Graduating in May? Here are tips to help you enter the career world.

Numbers don’t lie.

There is no questions about it: Monica C. Smith is a successful entrepreneur, and that is why you should pay close attention to her advice below.

Monica is the founder and CEO of Marketsmith Inc. (#389 on Inc. 500) and recent start-up, I.Predictus. For three years in a row, her businesses have driven over $1 billion dollars in sales.

Being the marketing super star that she is, I thought it would be helpful for us if she shared a few tips on how to market yourself as you enter into the big, bad, scary career world:

1. Establish your point of difference.

Start working on your personal road map right now. Ask yourself where you want to be in one year, five years and 10 years from today. Define what’s important to you. Pitch your plan to anyone who will listen, and before you know it, you’ll acquire the interviewing skills you need to put your plan into action.

2. Learn the art of the pivot.

Change can be scary, but it’s during transformations that some of the best opportunities present themselves. Don’t be afraid of a curveball. Be ready and open to new opportunities that are exciting, fun and potentially difficult.

3. Read, read and read.

The end of college should be the beginning of a lifetime of learning. Be interesting, be informed, be current, and have a point of view that is modern and educated. Reading can help you make that happen.

4. Network with everyone.

Make contacts among your parents’ friends, your neighbors, your community organizations – wherever working adults are, network! I recently spoke on a panel called “Backpack to Briefcase” at my alma mater. The amount of great information shared was amazing, but there should have been even more college students in attendance. Go out there and make the connections at any free forum.

5. Tell a great story.

Storytellers make it in this world. Learn to tell a great story of how you grew up, a tragedy that shaped your life or even a vacation that took you to a new place.  People want to hear new perspectives. They want to get a sense of your ability to articulate, and they want to know that you are interesting.