Top 10 Things To Do After Graduating
Although initially daunting, coming to the end of a three- or four-year course actually opens up a number of different opportunities. You might want to search for a graduate job, study at postgraduate level, or take some time out to go travelling or volunteer. Whichever path you choose, the competitive nature of the jobs market means that it’s important to take full advantage of any free time you have to make your plans and start putting them into action.
1.) Don’t Panic
Your mental state is just as important, and if you focus too much on the negative, it’s unlikely you’ll be able to pull yourself up by the bootstraps. Not finding work immediately after graduation is a minor setback; don’t let it cloud you completely.
2.) Polish Your Resume
You may think it’s great now, but it’s good to revisit your resume from time to time. You need to check for mistakes, update contact details, etc. What’s more, you can use this time to find ways to make your resume stand out. For example, there are now websites that let you upload your resume. This will give you an additional avenue for reaching out to hiring managers.
3.) Build Your Portfolio
If you’re a writer, start writing. If you’re a photographer, get snapping. Just because you’re not employed doesn’t mean you have to stop working. Offer your services to friends, even for no pay. The point is to build your body of work. When you finally get a job interview, you’ll have an extensive and varied portfolio to present.
4.) Take a Paid Internship Position
The thing about a lot of graduates is that they are set in their “ways”. They have this vision of life after college and are unable to be flexible when things don’t go the way they planned. Work as an intern. In fact, pick the company you want and offer to be an intern. It’s a good way to get your foot in the door, or at the very least to improve your work experience for when a real position opens up.
5.) Volunteer Your Time
If you’re not working, might as well do some good. Volunteer your services. Here’s a better idea: volunteer your career-related services. For example, if you majored in Information Technology, offer to help a local shelter build their website or database. Though doing good is its own reward, you can also maximize your volunteer time by using it to beef up your expertise and your skills.
6.) Network, Network, Network
It might be tempting to just hide yourself away because you’re depressed over unemployment, but this isn’t helpful. You need to keep in touch with friends and professors. Get to meet people in your niche. Find ways to interact. Join career fairs. Attend relevant seminars. The goal is to make sure you network with as many people as you can. Networking is a surefire way to hear of new job openings, internships, trainings, and other events that could help with your career.
7.) Study Again
It doesn’t mean you need to go to graduate school. That’s one option, but it’s not the only one. You could attend seminars and trainings. While looking for a job, make sure your skills don’t get rusty by taking the necessary courses . Keep on improving.
8.) Build Your Own Business
This is a risky step, but if you have a solid business plan, friends to support you, and enough capital to get started, why not? In fact, even if you don’t have capital, you can either start small (sell online) or get a business loan. There are many ways to further your career, and it doesn’t always involve employment.
9.) Travel
Take some time off. When you get started with your job, there’s no telling when you’ll have a real vacation again. Think of this as a time to broaden your horizons. In fact, you might even find job opportunities where you never expected, like in an exotic country, perhaps?
10.) Regroup
Take this time to go over your strengths and weaknesses. Identify what you really want to achieve or where you want your career to go. This is your chance to consider a variety of options and to see what improvements you need. It’s the perfect time to ready yourself for the world ahead.
