From college goers to professionals...

Many college graduates start their careers with high hopes, only to find that they are making mistakes that are seriously hampering their ability to succeed. While they may have been very successful in school, doing well in the business world requires a whole new skill set and a different attitude. Here are a few things to consider.

Many recent graduates have become accustomed to working as individuals. Most of their education has focused on what they do only with their own effort. This attitude can become a problem when it comes to working in an office. A great deal of success in the business world hinges upon a worker's ability to operate as a team player. In fact, a great many workplaces are now organized with teams in mind.

Young workers can adjust by realizing that success is dependent upon the efforts of the group, and seeing this as a positive, rather than a negative. Being part of the group means that responsibilities can be shared and the result can be greater than the sum of its parts. The sooner you are able to function on a team, the sooner your career will progress.

Recent graduates also frequently make the mistake of behaving like consumers, rather than being a seller. Your whole academic career was geared toward you and your success, and your college education in particular was sold to you. In addition, educated young people have become the targets of all kinds of savvy marketers, so it's quite natural to be catered to in this way.

Once you are looking for work, all of this changes. In interviews, it's up to you to sell yourself to the employer, rather than the other way around. The most successful job seekers are very good at showing the employer what they will bring to the team. Once on the job, they continue to bring value to the company by going above and beyond and being innovative in finding solutions to all sorts of problems. In today's uncertain job market, you can't afford to do any less.

Being new to the job market will require a shift in attitude on your part, but once you've realized that being a team player has its benefits, it's not so hard to adjust. Once you're interviewing, keep in mind that your job is now to sell yourself and to give employers a reason to hire you. When they see you have a lot of value to offer, you are sure to be successful.

When it comes to running a business with success, theory and practice are two different things.