What I Wish I Knew Before I Graduated

It's officially that time of year when graduations are happening left and right. It's to me that a lot of people who were freshman, when I was getting ready to graduate college, are getting ready to graduate themselves. I'm gonna keep this as short as I can, but there's a LOT I wish I knew before I graduated, so I think all of this could be useful to someone.

Graduating college can be one of the best, but scariest, times of your life. For me, being the first person from my immediate family to graduate college made it an even bigger deal. I graduated from Winthrop in 2014 with a BA in Mass Communication and didn't have a job AT ALL. Not even a part-time job. Eventually I went back to graduate school (that's another adventure in itself) because I didn't want to get stuck back home. In the three years since I graduated, I've had plenty of time to look at what I could've done better.

Making Connections

We've all heard the phrase “It’s not what you know but who you know” and this is much more apparent once you graduate college. Knowing someone who works for the company you want to work will definitely help you get an interview and could be the boost you need to get hired. Most of my friends who had jobs before they graduated, or right after, got those jobs because someone referred them for the position. For people without connections, a few months could turn into 6, months and even over a year. Don't be afraid to look for jobs outside of your field either, I know a lot of people with jobs that aren't what they majored in.

One good thing about making friends in college is that it has given me people who can identify with the post-grad struggle. It’s easy to get caught up thinking about what you did wrong, or comparing yourself to graduates who have jobs. Having a support system post-graduation can also help, because as your friends get jobs in their fields, they may be able to help you get a foot in the door at a company they work for.

Working on Your Craft

One of the great things about technology is that it's easier than ever for us to improve our skills, outside of the classroom. For students and recent grads who don’t have a job, this means you can build your portfolio while waiting on that first big job, and you may be able to make extra money on the side depending on your skill-set. Also, it’s important to find ways to practice the skills you learned in college once you graduate so that they will stay sharp whenever you need them. Although many of these opportunities may not be paid, or will require you to spend time and money (buying equipment etc.), don’t sell yourself short by refusing to invest in yourself.

Microsoft Office is another key tool that employers are looking for from job candidates.Forget don't basic charts; There's a lot of more complex features to Excel people don't realize are there. If you don't know how to use logical operators or do pivot tables - look those up, they could help you get an edge over the competition. If you’re still in undergrad consider taking some sort of Microsoft Office course to work on your skills.

Finding a “Real" Job

At the end of the day - A JOB IS A JOB. For a lot of graduates, it’s going hard to find a full time job before you graduate and finding one within your field will be even harder. Of course you should always have goals that you are working toward, but don’t let your pride stop you from paying your bills. Sometimes part-time positions or full-time jobs in fields that aren’t of choice could help you transition into a desired role, or give you skills that you need for the future. Most importantly, they will help you have a steady stream of income.

Overall, college and whatever you do after college, is what you make it. If you find yourself taking a loss, turn it into a lesson and make sure it doesn't happen again. If you learn something from every class you take, or job you have before you land the first big gig, you'll help yourself out. Most importantly, don't settle for what ain't yours. No need to compare yourself to your friends or classmates, because their path isn't going to be the same as your path. Learn during your journey, appreciate your journey, but always stay focused on your destination.

#college #graduation #postgrad