Preparing For Life After Graduation

As your college career comes to an end, it’s time to start thinking about and preparing for life after college. In general, this means preparing for your job search and giving yourself the greatest chance of success at finding your dream job. It can be challenging to juggle finishing off classes with thinking about job applications, but it will be worth it when you are walking across the stage with your diploma in hand knowing that you have a job waiting for you on the other side. Here are a few key steps to take before you start on that job search journey. 

Clean Up Your Social Media 

It is easy to forget how accessible social media is to recruiters. While that picture at a party may be funny to your and your friends, your future employer may not agree. Take this time while still in school to clean up your social media to make sure you are showing the image you want employers to see. 

Pay All Your Fees 

That one outstanding overdue book fee or parking ticket could stand between you and a diploma, thus holding you back from a job. Make sure you have all fees paid off well before graduation to allow time for it to go through the system and be cleared. Schools will hold your diploma and transcript until these are taken care of, so take the initiative and pay them off now. 

Fix Up Your Resume 

Whether it has been 4 weeks or 4 years since you touched your resume, now is a time to give it some final revising. You have completed internships, courses, clubs and other activities that employers would be impressed to know about. Make sure you take credit for them and put them on a clean, professional resume. 

Define the Job You Want 

Even if you are not completely sure where you want to end up and what your dream job is, you should have an idea of what type of job you’re looking for. Having too big of a scope will only make your job search more difficult and less rewarding. Trying to tailor a resume to all the jobs is a lot harder than zeroing in on a select job or two and stressing those points throughout your resume. The job you want can change, but make sure you have an idea of what you’re aiming for right now. This will help you focus and not get so overwhelmed when job hunting. 

Life after graduation can seem pretty scary after spending the majority of your life in school. Don’t let your job search get you down. Remember to enjoy your last years of college and by following these simple steps, your job search can be a lot less stressful. 

About the Author: Katie is a guest contributor from The Perfect Card Box, specializing in Graduation Card Holders designed to keep greeting cards safe at your graduation party while showing off your photos.