About This Lesson
So, this is it. The moment where they finally reward all those nights of (hopefully) studying by presenting you with your diploma. After the celebration is over, you find yourself asking a question that has stumped multitudes of graduates for decades: “Now what?”
In the age of where student loan payments can easily resemble a mortgage, the pressure is on for graduates to find a well-paying job now more than ever. Where are new graduates to begin when all they have had the capacity to focus on up until this point is passing midterms and final exams for the past 4 years? Getting started can be quite challenging, but having a plan of action in place, effective money management and pacing oneself can serve as a buffer for a new graduate as they prepare to enter the brutal professional world.
Planning Ahead
A strong plan of action must include vital aspects such as securing income, stable living arrangements, and having a budget in place. Upon bringing this plan to life, it might be a good idea to find some form on income first. If you find that the job market is developing slower than you had hoped, don’t get down on yourself. It can be difficult trying to get into a career field that you just earned your diploma for.
For now, you may have to find something that is a bit less than you were looking for until your prospects open up a bit. According to a study done by the Strada Institute for the Future of Work and Burning Glass Technologies, “more than 40 percent of college graduates take positions out of school that don’t require a degree”. If you find yourself in this position, take heart.
This does not mean that you are a failure by any means. This is a lot better than simply sitting at home all day. Please Keep trying.
Develop Networking skills
Also, your plan of action must include a strategy for how you will land a job in the field that you’ve chosen. Effective networking strategies will help you to connect with the right people that can help you land a foot in the door with an organization. While doing this you can also begin cold emailing prospective employers, reaching out to former college professors who have legitimate connections, or even getting in touch with a representative of your alma mater to seek available resources that will help you.
This can be a grueling, uncomfortable process. In the end you will be proud of your hard work.
When a person that you have made a connection with instructs you to apply for the position, be sure to do so as soon as possible. Never sit around on opportunities like these when they present themselves.
Manage your money
Once you have landed a job in your desired career field, set a budget as soon as possible. Make a list of all of your expenses and plan your spending around your salary. If there’s not much room for wing night, that’s okay. Find other areas where you may be paying a little more than you should. Perhaps cutting back on the cable would be a good idea or putting that prime membership on hold could give you a few extra bucks to work with. At this stage, keeping as much money on hand as possible can be helpful in the event of a financial crisis.
Pace yourself
During this process, you may find that you are making comparisons between yourself and successful peers. This is dangerous because it distorts your views on your own progress. It is vital to have goals and deadlines that you must hold yourself accountable to, but it is important to remember that everyone arrives at their own time. Having a “one goal at a time” mindset will allow you to give yourself the grace to forge your path. If you ever find yourself in need of a boost during a down moment, Le-Vel Thrive is a great source of inspiration as it offers uplifting advice for both body and mind.
Embrace Your Journey
Starting your post college life can be quite a daunting challenge. With judicious planning, patience and sound money management, the adjustment can be made in due time. These are the years in which one gets themselves established, but it does not occur overnight. Use each experience as one that will help you grow, and do not fall victim to negative thinking. Everything will come together, the process must simply run its course.
