What Now?: Options to Consider During Post-Grad Life

The nights are getting chillier, the swimming gear is being packed away, and the school bells across the country are being rung--which means: Summer is pretty much over.

As lovely as being a college graduate is, the feeling of being out of school is a weird one. Whether you loved academia or hated it, one thing's for sure, once you've entered into post-grad life and the energy of summer has dwindled... it gets you thinking about a lot of stuff. Many graduates have just started getting adjusted to their new Grad School, others are still job hunting, and some are still inquiring: What Now?

If you're in the What Now? box, there's a lot of options to consider before getting too stressed out:


Get a Job Experience
Getting a job is a no brainer to a lot of, if not all, college graduates. Isn't one of the reasons why you worked so hard to obtain your college degree, to establish yourself successfully in the professional world, giving yourself more of an advantage in the job market?

The word "Job" sounds soooo dry and 9 to 5; but "CAREER" is so much more vivacious and professional. Your goal should be to gain experience so that your skills will be molded to fit your prospective career choice. Sure, getting a paycheck is important, but the right job that provides you with the experience and new skills you need, will be most beneficial.


Further your Education
Don't be afraid to go back to school. Never assume that you're too "dumb," too "old," or too "busy" to further your education. Although there's no reason to rush into Grad School right after your Undergrad career, there's also no reason why you shouldn't consider going back to school to obtain another degree.

It's ok to take a break from school, however, once that brief break is over, you've got to be back on your game and look into the Graduate schools that interest you. Apply to those schools and apply to the many scholarships available. If you can't commit to a full-time degree, consider going to school part-time in order to make room for an employment position you may already have or are making room for.


Get an Internship
Yes, you read that correctly. This goes hand-in-hand with my first suggestion--get experience. Internships are not only for [college] students; it's meant to provide minds, that yearn for knowledge, with the experience they need to be successful in whatever career the internship is geared towards. Now here comes the hard part: If you've graduated and are still job hunting, whether it is paid or unpaid, an Internship is a GOOD IDEA. The "I can't afford to accept an unpaid internship" mindset needs to be combated with the "I can't afford not to have an internship that will help push me in the right direction."

Think about it, would you rather be a prospective journalist with an unpaid/low paying intern position at the NY Times, MSNBC or other renowned company OR continue to restrict your job search, locking yourself in a box of little growth.


Continue Learning
You may be finished with academia, but don't stop learning! Read books that will enrich your life... Download iTunes U and listen to some real class lectures... and pick up the newspaper or tune in to CNN for once to stay informed.

Mid-way through the summer, I purchased a book called "101 Tips for Graduates: A Code of Conduct for Success and Happiness in your Professional Life" (Revised Edition) and not only have I been recommending this book to almost every grad I know, but I learned quite a few things... one of them being this: "Your degree is an accomplishment. It doesn't entitle you to anything. The effort you put forth and the attitude that you approach your work and others with can either help you or hurt you... as you enter the work world."

Take a moment to let that marinate... Powerful, isn't it? It's very true, and makes so much sense when you think about it.

This book (which I picked up in the Business section of Barnes & Noble) focuses on Work Skills, Communication Skills, Leadership Skills, Social Skills, Self-Discipline and demonstrating a positive attitude: areas in which all grads should be learning more about.


Be Productive
Waking up at 2 in the afternoon, making a hearty breakfast and starting your job search at 3:30 is nowhere near productivity. If you're out of school and currently job hunting, try making a schedule. You've had to deal with class schedules all your life practically, so maybe a schedule is just what you need to maintain productiveness as a post-grad.

Plan ahead what you'd like to accomplish in the upcoming week. Even if you have to write down a time and a task, and repeat until you reach your bed time, then so be it! Start early, so you can get the most out of the day. Wake up ready to work, even if you don't necessarily have a job to go to. Wake up ready to build networks. Wake up determined to find experience/a job. Most importantly, wake up with an optimistic mindset, everyday.

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If you're still in college, well then you still have some time before the post-Grad life. Be sure to check out my post "What every College Student Should Do Before Entering the 'Real World'"