Blog

So, You’ve Graduated College… Now What? Adulting “101”

July 19th, 2022

After 4 or more years of college, you finally graduate. Congratulations! Be proud, you’ve worked hard. After all the excitement and celebrations are over, you’ll probably ask yourself the question “Now what?” Well, there is no right or wrong answer to that. Most likely, you have been going to school your whole life, and possibly working part time jobs that pay minimum wage ever since you were 16. Thinking about starting your career and adult life can be scary. At least it was for me when I realized graduation day was closer than I thought. Leaving college and entering the “real world” is intimidating, but it doesn’t need to be overwhelming. I graduated two months ago with a bachelor's degree in Marketing and was offered a full-time position beginning in September! If you’re wondering what you can do to prepare for a successful career and adjust to post-grad life, read on to learn about some key tips that have helped me.

One of the first things I did a few months before graduation was, I applied for multiple jobs. I built a resume, and used LinkedIn, Handshake, and other job hunt applications to apply to lots of opportunities that I found. Since I had no prior marketing experience, many jobs either said they were looking for more experience or didn’t get back to me at all. Don’t be discouraged when this happens, you’re still on the right track! Don’t be afraid to apply for internships as these companies don’t expect new graduates to have a lot of work experience. I kept applying and eventually got two job offers after having interviews. I decided to take both for the summer since they were part time, which is a great way to build your resume and gain more experience. Look into both your network and career centers to expand your job search as they might have access to job openings that haven’t been posted anywhere yet. Something that scared me the most was going into job interviews. I knew these interviews were going to be harder and more intense than the ones I have had before. What I recommend is being prepared. In addition to looking up the company and getting to know what they do, I looked up job interview questions and made sure I had an answer for them. I also made sure I dressed professionally and was polite and friendly with my interviewers and everyone working at the office.

Moving back home after college may be difficult to adjust to. I know I was not looking forward to it after being on my own for 4 years. However, if you have the option I do recommend going back home, rather than getting your own apartment right after graduation. It will help you save lots of money, and you get to enjoy your mom’s cooking every night! Learning to manage money will be the best thing you can do once you graduate and find a job. Create and stick to a budget, so you’ll be able to track your earnings and expenses and see where you’re spending the most money. All those ice coffees add up quickly! Now is also the time to learn about your credit score. You can sign up for a free site, like CreditKarma.com and check your number without decreasing your score. These sites are a good way to check your progress on student loans and any other loans/credit cards you may have. Once you have enough money saved and your credit score is in decent shape, you can move into your own apartment/house and buy your own things that you may not have been able to afford before working.

Aside from job hunting and saving money, I noticed how much I missed my friends from school since most of them live far away from me. It has been difficult adjusting to being away from them, especially my roommates. I realize that it will take some time to get used to not being together all the time, so we stay in touch and communicate with each other at least every week. During long weekends/holidays, we plan trips to see each other, which I highly recommend! Definitely stay in touch with your college friends, see what they have been up to, and try to plan to see each other every once in a while. I met all my closest friends in college, so I wouldn’t want us to drift apart. Different people are in your life at different times, so even though you may be leaving some friends behind, there will be plenty more to make in the future. Who knows, maybe a year or two after you graduate you will be moving back into an apartment with your college best friend!

Transitioning from “college life” to looking for a full-time career can be a difficult and stressful time, but it is also filled with different and fun experiences that will define your future. If you’re able, living at home will also afford you the opportunity to go on that trip you’ve always wanted to go on, take on new experiences, and enjoy this time before moving out on your own. After graduation you’re not expected to have your life all figured out, but that doesn’t mean you can’t begin thinking about a plan for your future. Creating a plan while you are still attending college, will help set yourself up for professional and personal success in the future.

To find out more about the company go to our website www.funent.com you can also go to this link to sign up for our newsletter which comes out about 6 times a year https://funent.com/subscribe-to-the-funny-pages/.  Our newsletter will tell you more about the company and the products and services we offer as well as some games, things to do and the occasional cooking tip.