What To Do After Graduation
What you do after graduation will depend on whether you already have a job or not. If you have a job you have certain decisions you need to make about whether or not you want to stay where you’re working and if you’ll want to ask for a raise. If you don’t have a job you need to get busy writing a resume and applying for jobs so you can start paying the bills.
After graduation you’ll be looking at the beginning of your career and there are so many things to consider that you may feel a little bit overwhelmed. Fortunately, you don’t have to wait until you graduate to start thinking about these things, you can start planning months in advance for your job situation after you graduate.
When you have a job you’ll likely not be quite as stressed about graduating and the proceeding career decisions. If you are already working in the career field that interests you and applies to your degree, you’ll find the transition quite simple. You will need to consider whether or not you plan to stay in your current job, will you apply for a promotion, will you ask for a raise, or will you leave this job altogether? You can consider these things in a less frantic matter than if you don’t have a job, but that doesn’t mean you should delay in getting your career started in a way that you feel comfortable with.
The first thing you should do is consider whether or not you are going to stay with the company you are currently working for. Are you able to utilize all of your skills with this company? Do your superiors appreciate the work you do and the time you put into your work? If you do not feel as though your talents will be nurtured and appreciated in your current place of employment, you should definitely consider finding other employment. You must also consider whether or not you’ll have the chance to continue to grow in your current work environment. If you are not looking at any promotions because you’ve already reached the top, you might want to consider what else you can do with your degree so you don’t become bored at work. Now that you’ve got a college degree, you can reach higher and achieve bigger and better things, don’t let your employers limitations hold you back from doing everything that you want to do.
If you decide that you want to stay with your current employer, you might want to think about asking for a raise. Most employers can pay people with a degree more than they can pay those without a degree. When you graduate from college with your degree you deserve to be paid more, so don’t hesitate to ask for a raise in a professional manner. Now that you’ve graduated you might also qualify for a promotion, so when the chance is made available, be sure to voice your desire to be promoted. There is no shame in asking to be compensated monetarily and with a promotion if you believe you deserve it. College graduation should definitely move you up in your business, or you should at least have a plan in place that will allow you to advance.
Making the choice to stay with your current employer is only something you can do, and sometimes, it’s the best option because you have a history with them. But, you should not allow your current job to hold you back from all the things that you want to do. If you don’t feel that you can grow in your current employment situation, you should look for a new job.
If you don’t have a job when you graduate, you’ll need to get organized quickly so that you can find a job and start putting that education to good use! First, you’ll need to determine what type of job you want and you likely know that since you’ve graduated with a degree or certificate that likely only applies to certain types of jobs. When you know what type of job you are looking for you need to write a resume and cover letter to submit to employers that are looking for individuals with your education or experience. Writing a resume can be more difficult than you may think, so if you need help be sure to use resources such as books, articles on the Internet, or even a professional resume writer.
Next, you’ll need to submit to your resume to as many employers as possible. You should not apply for just one or two jobs, as you aren’t likely to get hired if you limit yourself. Applying for just one or two jobs really limits the chances you’ll be hired quickly as the competition in the job market is intense and the more you apply the better chance you have to landing a great job that you can start soon. You need to pick jobs that will pay the bills, allow you to use your degree, will pay you fairly, and appreciate your work, and will allow you to continue to grow in your skill or art. Choosing a job that will limit your talents and abilities should be avoided, because you didn’t get a college degree to limit your growth.
Looking for a job after graduation can be very overwhelming because you need to start paying off those student loans and paying other bills. If you have to take something temporary, don’t feel bad about that, but continue to look for that job that really fits you, your talents, and will allow you to continue to grow in a business and personal sense.
It doesn’t seem to matter whether you have a job when you graduate or not, there are a lot of things to consider. Because that first job is such a big stepping-stone to the rest of your career it’s no surprise that you’ll have a lot on your mind. That first job often sets the tone for your whole career, so be sure it’s a good one to get off to the best start possible!
