Five For Your First Five: Own Your Career and Life After College

by Allison E. McWilliams, Nathan Hatch (Foreword)

"Dr. Allison McWilliams has hit the nail right on the head and provides focused, effective and actionable ideas for recent college grads who are getting too much inspiration and too little useable help addressing the substantial challenge of building their lives after college. Much of the literature for this audience patronizingly over-compliments them ("You are amazing and can do anything!') or over-criticizes them ("Today's young adults are so entitled - they're impossible!"). Neither of these categorizations is accurate or helpful - quite the opposite. Dr. McWilliams distills her substantial experience in working in some of the most advanced career-preparatory institutions in the country well by picking five key areas for grads to focus their efforts in building a life they own and can love. Her assessments of what's needed directly complements our decade-plus of work in the Stanford Life Design Lab. Her counsel spans the wide swath of necessary critical skills ranging from forming deep habits of personal reflection to navigating the tactical constraints of that tough first job out of college many grads will get. She tells it like it is without making assumptions or judgments about her reader and balances artfully conversing with her reader and challenging them via exercises to do the work. Like Dr. McWilliams, our team believes that successfully journeying those first five years after graduation (and defining what success is wisely!) is terrifically important. If you love anyone who is currently or about to be in those five years, do them the kindness of giving them this book." ~Dave Evans, Co-Author, New York Times #1 Bestseller Designing Your Life, and Co-Founder, Stanford Life Design Lab FIVE FOR YOUR FIRST FIVE is based on twenty years of experience working with college students and young adults as they make this sometimes challenging and overwhelming transition from college to life-after-college. It combines real-life stories and experiences, from young adults who have already navigated through these waters, with tools, strategies, discussion, and reflection questions. The reader is encouraged to do real, intentional work while exploring the five key Do the Work, Build a Life, Create Community, Practice Reflection, and Own What’s Next. Part workbook, part wise counselor and mentor, FIVE FOR YOUR FIRST FIVE provides meaningful insight into what can happen when you truly take ownership for your career and life.

Kindle Edition

Published August 23, 2017

Reviews

[Kristin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a MUST READ for any recent college graduate or new professional. Frankly the advice in this book applies to ANY working professional, no matter how long you’ve been out of college. Allison McWilliams has filled this book with tactical and practical nuggets of wisdom and advice that are achievable, relevant, and important for transitioning into a well-balanced and successful life post college. It’s as if Allison were your wise older sister sharing the good, the bad, and the ugly of adulting. And not just the obvious advice (work hard, save money, etc), she gives you the “real scoop” and hard truths about transitioning into the working world - “no one is ever going to care as much as you do about your life and your career as you” (Pg 22). This isn’t some dry “how to adult” book, but rather a rich resource infused with real stories, humorous anecdotes and practical reflection questions and exercises. This book reads as if Allison herself is sitting across the table from you sharing her advice over a cup of coffee or a cold beer. Do yourself (or your fave young adult) a favor and READ this book!

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this 30+ years after graduating from university- wish I would have had it then. Excellent tips in creating an autonomous life, building out your career and creating reflective practices for collecting data for decision making. Pragmatic. Straight forward.

[Jenn Weaver · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book for work and it has a lot of sugar advice for college students about to graduate as well as for young professionals making choices about their early careers.

[Foxxy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book for recent grads trying to find themselves after college!