Graduation: Now What?

By Sarah Butcher on April 12, 2013

With only a few weeks until graduation, the pressure’s starting to sink in. Job applications, grad school letters, and finals are right around the corner and it’s imperative you finish strong. It’s too easy to call it quits with less than a month left, so make sure you stay on top of your grades and get a head start on the year to come.

Photo via fsu.edu

Applying for a job may seem like a terrifying ordeal, especially if you’ve never had any professional work experience before. My roommate nearly had a panic attack the other day when she had to call and actually talk to someone about a potential position. It’s one thing to walk into a clothing store with a smile and ask if they’re hiring for the summer, it’s another to call companies, schedule interviews, and sign up for a job that requires more than a pretty smile and a minimum age requirement. For those entering the real world of career hunting, here are just a few ways to make the search a little bit easer:

Internships

Get a head start on the job market and get your name out there by interning. You don’t have to start your career with your dream job, and you’re not going to get hired for $90,000 a year right out of college. Keep that in the back of your head when you start applying for jobs with big companies and corporations. Remember that your degree will only get you so far and it’s not a guarantee that you’ll be working in the field that you studied. Internships provide you with the opportunity to work for someone you might not be able to without prior experience. They also allow you to work in your field to determine if that’s the career you want to pursue.

Proactive Searching

As for the application process, there are multiple websites and applications that can connect you with future employers. Stay on top of the job market by being proactive in your search; a company isn’t going to call you because you have a degree. If you don’t get your name out there, then no one will know you exist. Websites like LinkdIn can help you promote your skills, but they won’t do all the work for you. Sometimes it takes going back to a company several times before they’ll give you the time of day. Employers want to know that you’re determined and a hard worker. Be persistent – a “no” today could be a “yes” tomorrow.

Resources

Your university isn’t just there to give you an education, hand you a degree, and send you on your way. There are multiple groups and associations on campus that are there to help you walk out of college with a job, not just a GPA. The Career Center on Florida State’s campus works with you to create a resume, put together a portfolio, and steer you in the right direction for future employment. There are also multiple Career Fairs throughout the school year that provide you with on-campus opportunities to make those important connections.

While graduation may seem a little frightening, there are hundreds of opportunities just waiting for you – don’t let them pass you by.

Follow Uloop

Apply to Write for Uloop News

Join the Uloop News Team

Discuss This Article

Back to Top

Log In

Contact Us

Upload An Image

Please select an image to upload
Note: must be in .png, .gif or .jpg format
OR
Provide URL where image can be downloaded
Note: must be in .png, .gif or .jpg format

By clicking this button,
you agree to the terms of use

By clicking "Create Alert" I agree to the Uloop Terms of Use.

Image not available.

Add a Photo

Please select a photo to upload
Note: must be in .png, .gif or .jpg format