This document outlines the thoughts, feelings, and behaviors of a recent college graduate who is struggling with the transition to full-time work. It indicates that she finds the transition more difficult than expected and misses the freedom and social life of college. While she feels college prepared her academically, it did not fully prepare her for the real-world demands of work. The problem statement identifies her as a Chinese-American financial analyst seeking a better work-life balance as she currently feels overwhelmed by work responsibilities and lacks social contact.

1. Empathy Map and Problem
Statement

2. Say
• “more difficult than expected”
• “transition depended on college resources”
• “intern experiences eased transition”
• “college was a bubble”
• “faced student loan debt”
• “college was more structured”
• “finding meals vs college cafeteria food”
• “work involves long hours”
• “I miss the freedom of college”
• “work is less exploration”

3. Say Continued
• “missed seeing my friends on a daily basis”
• “have not yet applied the theories I learned”
• “a lot of on the job training”
• “social life limited to weekends”
• “maintain personal budget”
• “entering the real world”
• “sleep schedule reversed”
• “wake up much earlier in the morning”
• “first year of work is freshman year in college”
• “work is more rigorous … and demanding”

4. Do
• Relaxed when talking about school
• Serious facial expression when talking about work
• Lots of gestures and hand motions
• Used casual language to describe school
• Talked at length about school
• Fewer things to say about work
• Smiled and laughed as reminisced about school
• Leaned back in chair when talking about school
• Sat up straight to talk about work
• Overall enthusiastic

5. Think
• College is less rigorous than work
• Transition from college to work is challenging for most
• College debt prevented choice of more enjoyable career
• Thinks college prepared academically but not as well for
real world, practical problems
• Post-college does not provide a safety net
• Thinks not alone in the struggle to transition
• Can adapt after a few more months
• Transition is no more different than other life transitions
• College does not emotionally prepare someone for work
• Jump between college and work is significant

6. Feel
• Misses college and its freedoms
• Desires more time with friends
• Does not enjoy work as much
• Likes the challenges work presents
• Feels there is a significant difference between college
and work
• Feels a bit lonely and isolated from work
• Feels slightly intimidated by work schedules
• Regret for not enjoying college more
• Feels nostalgic
• Feels more adjusted than before

7. Description of the Stakeholder
• A Chinese-American who immigrated to
American in her high school years, has just
graduated from college in the United States,
and has begun work for six months

8. Problem Statement
• STAKEHOLDER: A social, responsible, degree-
holding financial analyst, who is open to new
ideas, perceptive, and diligent
• NEEDS A WAY TO: achieve a balance between
her work life and her personal life
• BECAUSE: she is currently overwhelmed with
her job responsibilities and does not have
enough social contact