As April comes to a close and the dreaded finals season begins to rear its ugly head, for seniors, graduation suddenly ceases to be a distant light at the end of a long, dark tunnel, and instead becomes a scary, yet exhilarating, reality.
To those of you who are picking up your caps and gowns, stressing over finding a full-time job to brag about over Facebook, and trying to navigate your way through what is possibly your first existential crisis- this one is for you.
Just one year ago, I was in your shoes. I did some things right and other things way, way wrong. In retrospect, I know exactly how I would spend those final weeks of college, if I had the opportunity to do it all over again and so I'm sharing my newfound wisdom with you so that in a year from now, you aren't uttering the words, "I wish I had done *insert thing* differently".
So while the idea of leaving day drinks and 10AM classes behind for a 9:00-5:00 job and a pile of bills may seem daunting, these 10 things to do as you near graduation will help to eliminate your fear and ease you into the real world.
1. Start networking.
If you haven't started networking with professionals in your field, now is the time. I know you've heard the age old, "it's not about what you know, but rather who you know", more times than you can count. But it's TRUE. So put on your most award winning smile and start meeting people. You can network at career fairs, through your professors, LinkedIn (YES, YOU NEED TO HAVE LINKEDIN), or even through networking events in your city which are specifically set up for professionals to mingle with one another.
2. Get on a normal sleep schedule.
No more staying up on Tumblr until 3:00AM and sleeping in until 11:00.
I was a night owl in college too and trust me, transitioning to a schedule that required going to bed at 10:00 and waking up at 5:00 was rough, so start getting into that swing now so that you aren't exhausted for your first few days at the office.
3. Apply for a credit card to start building credit.
Credit cards get a bad rap, however, if used responsibly (a.k.a. only buying what you can pay off each month), they are a great tool for building your credit. And having good credit is essential for everything from securing your dream apartment to your first adult car.
4. Perfect your resume and mass apply to jobs.
Make sure your resume is A+ material by asking a trusted professor to look over it or attending a resume workshop through your school (yes, those exist). After you're sure that your resume is top notch, just start applying to jobs, anywhere and everywhere. You can't be picky, so don't be. For every 50 resumes you submit, you may only get one or two phone calls, because the harsh truth is that in the age of online applications, your resume will often times slide through the cracks. Don't get discouraged, just stay determined and keep sending your resume to any job that you vaguely qualify for.
5. Don’t slack off in school.
I get it. I've been in your shoes. You’re tired and SO close to the end, but you want (you NEED) one final batch of A’s to boost that GPA. This is your last chance so don't blow it.
6. Plan a trip/ last hoorah with your best friends from college.
You’re going to drift apart from your college buddies, especially if you don't plan on winding up in the same city after graduation; so make this time count.
7. Start to make your lifestyle healthier.
Finals are stressful, but try to go to the gym and eat some veggies. Start getting your body feeling good so that your transition into adulthood is a tad bit smoother.
8. Start packing up your stuff!
Don’t save packing up your apartment for the last minute. Start doing it NOW! Please, trust me on this. Just pack a box a day until graduation so that you'll be all ready to roll out, rather than being forced to hang behind at school for an extra week to box up your college life.
9. Ask your professors to be references for jobs while you’re still fresh in their minds.
They have a lot of names to remember and even if they gave you an "A" in their class, they might be slightly blanking if you come to them asking for a reference a year (or even a few months) down the line. Plus, professors are terrific help when it comes to networking. One of my professors helped set me up with an internship right after graduation so definitely take advantage of those office hours while you still can.
10. Breathe.
You’re almost there and all your hard work will pay off. Work hard but celebrate, too. You’ve earned this.
It all goes by so fast. I can't believe I've been a college graduate for a year, this May. It's definitely a scary transition, but by doing the things listed above, your stress levels will be low and your last few weeks of school will be amazing.
