(image from www.giveagradago.com)
Now I'm certainly no expert. But as a recent (almost) graduate, I've put together a list of thing that I think it's important to remind myself of in this period of transition from a student to an adult actually trying to function in the real world. So hopefully it'll help any other grads feeling the same way right now. :)
- You are not defined by the way your job/internship hunt goes in the first few months. It's so easy to feel like, if you're not one of the lucky few who gets a job straight out of university or in the ensuing weeks, that you're a failure. But it's so important to remember that it doesn't work that way for everyone. Depending on your career path, it may be easier or harder to get a job in your chosen field. Some fields are more competitive, some degrees lead directly to a job straight away e.g teaching, and some careers require a few more months of interning than others. It's different for everyone, so it's important (but difficult, I get it) to not compare yourself to your fellow graduates.
- Have fun. You've just spent probably around 18+ years solidly in education. This is probably the first time in your life where you don't have a set plan, a next step, or a guaranteed foundation, which, while incredibly scaring, can also be extremely liberating. You can literally choose to do whatever you want (within reason, obvs). Whether that be diving straight into a career you've dreamed about for years, or taking a year off to travel, it's totally up to you, and that is something to be excited about.
- But also, don't forget that having money coming in is always going to be useful. Whether it's saving up for that big trip around the world, or simply having something to do in the first few months after graduation, getting any sort of job is useful. It will keep you busy and having that source of income after years as a student with not a whole lot of money will be verrrrrrry welcome.
- Keep in mind the bigger picture. Starting off in your career is always going to be difficult, and it's easy to get disheartened when your first job may not be exactly (or remotely) where you eventually want to end up. But, if you're working towards that bigger picture, it becomes easier to remember that you won't always be there. Everyone has to start somewhere, and keeping that in mind when your working in your first job may help keep you sane.
- Try and learn as much about the industry you want to get into as possible. It's easy to get disheartened and become uninspired if the first job you get is in a place you don't see as your dream career environment. But it's a difficult time to be a graduate right now with the job market all over the place, so, while it's important to keep going after what you really want, try and get all you can out of the job/placement/internship you have now to help equip you for your future career moves. :)
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