One Year Post Graduation & My Advice

It is hard to believe that it has been a whole year since I graduated from college last year. Part of it seems like it was just yesterday and part of it feels like it was forever ago. I can't imagine graduating right now not knowing how the world will look a month for now. The added stress that brings is just SO hard considering how much I struggled in a normal graduation season. I think that graduating from college is hands down one of the most challenging things. It's not like high school where most people graduate and go right into college. Once you graduate from college there are so many different things. You can go for more schooling, look for a job, move, travel and the list goes on. I thought I would share my perceptive from college graduation and my advice for new graduates.

 

1. Things Will Work Out But You Also Have To Put In The Work // This is for sure my number one piece of advice. When I graduated from college I didn't have a job lined up and I had no clue what I was going to do career-wise. It was so hard because I really couldn't plan anything. In the next month I may get a job or in the next year. It is such a cliché thing but things work out so try not to stress too much. I know easier said than done. I look back now on the jobs that were no's and they were no's for all the right reasons. In the end, I ended up with a perfect starting job and everything did work out. Now that is not to say that opportunities will just fall into your lap. Trust me when I saw you have to work your a** off to land a good quality job. It took even more energy and time than I even originally thought. I just looked back on the document I created to keep track of the applications I filled out. I applied to 238 jobs and only about 8-10ish jobs ever went passed the initial application. Now yes I was applying to large companies and I was not willing to settle for any job but still, it took me a TON of time to get an offer. Which in the end I was only officially offered one position which is the job I currently have! Like I said things will work out. I am so happy with the company I ended up starting my career with but it didn't just fall into my lap. Moral of the story work hard but try not to over-stress! 

2. Be Selfish With What You Want // This may be a bit confusing considering everyone always says you can't be picky with your first job, get what you can take, and no first job is perfect. While yes you do need to be realistic with what you want I do think you should be somewhat picky. After college is the perfect chance to move to a new city, apply for jobs that truly interest you, and do what you want. I always knew if I had the opportunity to move after college I would. I didn't know where specifically but knew I always dreamed of trying out a new city at least for a little while. So I applied to jobs all over the country and some local to my hometown. I moved to Dallas and love it but I do think that if I hadn't moved right after college I don't know when I would have. Before "life" gets in the way it's the perfect time to do what you want for you! The same goes for your job. If you have a goal on what or where you want to work. Got for it! Yes, it might take some extra work but it's so much more rewarding. Don't be afraid to say "No" to an offer if you know the offer is not in reason. Obviously,  you may not get exactly what you had in mind but I will be the first to admit I didn't continue with the interview process with one company because of the salary they offered in the first phone interview. For the cost to live in the city the job was way too low of a salary. So I turned down a second interview. Basically don't lose sight of what you really want after graduation. 

3. Be Open // This kind of contradicts my second tip about not settling for anything. While it is important to remember what it is you value it is also important to be flexible and look beyond the title of a job. I went to school for hospitality but my current role wouldn't necessarily fall under the "traditional" jobs in this field. While there are parts of my job that have to do with hospitality it isn't the first thing you think of and you may pass right by the job posting. So don't be afraid to keep an eye out for opportunities that are not exactly a match with what you went to school for. 

4. Stay In Touch With Friends // I will be the first to admit I could do better with this. It really is hard going from seeing the same friends and people everyday on campus and in class to not seeming them at all. You definitely have to make more of an effort to stay in touch with close friends as everyone starts a different phase of life. 

I am only one-year post-graduation so I am sure as time goes on I may have more to add to this list and things to say. For now, I am going to leave it at these four things and leave you with a quote I think wraps up the points I was trying to hopefully make. 

“Although I think I already knew this back when I graduated from college, I didn’t do it enough: trust your instincts. Deep inside you, you already know what you need to do to pursue your goals. And just as importantly, do not seek permission to pursue your goals. Pursue them. Only by doing so can you show the world what you had in mind and get the support of others.” — Alejandro Sánchez Alvarado (Source) 

On another note, I enjoy writing about career topics and would love to post more job tips, tricks, and advice. I am very new to the corporate would but have somethings I would love to share that might help you. So keep an eye out for more posts like this.