You’ve spent years upon years working towards your degree, and you’ve finally earned it. But what comes next? With no more all-nighters, no more exams or finals to prepare for, you might be feeling lost. Where should you look for a job? What about an unpaid internship to gain experience? Everyone is different, no one’s journeys are linear. What works for someone else, may not work for you. Let’s go over a few things that may help you decide what your life can look like after you earn your degree.
Finances
After graduation, the first thing you need to do is evaluate your financial situation. College is a costly investment, which the majority of people are unable to afford out of pocket. Deciding where you sit financially will determine the next steps you are able to take. For example, I was able to take 2 months off after graduation because I had worked throughout earning my degree and had enough in savings to give myself a much-needed break. During this time, I was able to update my resume, start my job search, and really take the time to figure out what career path I wanted to take. If you are unable to take some downtime between graduation and your first job, you may start working as soon as the week after. If this situation is applicable to you, you need to start your job search 4 months before graduation.
Job Search
Now it’s time we circle back to the original reason you’re reading this article. The question is; what are your plans for after graduation? Have you taken the time to think about it? Well if not, then the time is now. Your undergraduate studies have concluded, finals are over, you’ve walked across the stage and accepted your diploma; there is nothing left to do other than answer that question. The reason you earned your degree was so you could use it, and it’s time to do just that. The first step to doing that is to get a job. Securing your first job is vital for so many reasons. Becoming financially independent is a major step into adulthood post-graduation. However, before you can independently support yourself, you’ll have to have a job to provide a steady income. Graduating, on any level, is an amazing achievement for anyone, so congratulations. But now it’s time to get down to business. When was the last time you updated your resume and cover letter?
Additional Education
Maybe after some careful thought and consideration, you’ve decided that diving into the job market isn’t your best option, and that’s okay! Another option available is to further your education. For example, if you just earned your associate’s degree, you could then enroll in a bachelor’s program, and so on. If you loved the classes that you just completed, it might be worth it to get a higher degree. Enrolling in another degree program also makes you eligible to defer your student loans. The paths available to further your education are plentiful so you have many options to choose from. You can go a traditional route and enter into a program on a campus where you’ll attend classes, or you could go for an online program! Earning a degree online is great for those who work or have busy schedules.
Conclusion
After graduation, you may feel like you’re in limbo, unsure of what to do and that can be a bit scary. If you feel nervous, just remember that there have been millions of people in your place who made it through just fine. Stay level headed and stay open to all options presented to you. Very rarely does anyone come out of college and jump right into their dream job. This is a hectic period for everyone, and your university should have options in place for alumni (because you’ve finally made it, you’re an alum now!). Use the resources around you to learn what your best options are as well as to learn how to manage your money. Stay calm, make a plan, stick to it and everything will fall into place. You got this!