Fun or not, we must all embrace that day at some point when we say "Hello Real World." For most of us that day is fast approaching, or is already behind us. As a wised and seasoned veteran of entering the Real World...ya right...I thought I would pass on some advice.
Many friends have asked me for advice as they begin to prepare for the transition from college to life after college (adulthood). It is scary and believe me I had my fair share of breakdowns. The tales of unemployment and a jobless economy only made my fears worse. Thanks to the guidance of my parents (who at the time I swore were out of touch of the job economy of today) I made it through alive.
So here's what I did to successfully transition to adulthood and land the "perfect" job:
Step 1: Define "perfect" job
Some of you may have a dream job in mind, others (like me) haven't got a clue. Either way you will have to embrace the fact the odds of landing your perfect job, 6 figures and an expense account, right out of college is probably unrealistic. Sad I know. But that doesn't mean you can't focus on other aspects that you strongly desire, but keep it simple and loose. Be willing to adjust when an opportunity arises. For me, I wanted a job that would allow for a high interaction level with people and travel. I did not want to sit at a desk all day.
Step 2: Start early
While it sometimes may feel like you are alone in this search for employment, you aren't. There are thousands of others also looking for that same perfect job...your job. This means you need to start early. By early, I mean the start of the school year, September. Earlier may be better depending on your field of interest. I started my search the September before I graduated, by March I had the job.
Step 3: Polish the resume
This one takes time and it really is never fun. However, the resume is crucial. It is your first impression on a potential employer. Take time to develop a well structured and thought out resume. Review it multiple times before submission and ask others to review it as well. Be sure to ask someone other than Mom to review it as well because let's face it Mom doesn't necessarily have the most critical eye when it comes to her children. (But we love her more because of it) Keep the resume to one page and don't use one of the Microsoft templates. Use action words and call on hard numbers as much as possible.
Step 4: Check out Career Center resources
It is more than likely your school has an on-campus Career Center. They can often provide valuable information and assistance during your job search. Look for free guides and other printed resources. Look for an online job listing site where employers can post available jobs. These people are often looking for students. This means they are aware that you still have to graduate and aren't looking for immediate start dates. I did most of my job searching on the Career Center website.
Step 5: Be patient and persistent
It is a long process, especially when you first get started. I went through all of the thousands of postings when I started and it took time. The site is constantly updated with new job listings, so it is crucial to keep going back every few days to look at recently added opportunities. Apply for any job you would be interested in learning more about. Don't be afraid of rejection! It is part of the process and you'll get used it, I promise! You can't expect to be a perfect fit for every job and every company (even though your mom says otherwise).
So I hope this helps some of you that are freaking out about life after college. Just take things a day at time and stay organized. And PLEASE don't forget to enjoy the time you have left in college!
