You graduate College and think that you are going to go straight into your career for your degree. You think that you will be fresh and ready to take on the world with your new found knowledge. I am a recent graduate and have had these thoughts. The truth that I realized from my own experiences as well as my peers is that there is a mix of possibilities that can happen when you graduate.
1. Go straight into your career.
You might go straight into your career field. Even so you will still have to start at the bottom and work your way up. In most fields experience beats knowledge. Have no fear, experience is better than what you can learn in a classroom any day.
2. Continue your education to advance your degree.
Some students I know decided to advance their degrees and go on to more education at a higher level. This has benefits as well because some degrees pay better than others and have more benefits. Some jobs even look for higher degrees in some fields to show a level of mastery.
3. Realize that you need time to discover yourself and take time for you.
Some may go into their field and find out that it was not like they expected and that they need more time to reflect on what they really want. Some may find that they need more experience or hands on training so they take a freelance job or internship. Some may feel like they need a break and some time before they take the leap into the work world. There is nothing wrong with taking a break and even doing internships to find where you really stand with your goals.
4. Get a job that is not in your field.
Some will go for a job that they like but may not be in their field. I have heard negative statements about this from others saying that you paid so much to get a degree that you should only get a career with that degree. I do not agree. Your life is not a black and white box, you are allowed to experience and check out what you think you may like, if you are happy then that is all that should matter. Your happiness and financial situation is your own business.
These are just some of the possibilities that I have encountered from either my experience of being a recent graduate, or my peers. I am sure that there are other possibilities but the main thing to remember is that no one but you can decide what you do with your life, so make you happy. If you think that this sounds scary just remember some of the greatest writers did not have a plan after college. John Milton did not have a job until he was 26, after laying on his parents couch for six years and he was in Shakespeare's first folio.
