LIfe After College
Anh Nguyen
So this is life after college
When you’re in college, it feels like it’s never going to end. You feel nervous before quizzes and exams. You feel tired of classes and you wish you could just do anything in order to get a break from school. But now you’re getting ready to graduate and face a total change. And while some students know what they want to do after graduation, many do not. Some consider this time to pursue their dreams and goals. Some use this time to discover their calling they could not find in college. Some use this time simply to take a break. Regardless of what your postgrad plans may be, make sure you think hard about your decision. Ready to know what your options are? Read on for a list of things to do after college you might want to try.
Travel
Chances are after you graduate, it is implied that you will go straight to work for the rest of your life (I am scaring you a bit I guess). You just spent 16 or so years of your life in school and now you jump in right after that for a job – that would be crazy. Take a break! For some reason, people have the tendency to settle for a career and get married right after college, but I find that is not as much fun as travelling. Jobs will still be here when you return. It is time to turn all of that learning outward and to see what has been going on with the rest of the world while you have spent all those years burying your head in the books. For example, since I took MNGT 375 (International Business: Theory & Practice) and MNGT 438 (Multinational Management and Culture), everything I have learnt so far in class, the countries and its culture inspired me to want to travel to some of these places and get first hand exposure. You can even work abroad if you would like to truly experience what it’s like in a foreign country. Travel gives you a global outlook on things you have never known, you can also improve your problem solving skills, and you will get more life experiences. Do yourself a favor and travel now. You will learn more about the world than you may expect!
Volunteer
I may sound crazy when I say this after I gave you an option to explore the world, however, if you do not want to jump in with the job, you could also try volunteering. Giving your time to the community is not only personally rewarding, but it can help you develop skills and contacts which will serve you well in your future job or career. There are a variety of long-term service opportunities available to students after graduation. They vary in length, location, type of service, etc. You can volunteer for Peace Corps, World Teach, MatchCorps, The Catholic Volunteer Network, Teach for America, EarthCorps, … and so on. This is a great option for you to enhance personal growth, explore different cultures and serve your community.
Adopt a New Hobby
Do you like drawing? Have you ever tried playing a musical instrument? Well, this is a perfect time for you to try out new things. Whenever you start working, this activity can keep you excited about your life. It can give you a great break from a tiring day at work, too. Designate an amount of time (30 minutes or an hour a day) to your practice the skill you want to learn and soon you will master it. For me, I have always had a deep passion for photography and I feel like it would be useful to learn new tips from the internet whenever I have time so I am sure that after graduation that is what I will probably do.
Take a Class
For those of you who want to pursue a higher degree in the major you are in, this is another option. Graduate schools can give you more job opportunities. For some people, a master’s degree can increase annual earning potential. However, if you are interested in pursuing a field other than what you majored in, you can consider taking classes at community college or at some learning centers in your area. I have a friend who graduated a long time ago. She works every day and at night she goes to school to take a class for graphic and web design.
Start your own Business
Nowadays, with the help of the Internet, it does not take much in order to start your own business. No matter what you decide to do, brainstorm your ideas and create a detailed business plan first, then do research for the competitors in the industry and things you need for your business. Second, put your heart into it; get your idea out to the world. Even if you fail, failure is the first step toward a successful future.
Work
When you’re in college, it feels like it’s never going to end. You feel nervous before quizzes and exams. You feel tired of classes and you wish you could just do anything in order to get a break from school. But now you’re getting ready to graduate and face a total change. And while some students know what they want to do after graduation, many do not. Some consider this time to pursue their dreams and goals. Some use this time to discover their calling they could not find in college. Some use this time simply to take a break. Regardless of what your postgrad plans may be, make sure you think hard about your decision. Ready to know what your options are? Read on for a list of things to do after college you might want to try.
Travel
Chances are after you graduate, it is implied that you will go straight to work for the rest of your life (I am scaring you a bit I guess). You just spent 16 or so years of your life in school and now you jump in right after that for a job – that would be crazy. Take a break! For some reason, people have the tendency to settle for a career and get married right after college, but I find that is not as much fun as travelling. Jobs will still be here when you return. It is time to turn all of that learning outward and to see what has been going on with the rest of the world while you have spent all those years burying your head in the books. For example, since I took MNGT 375 (International Business: Theory & Practice) and MNGT 438 (Multinational Management and Culture), everything I have learnt so far in class, the countries and its culture inspired me to want to travel to some of these places and get first hand exposure. You can even work abroad if you would like to truly experience what it’s like in a foreign country. Travel gives you a global outlook on things you have never known, you can also improve your problem solving skills, and you will get more life experiences. Do yourself a favor and travel now. You will learn more about the world than you may expect!
Volunteer
I may sound crazy when I say this after I gave you an option to explore the world, however, if you do not want to jump in with the job, you could also try volunteering. Giving your time to the community is not only personally rewarding, but it can help you develop skills and contacts which will serve you well in your future job or career. There are a variety of long-term service opportunities available to students after graduation. They vary in length, location, type of service, etc. You can volunteer for Peace Corps, World Teach, MatchCorps, The Catholic Volunteer Network, Teach for America, EarthCorps, … and so on. This is a great option for you to enhance personal growth, explore different cultures and serve your community.
Adopt a New Hobby
Do you like drawing? Have you ever tried playing a musical instrument? Well, this is a perfect time for you to try out new things. Whenever you start working, this activity can keep you excited about your life. It can give you a great break from a tiring day at work, too. Designate an amount of time (30 minutes or an hour a day) to your practice the skill you want to learn and soon you will master it. For me, I have always had a deep passion for photography and I feel like it would be useful to learn new tips from the internet whenever I have time so I am sure that after graduation that is what I will probably do.
Take a Class
For those of you who want to pursue a higher degree in the major you are in, this is another option. Graduate schools can give you more job opportunities. For some people, a master’s degree can increase annual earning potential. However, if you are interested in pursuing a field other than what you majored in, you can consider taking classes at community college or at some learning centers in your area. I have a friend who graduated a long time ago. She works every day and at night she goes to school to take a class for graphic and web design.
Start your own Business
Nowadays, with the help of the Internet, it does not take much in order to start your own business. No matter what you decide to do, brainstorm your ideas and create a detailed business plan first, then do research for the competitors in the industry and things you need for your business. Second, put your heart into it; get your idea out to the world. Even if you fail, failure is the first step toward a successful future.
Work
Last but not least,
one of the common options is to work. In order to do this, here are some tips
that I would recommend for you to follow:
- Set up
an appointment with TU’s Career Services and get your resume updated
- Join the
alumni organization and attend some upcoming events
- Update
your LinkedIn account, get connected with your professors and the colleagues
you are working with, or maybe your classmates that you are in touch with
- Set
aside few hours to do a job search each week through newspapers, online, school’s
website