Graduation can be a very exciting time–it’s the beginning of the rest of your life and in the words of Dr. Seuss, “Oh, the places you’ll go.”
What happens a few months after graduation when you feel like you’re not going anywhere? Those feelings can be hard to deal with, especially after you feel like you’ve accomplished so much by finishing school.
I finished my graduate program around this time last year, and I was rightly proud of myself for making it that far. I didn’t feel so proud when I ended up unemployed and living back in my parents’ basement. I felt like I’d hit a major plateau and none of the doors that are supposedly unlocked by earning degrees were opening up for me. For 23 years of my life, I’d done nothing but school. Now that I was finished for a while, what was I supposed to do?
While graduation is a huge accomplishment and an entry into a new phase of your life, no one talks about how easy it is to feel lost and floundering once you’ve passed that point. Let me offer a few words of advice that I wish someone had told me pre-graduation.
You might have a job goal in mind, but it might not (and probably won’t) happen overnight. It’s going take a lot of job applications and working your way up to make it to where you want to be. Don’t give up, even when it seems hopeless. Allow yourself the space it will take to achieve your goals. After all, you’ve got the rest of your life!
If we’re being honest, the job market for our generation isn’t great, even with a degree. Don’t get discouraged if you keep getting turned down for jobs–most positions are pretty competitive. In the same vein, don’t get down on yourself if you have to work a job you feel is below your skill set for a while to pay the bills.
Without school, especially if you’re unemployed or working part-time, your schedule can become pretty open. It’s easy to get lost in an eternal Netflix binge if you don’t set goals for yourself. Even if you can’t find employment, see if there are any volunteer opportunities in your field. Those connections can open major doors for you if you let them.
While it’s important to stay focused, it’s totally okay to indulge in that Netflix binge once in awhile. A college degree is a lot of work, so don’t be afraid to take some time for yourself to relax–you’ve earned it.
Above all, believe in yourself and don’t get discouraged. You weren’t just given that degree, you had the skills to earn it, and you’ll have the skills to achieve your goals outside of school as well.