We’re getting dangerously close to graduation season, and many of us will be bowing out in May with our collegiate careers coming to close.
It’s a stressful time for those that are graduating. Some seniors have jobs, but many actually don’t. According to a CNBC study, about 70 percent of college graduates don’t have a gig lined up for after graduation.
In order to help our senior readers out, we’ve created a list of eight tips for soon-to-be graduates:
- Prepare to move out! Believe it or not, your lease is going to end soon. Aside from packing up everything you own, remember to fix up your place too. Fill holes in the wall with toothpaste, flip your couch cushions and dust your windowsills so that just maybe you can get some of that security deposit back.
- Visit the Career Center. One of the best ways to find yourself in the 30 percent of students that do find jobs is to polish up your resume and cover letter at the career center. They’ll even help you find a job via Handshake and prepare you for an interview.
- Clean up your social media. Posting funny things on Instagram is all fun and games until a potential employer Googles your name and sees you toking up on a public profile. The best thing you can do here is to get rid of the not-so-professional posts – it’s as easy as that (pro tip: this applies to everyone really, not just seniors).
- Network, network, network. The first job you get out of college isn’t going to be your dream job, and eventually, you’ll want to quit. Get on LinkedIn, and hit up some alumni. Connect with hiring managers. Get recommendations from your bosses, teachers and friends. Do what you can to build a network for your future.
- Perfect your portfolio. No matter what type of job you’re looking for, it never hurts to showcase your work, even if it’s just school assignments. Weebly.com and Wix.com both offer free website building software that will allow you to design a website to your liking.
- Actually attend your capstone. Some people might think that their senior capstone course is a joke, but it’ll actually give you some really important tools for finding professional success after graduation. Whether it’s portfolio prep or resume writing, the course is designed to help you, so go.
- Save up. This won’t exactly help you get a job, but it’s a good idea regardless. Real life is expensive, and it’s common for seniors to spend (maybe too much) money on alcohol. Hey, being able to go to the bars with your friends is great, but if you limit that to once per weekend, you might not have to live in a dump of an apartment when you graduate.
- Relax. This is probably annoying coming from a senior freaking out about post-grad plans, but someday, something will work out for you. It’s difficult to see your peers accept amazing job offers or be accepted into grad school when you’ll likely be stuck at home for the summer, but keep on chuggin’ along and applying for those jobs. Someday, something will connect.
If all else fails, marry rich.
Collegian reporter Nate Day can be reached at entertainment@collegian.com or on Twitter @NateMDay
