Today let’s talk about some recent college graduate advice!
As college graduation season has arrived, many young adults are stepping into the world with their degree for the first time. Congratulations! I graduated from college in 2018, and during my time in college (and since then) I’ve helped guide over 700,000 college students navigate college life and succeed in their studies. Since then, I’ve begun to do the same for young adults in their 20’s out of school as well. Now that you’ve found yourself crossing the bridge from college life into, well, whatever comes next – I wanted to share some of my top recent college graduate advice!
Don’t Compare Your Timeline to Others
While this is a lot easier said than done, if you’re able to get into this mindset now you’ll save yourself a lot of heartache in the future.
Up until now, it’s likely that you and your friends have been on similar journeys. Going to school for 12+ years, graduating high school, going to and graduating from college… but now your futures are a lot less structured and outlined than before. Some of your friends may get jobs right away, some might get married really soon, some might have babies, some might travel the world, some might move back home with their parents, some might buy a home… your paths will likely begin to go different directions.
It can be really easy to get into a mindset of comparing yourself to your friends. When you compare yourself to your friends you might feel pressure to progress at your life at a certain rate, like you’re not going fast enough or making enough “adult” decisions.
Remember that everyone moves at their own pace, and your timeline is your timeline to accomplish whatever you want to do.
Keep Going For Internship Opportunities
While you might want to secure a full-time job right out of graduation, don’t miss out on the little time you have left to take advantage of an internship opportunity. Many internship programs still allow recent grads to participate!
Related: How to Be a Standout Intern – Best Internship Tips
This can be especially beneficial if you don’t have direct experience in the field you want to go into or if you just need more experience to break into a competitive job. Internships can really help to set you up for success, but are usually only available for a short window of your life.
Set Up Informational Interviews
I know, I know – if you’ve been around here a bit you know ALL about informational interviews and how much I love them. But really, even if you already have a job lined up for after graduation, if you’re a recent college graduate you need to be doing them!
Informational interviews are an absolute key component to networking. They allow you to make connections, learn about career paths, get custom advice tailored to your career journey from someone you admire, and could result in internal job recommendations and potential job interviews.
As a recent college graduate you really have an upper hand here. Reach out to alumni from your school who work in the field/company you aspire to be at! Everyone loves to talk about themselves, and having that connection of where you went to school makes it even more likely that they’ll want to talk to you and help you out.
Learn more about Informational Interviews here! What they are, how to set one up, how to prepare, and how to do a successful one.
Strive to Set Healthy Habits
As a new graduate, it’s likely that this will be the first time you haven’t been in school. It’s also likely that you’re about to start working full-time for the first time in your life.
This comes with lots of changes, and you’ll start setting up some new habits – whether you want to or not.
Are you going to meal prep health lunches for the week, or buy lunch out every day at work? Are you going to squeeze a workout in before or after work, or struggle to find time for it?
This new chapter in your life is the perfect time to set up some new habits to help make your life what you want it to be.
Get Your Finances Together
For many, after college graduation is the first time you’ll have to really manage your money on your own. You may take on new financial responsibilities like paying your own rent, repaying student loans, and buying your own groceries instead of eating at the dining hall.
Unsure where to start? Check out this full guide on how to start managing your finances after graduating!
Have Fun
Once you graduate you might be faced with responsibilities that you never had to deal with before. There’s a lot to figure out and grow in – but don’t forget to keep having fun.
You may be working full-time with a long commute and bills to pay, but it’s important that you take care of yourself and continue to make time for your friends and the things you love to do! Life post-grad can be stressful, but it also comes with a lot of freedom to make choices and do things you haven’t before!
Recent College Graduate Advice
Being a recent college graduate comes with a lot of freedom and opportunity – enjoy it!
Do you have any questions about life after graduation? Do you have any advice for recent college graduates?
