How to Handle Life After Graduation

Graduation: Student excited about diploma and graduating. Photo courtesy of Shutterstock.

So you raced through the last four years—acing tests, tackling internships, and having some fun along the way. It was all for this moment, now you proudly hold your college diploma in your hands. Go ahead and celebrate, you deserve it! But when you wake up tomorrow, will you know what you’re going to do with your life?

There can be some tough situations after college for which you may not be prepared. But that’s okay, you’ll get there.

Here’s a quick guide to help you navigate the post-grad landscape so you can make educated decisions on the things that will impact the rest of your life.

A Big Move

The first step when transitioning into adulthood can be a rough one, as it often comes directly after graduation. Whether you’re moving across the country, back to your hometown, or just down the street, The Dig has some great ideas on ways to enlist friends to help with your move.

According to a Pew Research survey, 45 percent of college grads move back home after college, so if you feel bummed that you have to fly back to the coop for a while, just remind yourself it’s only temporary.

The Job Search

Depending on your industry, it’s important to polish up your resume, cover letter, and website. But what’s even more important is getting out and meeting potential contacts face-to-face. Look for local Meetup events or join a young professionals networking club in your city. You can also make good professional contacts online by following relevant companies on LinkedIn, following influential leaders on Twitter, and posting interesting, fresh content to your own social accounts as well.

Relationship Woes

After college, it can be hard to meet eligible bachelors or bachelorettes. Fair warning: engagement photos will soon begin to clog your Facebook feed, and overbearing aunts will begin to badger you about dying alone. One of the handiest pieces of advice from Samantha Matt’s 11 Things I Wish I knew Senior Year of College can be helpful here: Don’t compare yourself to others. “Everyone forges a path for themselves after college and everyone’s road is different,” Matt says. Take the time to make real connections with people and place a majority of your focus on improving and finding yourself—love is sure to follow.

Time to Travel

Remember when you said you’d travel abroad in college? Odds are, it never happened. You were too busy, or it was never the right time. If you have a bit of wanderlust, now is the perfect time to travel. Traveling post-college will help you embrace your newfound independence and find yourself. It may also help with the steps mentioned above, as you can network globally and stay open to where life takes you.

Some of the deepest travel discounts cut off at age 26, according to About Travel, so take advantage of these age-based discounts while you still can. Take this opportunity to learn more about the “real world” and immerse yourself in different cultures. You won’t regret it.

Source: SocialMonsters