If you have recently graduated college, firstly, congratulations! Graduation is one of the most exciting times of your life and it reflects all of the hard work that you have put into your studies over the last few years.
Celebrating with your friends and family is a great way to relax after years of study and hard work. However, after the celebrations are over, you may start to feel a little lost.
If this is the case for you right now, you’re not alone. Many graduates feel confused and lost when they finish their studies. They lacked direction and have no idea what to do with themselves now that their education is complete.
Many graduates go straight into job hunting once they have obtained their certificates. While this is a popular choice and it may be suitable for the particular career path that you want to enter, it isn’t the only route that you can take as a new graduate.
You can apply for apprenticeships, go for further study, or take a well-deserved gap year. Your options are endless. Just because your friends are going down the job route, it doesn’t mean that you need to do the same if that doesn’t appeal to you.
Regardless of the path that you want to take as a graduate, things can still feel a little scary and uncertain. You’re used to the predictable nature of college life and being thrown into the big wide world can be intimidating.
To help you find your feet as a graduate, here are some top tips to keep in mind. These tips will apply, no matter what route you’d like to take. Whether you want to search for work, find an internship or apprenticeship, or take a gap year, keep reading!
Job Hunting
One of the most common routes for graduates to take is the jobhunting route. If you’re keen on getting a job and working your way up in a specific career, this might be the perfect option for you. After all, graduates rank among the most employable in the world.
Depending on your career choice, the competition might be high. Every year, more and more graduates are fighting for the same job roles and this makes it much harder for you to obtain your dream role. However, there are things that you can do to maximize your job-hunting success.
The first thing to consider is your resume. No matter how great your qualifications or how extensive your work experience is, you’re unlikely to get an interview for a graduate role if your resume is not up to scratch.
If you’re struggling to write your resume, you can get a professional to help you. Hiring an expert resume writer will ensure your job applications are the best that they can be.
Alternatively, you can use an online resume maker. To help you decide which online tool to use, look at each review of free resume makers. Each tool has different features so make sure to find one that is easy for you to use.
Internships or Apprenticeships
There are hundreds of different internships and apprenticeships that you can apply for as a graduate. Applying for graduate schemes will enable you to obtain a higher-paid job further down the line. It provides you with the opportunities to get paid while learning more about your field of work.
Internships or apprenticeships can last anywhere from a few months to a few years, depending on how extensive the course is and how much you’ll be learning. Get in touch with some of the large companies within your field of interest to see what types of programs they’re offering to newly-qualified graduates.
Consider attending networking events or national company events to get more information from professionals who are already working at your dream company. Many businesses host events that are specifically designed to encourage newly-qualified college students to apply for their graduate programs.
At networking events, you can meet other graduates and make valuable contacts that could open the door up to a range of exciting opportunities for you. It’s worth putting in the effort to attend lots of local and national events to get your name out there.
Gap Years
For those of you who want to spend some time exploring another part of the world and have new experiences, consider taking a gap year. You can pack your bags and head off to another country for several months to expand your mind, meet new people, and create memories that you will never forget.
Gap years are exciting and adventurous. For many, the period of time after graduation is one of the only opportunities that they will have to properly travel without having any major responsibilities at home.
You can learn about new cultures and even pick up a new language along the way. It’s a once-in-lifetime chance that could open up the door to lots of new experiences.
Get in touch with a travel agency if you’re not sure where to start. Alternatively, speak to people you know who have previously traveled and get their advice on how to plan your gap year.
Consider whether you want to travel alone or with your friends. The former gives you more freedom to go exactly where you’ve always dreamed of going. However, the latter is a much safer option and may work out cheaper for you when paying for accommodation and travel.
Make sure to do lots of research when choosing an area to travel around and be sure to choose the most reliable hotels or hostels. Safety should be a top priority when you’re traveling!
The same applies to excursions or day trips that you decide to book while you’re away. You can never do too much research when it comes to planning a gap year. The more research you do, the safer you’ll be, the more money you’ll save, and the more enjoyable your time away will be.
This content is a joint venture between our publication and our partner. We do not endorse any product or service in the article.
