Getting Started

Getting Started is the Hardest Part

61% of soon-to-be graduates say they don’t feel prepared to enter the workforce.

(Source: NACE)

That number hits hard—but it’s not surprising.

For students approaching graduation, the pressure is real. You’ve spent years following a set path—classes, grades, schedules—and suddenly the structure ends. There’s no syllabus for “real life,” no professor to grade your resume, and no office hours for navigating self-doubt. The transition from student to professional isn’t just a career shift—it’s an identity shift.

And that first step? It’s the heaviest lift

The Fear of Not Knowing

Getting started often feels like the biggest hill to climb. Not because you lack potential, but because of all the unknowns. What should you do first—update your LinkedIn, apply for internships, message that alum on Instagram? What if you don’t have the “right” experience? What if you fail?

The fear of not knowing the perfect next move stops a lot of grads from making any move.

But here’s the truth: you don’t have to have it all figured out. You just have to start. Send one message. Apply to one role. Draft a list of companies you admire. Action creates momentum. And once you start moving, the fog lifts a little. Confidence comes from doing—not thinking.

Jobs are great but we all need money

The job market might be messy. Your resume might feel too thin. But starting doesn’t mean being perfect. It means being brave. Every professional you admire was once exactly where you are: unsure, overwhelmed, and Googling “how to write a cover letter.”

So if you’re staring at a blinking cursor or a blank calendar, take one tiny, courageous step today. Getting started is the hardest part—but it’s also the beginning of everything good that’s coming your way.