Graduating College

After college graduation, you can jump into worklife, or simply take some time to figure out what to do next—the choice is all yours!

Ian Aman, a 2006 graduate of the University of San Diego, wasn’t sure what he wanted to do after college graduation. His short-term plan was to work for two months as a camp counselor in Hawaii. Though that may not sound like an ambitious career, the experience was invaluable.

“I majored in education and quickly realized that teaching just wasn’t for me,” Ian says, of his summer experience. “I used the first 30 days after graduation to explore my options and see what I could do with my major beyond teaching.”

Chances are you’re feeling the way Ian does—confused about your direction in life after completing roughly four years of academic work as an undergraduate. More than 1.5 million students complete their college degrees annually, and it’s virtually assured that every one of them is anxious about life after college. You've likely experienced a number of emotions—from excitement and relief to uncertainty and terror—at the prospect of entering the real world.

During this new phase in your life, you can expect to go through a variety of changes and emotions over the next few weeks. Along the way, you’re sure to hear every graduate’s least favorite question: “What are you going to do now?”

You have a lot on your plate, from searching for a job to figuring out your living arrangements to plotting your finances. With all of these variables, this can be an incredibly confusing time. Remember, however, that you’ve achieved a lot and reached the point where you can finally live life on your own terms.

Though Ian embarked on his post-college career with some anxiety, he seized control and eventually figured out his calling. “Ultimately, I decided to take the route to grad school to get my master’s degree in counseling,” he explains.

Ian found his way, and you will, as well.

Post-graduation: A Room of One’s Own

With school over, you need to figure out where you plan to live: Whether you move back in with your parents or find an apartment, you living arrangements will be a far cry from the lifestyle afforded by your college community or dorm.

Starting a life after graduation is stressful enough, and when it’s compounded by a move to another city, the prospect can be petrifying. Lisa Tronolone, a 2007 graduate from Mount St. Mary’s University, believes her biggest accomplishment in the first 30 days after graduation was moving to Baltimore. “My apartment is perfect and it’s a huge accomplishment that I am able to pay rent every month,” she says. “I was able to support myself and stand on my own two feet without the help of anyone.”

Indeed, the loss of a prefabricated support system—and the shock of living alone for the first time—can be the most troubling experience for some college graduates. Karen Aldefer, a 2006 graduate of Loyola Marymount University, moved to Reno after college and realized that she would never live with her roommates again. “After four years in college, I had become very comfortable with the school, my roommates and my friends,” she explains. “Moving to Reno for graduate school was a big change. I didn't know anyone in Reno, and I rented an apartment alone.”

Graduates starting over in a new city may have to reach deep into their freshman skill set to make new friends once again. That was the energy channeled by Karen, who worked hard to meet new people. “I went to group study sessions, invited people to dinner and went out of my way to get to know people. Now I feel like I have a lot of really great friends there,” she says. “I think that making a fresh start can remind you that you’re capable of change. Knowing that makes me feel independent.”

However, the dream of total independence may be far off for many graduates who have no choice but to move back in with their parents. After returning to the nest, it helps to create a timeline of when you want to move out. Kristy Jackson, the post college editor for BellaOnline.com, recommends you consider why you are moving home. “Are you staying there for a few weeks until you get a final offer on a job? Waiting for graduate school to start? If you have a timeline, it’ll keep you motivated since it’s easy to stagnate if your folks are footing the bills for the indefinite future,” she notes.

While you may be unhappy about living at home, there are benefits; you may not have to pay rent or utility bills, and this affords you the opportunity to stash away extra cash for future rent and student loan payments.

Whether you’re moving home or living on your own, expect to bear a greater responsibility for your finances. Peter Wallace, author of Life 101: Real World Skills for Graduating College Seniors, advises that graduates accept the “reality of rent every month along with dreaded utility bills” and maintain open communication with roommates about splitting responsibilities. In addition, it’s imperative to stay on top of school loan repayments and rein in frivolous spending. “Rent, student loan payments and credit card debt can easily swallow up an entry-level salary, so be careful,” Jackson warns. “Budget your money wisely.”

The Job Search

Possibly the scariest, yet most important thing to do post-graduation is to find a job. It will likely be the biggest hurdle you face in the first month. Both Jackson and Wallace agree that it’s to your advantage to start your job search early. If you don’t already have a career, your full-time job for the moment should involve finding one.

The first step should be creating a professional-sounding email address, because beergoggles@joopnet.com, won’t cut it. The second step involves revamping your online social networking profiles on Myspace.com and Facebook.com: If there’s anything you wouldn’t want a prospective employer to see, fix it. In addition, re-record your outgoing voicemail message to sound professional and responsible.

The next step is to look good on paper; Wallace suggests that you fine-tune your resume and cover letter so you’ll be ready to spend your time sending applications out to companies of interest. He cautions against taking too much time off after college, because the longer you wait to enter the job pool, the less confidence you’ll have.

If you’re having trouble finding a job through the regular application process, tap into your network of friends, neighbors and relatives for assistance. “Ask if they would be willing to help in your career development,” Wallace advises. If you don’t know what type of industry you want to work in, ask your network about different types of jobs. “When you network, you’ll learn about a variety of jobs and you’re bound to find an area that interests you,” he adds.

Finding a job was high on Chris Spagnuolo’s list of fears after college. The University of Southern California graduate moved from Los Angeles back to New York and wasn’t sure he was going to make it. “Finding the right job, as well as one that paid enough to be able to pay bills and loans, was stressful,” he admits. “I also had a fear of not doing as well as my friends and classmates. They had secured jobs in consulting and investment banking well in advance of graduation.”

Chris realized that getting discouraged over his friends’ successes wasn’t going to get him a job any sooner. He focused on his career hunt and was able to find a great job in publicity, an area that genuinely interested him. “In retrospect, I wish I hadn’t allowed that to stress me out so much,” he explains. “Don’t give up or start sulking if you don’t have a job. Eventually you will find one, but it may take some time.”

When it comes to deciding what type of job or career you want, don’t be afraid to make a mistake: The average person will have more than 10 jobs during his or her lifetime. Treat your first job as a learning experience and as a way to determine what you love to do. It is the starting point of your future career.

A Career Versus a Calling

There’s no rule that you have to get a full-time job right away, so don’t panic if you aren’t ready to enter the corporate workforce just yet. In addition to the Peace Corps or graduate school, you could always follow your dream of becoming a bartender or surfing instructor. “If you’ve always wanted to be a ski instructor, do it during the first month, six months or year after you graduate,” Wallace advises. Once you enter the workforce, taking an extended period of time off to follow your dreams may not be as easy.

In the first 30 days, be sure to reward yourself for all your hard work during the past four years. If that reward is heading to the beach or traveling through Europe, then pack light. Just remember to stay focused and use your time off to think about how you can parlay your interests into future jobs.

Anne Buckley, a 2007 graduate from the University of the Pacific, thought that she wanted to become a lawyer but wasn’t really sure if it suited her personality. After graduation, she traveled around the United States and Europe, all the while thinking about what she wanted to do with her life. “Law school ended up not being something I really wanted to do,” she explains. “I felt like I could have a better career in nursing. I have more of a passion for taking care of people rather than suing them.” Anne quickly applied to a nursing program and has since started classes.

If you’re going back to graduate school in the next few months, look into a part-time job or even a volunteer position so you don’t waste your summer. “Volunteer projects are great because you typically leave the project feeling good about yourself, learning a new skill and meeting some new people,” Jackson says. “All of these can be used to your advantage when it comes to understanding what kind of career might be fulfilling for you.”

Whatever path you consider, enjoy the journey along the way. Take in your emotions and uncertainty and use them as a springboard for success during the first 30 days and beyond. After all, your commencement speaker who proclaimed “the world is at your feet” wasn’t exaggerating. It’s yours for the taking.