Ben H,
Welcome to the opportunity to join the "real" world from the paper book world of a university. I was those shoes at the same point in my life, from graduation day to the start of my career there were exactly 3 days to walking into my new career. Engineering w/Business minor
I soon realized that all the "stuff" taught in college has a thread of application to how companies function and what it takes to be successful and every company has different personalities & those personalities changed as upper management and the work force changes. And the best time to get a really good education on how business really function is during a economic down term, especially when it is "survival of the fittest" time. Most anyone can be successful when the "roller coaster rid" is going riding up the northeast curve.
Another revelation is that many, "certainly not all", of those text book writers &/or professors have not spent any time in the working world, but rather in inside the hallowed halls of the university - I was in "shock and awe" when I discovered that.
Finally, after 41 years in the same industry only one time did anyone ask me to see & copy my "sheep's skin" - my very first day at my very first after college job. Four & 1/2 years in college (paid my way - no scholarships) and only asked once to see this piece of paper - busted my bubble - I got over that. Timely, accurately, professionally completion of assigned tasks and goals, above & beyond contributions, ability to work well with and within the organization as a "team" player, as well as, with outside vendors are some of the key "secretes to success". Many times company "politics" does get in the way of our personal aspirations = frustration. Patience is a virtue.