It’s graduation time for college students across the country! Congratulations, you made it! However, now you need to start getting everything in order for life after graduation. So, take a few days and celebrate, but get ready for the real world. This means getting a job, moving out of the dorms (and preferably not into your parent’s house), and starting to save for the future (a house, family, and then retirement). Life comes at you fast, so follow this little guide to make sure that you’re prepared.
The Job Search
Step one after graduation is locking in the job. Hopefully you spent your last semester or quarter networking, and maybe you’ve leveraged your connections from your college internship. If not, you should check out A College Grad’s Guide to the Job Search, a comprehensive post on what you need to do to get a job.
And remember, your first job out of college is really just a stepping stone. Don’t think that you’re going to be stuck in that job forever. So consider it an entry job, and just get into a path similar to what you really want to do forever. That way, you can build your experience as you go! For example, if you want to get into finance, there are a lot of different finance career choices to start at, and get experience to get to your final destination.
And finally, avoid these 5 common career mistakes!
Housing
Step two is getting a place to live, preferably not with your parents. This means following the post-college apartment financial plan. You should pick your housing AFTER your pick your job because you never know if you will need to relocate. In today’s job market, you shouldn’t trap yourself in an area until you have a solid job. That is why a college grad shouldn’t buy a house right away.
Make sure that when you choose your housing, you choose something that is affordable so that you can save for your final gameplan of getting a house. There is no reason to live large right out of college if you can’t save anything for your future.
Finances
Finally, you need to get your finances in order now that you’ve graduated. You can follow my 10 Step Plan for College Graduates as a starting point. But overall, this means getting your checking and savings account going, paying off any student loans you’ve taken out, and starting to plan for the future.
Also, at your first job, this means enrolling in insurance, and making sure that you take advantage of any 401k matches your employer may offer.
Readers, what other things do new grads need to prepare for?
About Robert
I hope many new grads heed the advice about viewing their first job as a stepping stone.
Far too many grads now are picky and expect the perfect job right when they get out a school. The reality is that they’re going to make $25-30k and get an entry level position. Just like everybody else before them they have to work their way up, pay their time, and get some experience before they land the gig they really want.
The other problem is over-educating without having the real life experience. I know a person with a B.S., MBA, and JD all without work experience. They want to start off being a General Counsel, which is a far cry from reality. Maybe in a decade!
I think these are all great focus points for graduates. Another one I would add for graduates is to get ready for a real world wake up call. It has been said that this generation has a sense of entitlement. I can attest to this because after graduation a few years back it was an expectation to have a job after graduation. You go to school, you graduate, you get a job – immediately. The ugly truth is that is not reality. I was one of the lucky few to receive a job offer right after college in my profession, but most of my friends went years until they could land a job in their profession. My tip to those still in school – networking and internships are golden!
Thanks for this post!
Ugh…as a manager in my current job, I can’t stand a sense of entitlement. You’re lucky to have a job, and I have 300 applicants a week. Believe me, I really don’t need you…
I think in today’s market for entry level jobs, one needs especially not to be too picky. Jump in, get started, learn as much as you can, show up on time, do your best work, go the extra mile, offer to help your colleagues, start building your career network, and all is good! If you do these simple things, you’ll be amazed at the opportunities that come your way over time.
Definitely! People value hard work and dedication. Almost any job skill can be easily learned. What can’t always be taught is perseverance and dedication!
I agree with the above comments. I would warn that getting the exact job you really want will be tough, so some grads need to swallow their pride and take what comes along. Many people will just dig themselves deeper into debt, all while complaining that they “can’t get a job”. I’d say your first job’s function is to pay off any debt you accumulated while in college and to start networking. Don’t expect your dream job out of college. That way, if you happen to land it, it’s that much better!
I don’t buy the “I can’t get a job” BS. There are over 1 million job openings right now in the United States. Go out and work, and then work your way up into the job you really want.
Acclimating to a professional environment where performance is not graded A, B, or C. Learning what it takes to please your boss, learning what soft skills are and finally developing a career plan. I stressed with my children to always prepare for the next job by acquiring the skills and expereince for it.
I think that is a great point about the grading scale. Many companies don’t use one, and the for the ones that do, it can be pretty harsh if you’re not ready for it. Understand that the real world is about tough feedback, so get used to it.
Life after school was a shock. There is a certain that you get used to when you’re a student, and all of a sudden you have to be a grown up took a while.
I’ve seen that in a ton of recent grads. Things just don’t really start clicking until about 6 months in.
Early in their career, people need to be flexible, agressive, work a ton and not impair their finances. I’ve seen countless friends misstep on one or more of these things and it took over a decade to recover.
I agree, especially about the flexibility part. To get a job in this economy, you need to be flexible in what you do.
I will be graduating after one and a half year so I should keep an eye on the advice. According to me You should have some money in your pocket and a lot of IQ and experience when you graduate.
Definitely try to have some experience when you graduate. It will make you a more ideal candidate for any employer looking to hire you!