Last week, I officially finished my senior year at Boston University. As all soon-to-be graduates know, this period of time is a whirlwind, filled with change, uncertainty, celebrations and sadness as we say goodbye to what’s been our rhythm of life for the last four years.
And as graduation nears, thoughts about the future become more and more prevalent. Thinking about finishing college and entering the working world can be both very exciting and very intimidating, so if you’re feeling a little stressed about where your life is heading post-undergrad, here are some things I wish I knew going into my senior year, but definitely found out by the end:
1. A LOT of people graduate college without a job, and that’s quite all right.
There tends to be this expectation that when you graduate, you’ll be all lined up for a job that starts in the summer or fall, but that’s often not the case. Many industries – including communications – typically expect its applicants to start the job right away, so that means you can’t even apply until a few weeks before you’d be able to work. Of course, it’s great to do your research early, but do not feel discouraged if you’re not exactly sure where you’ll be after graduation. It is completely normal.
2. It’s okay to have standards when you look for a job!
3. You might feel a little burnt out and want to postpone working until a couple months after your graduation.
4. It’s not a bad idea to work for at least a year before going to graduate school.
For some, going to graduate school right away is the best option, but often, spending some time working beforehand will prove to be very beneficial. Not only does it allow you to certify what you actually want to go to graduate school for, but also, it gives you more time to decide if this investment is even the right path for you. Also, it gives you more experience to show off as you apply to graduate school programs, which will help you stand out in the application process – some schools even prefer you work first.
5. Your major does not set your career path in stone.
While your major feels very niche in college, as you begin your career search, you’ll see that many jobs accept an array of backgrounds. You’ll also find yourself picking up many skills throughout your four years in college, especially through internships, that can be easily applied to other fields. So if you’re second-guessing your major, but it’s too late to change it, don’t feel that you’re locked into place.
