3 Secrets of Successful Graduates from LinkedIn Founder

By Angela Son on June 20, 2013

A common career concern from students is that they don’t feel ready, according to LinkedIn’s founder Reid Hoffman.

Hoffman’s slideshow presentation, “The 3 Secrets of Successful Graduates,” addresses career concerns of millions of students around the world.  As a recent graduate, I was deeply inspired by it and would like to share the secrets of successful graduates from LinkedIn’s billionaire founder.

1. Competition (Develop a competitive advantage)

Learning is a lifelong process, whether still in college or already graduated.  Hoffman urges graduates to learn to be more present in lives and careers.  ”Whatever the situation, actions, not plans, help you discover where you want to go and how to get there,” Hoffman says.

One of the secrets of successful graduates Hoffman presents is that, in the world of work, every day is exam day.

For anything desirable there’s competition.  He asks graduates to develop a competitive advantage so they can pursue worthy aspirations using their assets while navigating the market realities.

 

2. Network (Build your network)

The easiest way to connect with the right people is through people who already know them and whom you already know.  According to Hoffman, the existing network of people students already know is bigger than they think.  You may not know the right people, but someone in your existing network might.

 

3. Risk (Take intelligent risks)

“Not sure if you can break into the pharmaceutical company?
Spend six months interning at Pfizer making connections and see what happens.”

It’s a risk worth taking.  You would never know working at a pharmaceutical company is the right fit unless you’ve worked there.  You might not get paid much, but the connections you make at Pfizer could help you land a full-time job.

Avoiding risk is actually one of the riskiest things a professional can do, according to Hoffman.  He added that, to take good risks, students must prioritize plans that offer the best chance of learning about yourself and the world.

For example, choose a job that offers tremendous learning over a job with a fat paycheck.  Choose a “risky” job of your choice over stable one.  People perceiving a career path as “risky” probably means there’s less competition.

Taking intelligent risks will allow young professionals to find opportunities that others miss.  Lastly, Hoffman warns students of taking risks in worst-case scenarios.

“When the worst case means getting fired, losing time or money, or experiencing some discomfort, it’s a risk you should be willing to take,” Hoffman says. However, “If the worst case scenario is serious tarnishing of your reputation, loss of all your economic assets, or something otherwise career-ending, don’t accept that risk.”

 

All images courtesy of the presentation.  Access the full slideshow presentation here.

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