Transition to Full-Time; how to stay motivated w/out returning to undergrad ever again?

I recently finished a summer analyst job and when the hours were long or whenever I was particularly tired, it wasn't terribly hard to push through because I could remind myself "only X amount of weeks left, power through!" As I transition to full-time, I'm worried because this will no longer be true, the process will be never-ending.

Note: It's not the job that I need motivation to "push through" (because I like finance/biz/etc.), it's the fact that I'll be returning to the same office for multiple years and I'll feel like a machine.

So, how do I avoid a mid-life crisis at 23? I'm worried I'll break and run off to a 3rd world country and live in a hut for the rest of my time.

 
Most Helpful

Serious Question: Was is the IB role itself or are you just dreading FT role in general?

I think the fear you have about being a working professional after college is something a lot of people can relate to. It is a heck of an adjustment period (especially doing that transition with an IB role which can further complicate things given the demands of the job).

My best advice is to try not to worry about it too much and instead focusing on enjoying your senior year as much as possible (I wish I could have done so, but you are in much better position to do so than I was at that stage of my life). Trust me: The first year or so may be brutal in terms of work and adjusting to a new social climate, but it will get better with time.

Authored by: Certified Corporate Development Professional - Director
 

Not the IB role itself (because I enjoyed the summer analyst experience), but the full-time aspect is what I'm worried about. It's a time in your life where the "next step" isn't planned out for you, which school has always provided. I'm sure I'll find the excitement in that, but wanted to hear other people's experiences as well.

Thanks for the advice! Will definitely take advantage of my time in school!

 

Since your previous strategy worked well I'd stick to that - just convert your 2 years into weeks

E.g. on week 1 of the job, tell yourself "just T-minus 104 weeks left...". Good luck.

 

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