Growing up we are given a timeline by our parents and our community: finish high school, go to college, get a job, get married, have kids, then retire. We are taught that if we follow these 6 steps, in this order, we will be happy and successful. Whether you know it or not, we unconsciously use this timeline as a guide for how we live for the majority of our lives. In high school we have guidance counselors that help us find our dream University and transition smoothly into the next chapter of our lives. And if your college experience was like mine, you were surrounded by community, and equipped with resources that will help you stay strong during your undergraduate experience. For majority of our lives, we are equipped with resources and blessed with a community of people that hold our hands each steps of the way. We have family, friends, and faculty members there to celebrate our milestones, pick us up when we fall, and co-sign our tough decisions.
You see, undergrad essentially extends your childhood. Your parents, family, and the rest of society view you as a child. You are sent countless care packages, given extra pocket money, and not to mention blessed with countless student discounts from businesses. College students essentially bridge the gap between childhood and adulthood. Although we are technically adults, we are given childhood perks due to our lack of ability to fully financially provide for ourselves as a result of our overly-expensive and emotionally taxing education system.
After, finishing undergrad, I felt like I suddenly reached real adulthood and the ball was in my own court. I was no longer surrounded by my college community and friends every day, and I was away from my family at home. I could no longer use school community or my family as a security blanket. I had to provide for myself, and learn how to assimilate into society, alone. For 16 years, I identified as a student, and now I was required to identify by a job title. I had to transition from my schools safe community into the real world without guidance counselors or a manual to help me survive. The first few months, I searched for a step-by-step process to conquer my dreams of starting a ministry and becoming a world renowned psychologist. You’ve probably guess that I couldn’t find those steps anywhere. As a result, the transition led me to overwhelming anxiety, isolation, and a lot of post graduate blues. After searching for jobs, manuals, and opportunities to jumpstart this new chapter, I hit rock bottom. I was forced to acknowledge that God is my one and only resource and guide.
Imagine getting into your car and turning on your GPS, but suddenly your GPS doesn’t work, instead you have trust God that He is leading you in the right direction. Well, that is exactly what I had to do. Honestly, trusting God is hard, but if you’re obedient you’ll end up at the right destination, but if you’re not, you may end up accidently driving off a cliff or to put this in a nicer way, you’ll end up at the wrong destination. But don’t let this pressure you, you’re obviously going to make some mistakes and possibly end up in spaces that aren’t exactly meant for you and that’s okay. Thankfully, God and the GPS has a rerouting system, it’s up to you to listen to directions. Now that God has graciously rerouted me, I am comfortable with giving you 6 new tips to help you survive your post graduate experience.
First things first: There’s no real manual for success after you graduate.
Unfortunately, there’s no step by step process to land your dream career. There’s no straight and narrow path to success, and if you find one, it’s definitely not one-size-fits-all. Your goals and your journey is specifically unique to you. The way one woman does it, may not be the way that’s best fit for you. Oh, and remember the timeline I mentioned before? Yeah, get rid of it. Invisible timelines breed disappointment and put unnecessary pressure on us to meet imaginary deadlines we’ve created for ourselves. Sis, I assure you, God’s plans and timeline for your life is infinitely better than the life you’ve created in your head.
Numero dos: Relax.
I know it sounds like cliché, frivolous advice, but this is necessary for your mental health and your peace. Relax… don’t allow your family or anyone else to pressure you about the timeline of your life. Everyone will be overly excited to ask you, “what’s next?” and don’t feel pressured or ashamed if you don’t have an answer that question. Don’t apply for fifty-eleven random jobs or rush into a relationship for a sense of false security. Relax and trust that what is meant for you will find you. Your career will eventually fall into place, and your life will unfold how it’s supposed to.
Rule number three: Prepare.
Envision what you want your life to look like upon graduation. Is it necessary to have a roommate for financial stability or do you wish to live alone? Do you want to be completely financially independent or do you plan to live at home and save money? Will you be attending grad school or taking a gap year? Gather these small details and prepare accordingly. If your goal is complete financial independence, I’d suggest preparing your living arrangements and starting your job search at least two months before graduation. If you plan to live at home or with a roommate, get those arrangements settled and send in job applications. If you are a senior and about to graduate, preparing these small details in advance will alleviate stress after graduation.
Rule number four: Get experience in your field.
EXPERIENCE, EXPERIENCE, EXPERIENCE. I cannot stress this enough. No one tells you that you need work experience in your field of choice to help jumpstart your postgrad career. I suggest you begin exploring job opportunities in your field by your junior year. Here’s the thing, when hospitals and companies are hiring for a position, they are looking for an expert to do the job. The application process is for the initial review of your expertise and the interview process gives you the opportunity to verbally express your expertise! Now let me ask you this, would you hire a chef that has never cooked before? – hopefully not. Would you hire a basketball player who has never dribbled a ball before? – heck no. Employers are looking to hire the most skilled person for the position, and typically that person has meaningful experience. In the real world, no one likes to hold your hand and most people are too impatient to teach you the job from scratch. Experience = smoother assimilation into the work environment. Not to mention, on average people finish undergrad in their twenties. Therefore, we are competing with older adults who may have 10+ years of experience in the given field, which makes it difficult for new graduates to get jobs. You see, having the degree is typically a requirement to apply for the position. Essentially you’re competing against 10 other people with a similar degree, and experience is the only thing that will set you apart from the other candidates. As a manager it is smarter for me to hire an older man with a 5 or 10 years of experiences vs a new graduate with little to no experience to do the job. As you can see, experience is a major key *DJ Khaled voice* for landing your dream position.
Numero cinco: Network.
You know that old saying, “It’s not what you know, it’s who you know”? Well it’s true. Employers would rather hire someone they know and trust rather than stranger who is equally as qualified. When you hire someone you don’t know, the company is essentially taking a risk. For example: letting a stranger into my home is potentially dangerous because I don’t know what to expect from them, but letting someone I already know and love into my home is safer because I know what to expect. Most employers settle for the safest candidate because they are less of a risk. So get networking, volunteer with organizations you’re interested in working with, shadow, and intern. Learning how to connect with organizations and people will teach you how to make even stronger connections upon graduation. Connections = opportunity.
Finally, rule number six: Be purpose driven while looking for jobs.
Don’t just apply to any ole job you see, apply for jobs that are in alignment with the call God has on your life. And if you’re called to entrepreneurship, then do that with your whole heart and start building now. Ask God where He wants to position you this season, to ensure you’re going in the right direction of your assignment. And if you don’t know your assignment yet, that is perfectly okay. Remember that you are not bound to your degree or to one field for the rest of your life. God gives us the freedom to explore and find our passions. He will reveal it to you as you continue to pray for direction and let Him be your GPS.
Well there you have it, 6 new rules to conquering post grad life. Let God be the author of your life, and take the pressure off yourself, He’s the best story maker.
Xoxo,
Tori