With the graduation rush finally over, the question in many grads minds remains the same…what now?! This question holds endless answers – even if you might not know which answer is for you! The opportunities range from getting a job, to volunteering, to signing up for the military, to going to grad school…the path you choose is completely up to you!
There is a lot of pressure after graduation, many times even before graduation arises. In the School of Management at Boston University, the buzz throughout the college your senior year is if you have gotten a job yet…you always just want to say “yes†so that people will stop asking. After graduation, the question keeps coming, this time usually from your relatives or close family friends.
I think searching and actually receiving a job was one of the most frustrating experiences I have been through. Don’t always be envious of those that received offers while you were still at school. I know many students with a finance concentration that got their offers pulled because of the current economy and the company no longer being able to take on new hires.
My advice for graduates:
1.) Don’t Give Up – If you don’t yet have a job, don’t give up and get frustrated. Yes, it is frustrating and repetitive filling out all those applications, but something will come up. It is not the easiest time to apply for jobs, but keep with it.
2.) Don’t Take a Job Just for the Money – Your friends may take jobs with a higher paying salary, but don’t take a job just for the money. Out of my friends, my job that I will start in the fall probably has one of the lowest paying salaries, but I’m happy about the job I got and excited for the opportunity. I got offered a job that paid around $5,000 more per year but declined it because I didn’t think the job was the right fit for me. According to an article on Mainstreet.com by Jessica Wakeman, a friend earning more than you is not an uncommon occurrence. You should make sure that you include spending money into your budget so that you don’t feel left out when all of your friends go out for a night.
3.) Don’t Feel Pressured by Others – Just because many of your friends have full-time time jobs, don’t feel like you need to get one as well. Internships often lead to great jobs so don’t disregard them…you might even find one that is paid (I did)! Or even better, one of my friends is volunteering in Africa to teach English and another is going to New Orleans to help re-build houses…anything is possible!
Life after graduation may not be the easiest time and many people have no idea what they want to do with their lives. Just remember, most people don’t stay in the same job that they started in for too long and most do not even stay with the same company. Make sure to do what you want to do and what you think will make you happy! It may not be the path that everyone else is taking, but in the end, it may be best for you.
Many people around you are in the same position (or have been in the past)…there are some other great articles on Geezeo that may help you, here is a great one about entering the “adult world†and how to manage.
February 10th, 2009 at 1:07 am
Nice article. In my opinion, new graduates should not panic if they do not see openings for suitable jobs. They should take up available jobs to build skills and at the same time keep focussed on learning the skills for the trade they dream of eventually.
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October 20th, 2009 at 10:41 am
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