Figuring Out Some Stuff Post-College

By Alejandra Restrepo on December 7, 2018

Post-grad: this is when it gets real. This is when four years of work will culminate in what the world will come to know as your professional self. This is your time to prove yourself and show the real skills that you’ve acquired. That is… if you’ve been doing your homework.

Post-grad plans, get on it ASAP!!!
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College is a time of having fun. Meeting others of the same generation with the same interests — people that to us, are the epitome of what we could consider perfect. College itself could be “perfect.” It’s a perfect world that only really lasts while that you are there.

Once undergrad finishes, the real test begins. You will most definitely be held to higher expectations and your chances of getting a better job are highly dependent upon how well you performed through your undergraduate years.

While I was in school, I had the great privilege that my financial package would cover most of my living expenses. School was paid for and I did not have to work to pay many bills. Most of the money that I earned through my undergraduate career, I was able to save. This is the story of many undergraduate students. Many are on full rides or have families that pay for their education — so as a student, you are really left with your time to find positions that will support your resume. I learned that the most important thing throughout this time that you should be doing is creating a solid network that will allow students to easily find job positions where they will thrive.

After college graduation, if often feels like you begin from point zero. It’s a good change, but a hard one too. Many times, changing cities and leaving your apartment and friends behind is a hard landing into the real world. I think it’s a new opportunity to re-establish your purpose in a larger sense.

I recommend that long before graduating you begin making phone calls and talking to individuals who may have job opportunities for you once you graduate. It’s important to know what exactly you’ll be doing after graduation. Most importantly, do not waste your time by letting it just pass you by before establishing your every step of the way.

It’s easy to start determining what job position you could line up or make plans for what the next couple of years will be. Colleges themselves have incredible resources for students to find a career. And that is what going to college is all about.

Learning to network through fairs and events early in your career will save you so much hassle during senior year and after graduation. Getting in contact with employers who offer real opportunities for recent grads in your field could enable a real friendship with your boss, something that is essential for the success of the employee.

Finally, exploring post-graduate plans like joining the Peace Corps, Military Enlistment, travel, teaching abroad, or applying to graduate school, is something that you must do as soon as you can. Getting in contact with recruiters and programs early in the process is critical for you to not have to wait an unnecessary amount of time to find out what you’ll end up doing and more likely allow you do what you love with no questions asked.

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