of the idea that volunteering is a safe, career-building requirement for students.)

Get involved in a club that aligns with your career, take on duties that will help you grow skills you'd like to use in your future profession, lead a volunteer initiative that will achieve measurable outcomes, or establish your own club or a subsection of an existing one. If you've graduated, review your extracurricular involvement from college and evaluate it through a career-focused lens. Write out your duties, the skills you acquired, the interests you explored, or your achievements. Afterward, ensure you add these to LinkedIn and your CV.

Extracurricular and Volunteer Roles Improve Your Chances of Getting Hired

Research shows that recruiters are more likely to hire candidates who explicitly list their extracurricular and volunteer roles on their résumés. This is because these roles demonstrate that you have the skills and experience necessary to succeed in the workplace. Recruiters are particularly impressed by candidates who have held leadership positions in extracurricular activities, as this shows that they have the ability to take initiative and motivate others. Additionally, volunteer work demonstrates that you are committed to making a difference in your community and that you have a strong work ethic.

Next, Pollak discusses how to grow your professional connections and enhance how you present yourself.

Networking & Relationship Building

Pollak recommends cultivating a mentor who can help you build your career. A mentor is an experienced advisor who offers guidance to help you succeed in your career, grow your expertise and background, and build your networks. Mentors are valuable assets, and the majority of accomplished individuals say they've contributed significantly to their success. Mentoring isn't exclusive to those who are already very successful and aiming to be stars. Casual mentoring might be the most common way to share insight, and almost everyone has been involved in it. Pollak explains that by establishing a more structured mentor-protégé dynamic, you’ll gain a consistent space for growing your understanding and insight. A mentorship resembles a long-term fact-finding meeting. It's a type of companionship. You and your advisor need to connect naturally and sincerely enjoy discussing and witnessing one another's accomplishments.

(Shortform note: The concept of mentorship has evolved significantly over the past few decades, reflecting broader changes in organizational structures and career development. In the 1980s, researchers like Kathy E. Kram began to formalize the study of mentoring relationships, identifying two primary functions: career support (such as sponsorship and coaching) and psychosocial support (such as counseling and friendship). By the early 2000s, scholars like Monica C. Higgins and Kram introduced the concept of "developmental networks," recognizing that individuals often have multiple mentors who collectively shape their careers. This shift acknowledged the increasing complexity of modern careers and the need for diverse sources of guidance. Today, mentorship is understood as a dynamic, reciprocal relationship that can occur both formally and informally, within and across organizational boundaries. The emphasis has shifted from hierarchical, one-on-one relationships to more fluid, network-based models that reflect the interconnected nature of contemporary work environments.)

Pollak suggests looking for a mentor among your current contacts. If this is a new idea to you, reach out to an ex-supervisor, instructor, family friend, or nearby community leader you respect for their professional achievements. Professional associations can be excellent places to locate a mentor, with many organizations even offering mentoring arrangements. It's also beneficial to look to people who graduated from your alma mater. Certain colleges offer structured programs, while others support students in seeking mentors through databases of alumni—check with your career center for the right process. You can occasionally develop a mentorship with a person you deeply respect just by reaching out to them.

(Shortform note: With so many options, it can be hard to know who to approach first. In Act Like a Leader, Think Like a Leader, Herminia Ibarra suggests that the people who most transform our careers are often not those closest to us in our day-to-day work, but what she calls brokers—individuals who sit at the intersection of different social worlds and connect us to new communities, perspectives, and opportunities that we would never reach through our existing circles. For example, a former supervisor who now works in a different industry might introduce you to a whole new set of contacts. Or a community leader who’s involved in multiple organizations could help you see how your skills apply in different contexts. Even a family friend who’s active in professional associations might connect you to people you’d never meet otherwise.)

Pollak also recommends researching organizations that provide mentoring opportunities. The Asian American Professional Association and the American Society of Journalists and Authors are examples of groups that connect young people with great mentors in their industries. Remember that certain organizations may charge for this offering. Pollak advises beginning modestly. Avoid asking, "Can you be my advisor?" A request like that puts the person you're asking in a difficult position. Instead, pose a targeted, knowledgeable inquiry to a seasoned individual about something career-related you wish to know. This will initiate a conversation that can develop into a mentor-protégé connection.

(Shortform note: Mentoring is a complex social process that has been studied extensively in the fields of education, psychology, and organizational behavior. Theories of mentoring often emphasize the importance of social networks, learning partnerships, and the development of trust and mutual respect between mentors and mentees. In The Mentee's Guide, Lois J. Zachary argues that effective mentoring is a mentee-driven learning partnership in which the learner starts by identifying specific learning needs and engaging a more experienced person in focused, purpose-driven conversations about those needs, so that trust, mutual responsibility, and clear expectations can emerge naturally over time before the two parties formalize the relationship as an ongoing mentoring arrangement.)

Mentoring may begin with an informal coffee meeting to discuss a specific concern or request overall guidance. It's not necessary to immediately schedule recurring meetings; gradually develop your relationship. When a person agrees to mentor you, share your precise needs—whether that's determining your path after college, developing professionalism, building confidence in negotiations, or something different. Being more detailed about your needs allows a mentor to give more detailed advice.

(Shortform note: In The Mentee’s Guide, Lois J. Zachary and Lory A. Fischler recommend that you prepare for your first meeting with a mentor by writing a one-page “mentoring brief.” This brief should outline a specific challenge you’re facing, why it matters to you, and what kind of perspective you hope your mentor can offer.)

In our hectic modern lives, finding time for consistent, in-person mentorship sessions might be challenging. Alternatively, you could create a mentor-protégé bond with someone who resides in another location. That's perfectly acceptable. It's possible to develop a successful mentorship connection via phone or email exchanges. You can even speak without cost via Skype or Google Chat. Request accountability from your mentor. It's beneficial to identify a mentor who will help you stay accountable to your goals.

The Power of Remote Accountability

Remote mentorship can be a powerful tool for accountability because it transforms your goals into explicit commitments. When you regularly report your progress to a respected mentor, you create a sense of social and reputational pressure that motivates you to follow through. This external accountability can be especially effective when you’re working toward long-term objectives that require sustained effort. By leveraging technology to maintain regular check-ins, you can harness the power of social expectations to drive your personal and professional growth.

Pollak also suggests using the social media platform Twitter to enhance your professional network. Twitter is a fantastic resource for career information. You can follow influential people in your industry, recruiters for organizations you aspire to join, your university’s career center, and other career experts. Twitter assists you in finding job listings, enhancing your professional brand, and gaining recognition for your expertise. Another method for using Twitter to distinguish yourself at events is by posting both prior to and after them.

To use Twitter effectively, present yourself with a headshot that looks professional, a username that's professional (preferably some version of your actual name), and a profile summary statement that's focused on your career.

(Shortform note: Since Pollak wrote this book, Twitter has become a more important part of a larger digital ecosystem that employers use to screen job candidates. Employers now use algorithms to analyze your entire online presence, not just the accounts you use for networking. This means that even if you use Twitter professionally, other parts of your online presence could still affect your job prospects.)

Professional Presentation & Value Demonstration

Pollak suggests making a portfolio to showcase your accomplishments. A brag book consists of a binder with three rings that presents your achievements in an organized, visually impressive manner. It's a comprehensive, multifaceted extension of a résumé. A portfolio is an excellent tool for demonstrating to prospective employers your identity, achievements, and suitability for a specific role. Employers find the accomplishments highlighted in the book impressive, along with the considerable effort you made to produce such a marketing asset for yourself.

(Shortform note: A three-ring binder may not be the best way to showcase your accomplishments. Recruiters are increasingly likely to form their first impression of you by searching for you online. A digital portfolio or simple website under your own domain name can do more to shape their view of your accomplishments than a physical brag book they may never encounter.)

Your brag book should ideally have these sections separated by dividers: a statement about yourself, a binder with a transparent sleeve on the front to insert a cover page you create, and a cover featuring your name and contact details. Those with creativity can design an artistic cover. If you're utilizing the brag book for a specific job interview, create a "personal statement" for the front—a brief paragraph that highlights your abilities, qualifications, and background, and explains why you would be an excellent candidate for the job. This sets up your plans for the rest of the content.

The Importance of Reflection in Your Brag Book

In The Learning Portfolio, John Zubizarreta argues that the most critical element of any learning portfolio is reflection; without deliberate, integrative reflection on the evidence it contains, a portfolio is little more than a scrapbook or résumé. He explains that reflection is the process of making meaning from experience, and it’s what transforms a collection of artifacts into a coherent narrative of growth and achievement. To incorporate reflection into your brag book, consider adding a section where you briefly explain what each part of your brag book taught you and how it changed your abilities. This will help you articulate the value of your experiences to potential employers and demonstrate your capacity for self-directed learning and improvement.