What To Do With Your Life After Graduation

As a senior at FSU, I spend approximately 80 percent of my time worrying about what I’m going to do with my life after graduation. Should I brave the job market? Apply for grad school? Join the circus?

Personally, I’ve found that it’s all too easy to get overwhelmed with all the “what-ifs” available. If you’re a little lost on what to do too, here are some helpful tips for life after college.

Job Hunting

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If your plan is to jump into the job market, it may be nerve-wracking trying to figure out where to start. The hardest thing to decide on is when to begin applying. Typically recruiting for jobs will vary based on the employment sector.

If employment in your field is notoriously known for rigorous job-training (like accounting and consulting), The Balance says that recruiting can begin as early as the fall semester, with offers sometimes being made in November.

If your major(s) are anywhere similar to mine — in the fields of communication or English — or you’re aiming to work for smaller companies, employers in these job sectors don’t typically have training programs, so  searching may be able to be put off until spring semester. Also, as newcomers to the field, most of us will start out in lower positions, many of which are filled as vacancies appear sporadically throughout the year.

While you’re trying to fine-tune your resume, you might not be sure on how to feature your –almost- but-not-quite-a-graduate status. The safest bet would be to list your expected graduation date next to your listed degree. Employers will realize that you haven’t graduated yet.

Also, if you’re anything like me, applying to jobs online may feel like inserting your resume directly into a paper shredder. Attending FSU’s Seminole Futures Career Fair on September 29 will probably be a good bet for you. Held at the Civic Center from nine in the morning till four in the afternoon, over 150 companies will be in attendance. And if you really want to be on your A-game, you can check out the featured list of employers, so you can attend with possible jobs in mind.

Grad School

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If you’re thinking about going to grad school, but haven’t taken any steps to do so yet, don’t freak out, you’re okay. Many graduate programs offer rolling admissions, but you do have a better chance of being accepted if you start early.

The Princeton Review suggests that you make a list of schools offering degree programs that you’re interested in, and take the practice GRE general test to see where you stand. Of course, if you plan on going to law or med school, you’ll need to take discipline-specific tests.

Once you’ve gotten your results back, you may feel the need to enroll in a GRE Practice Test course. It will also be a good idea to register for the real thing. At this time, you may want to start writing your statement of purpose, which should basically outline why you believe they should let you into their school.

If you’ve ever been any of your professors’ favorite students, now is the time to cash in that 100 percent grade you got in participation. Start asking professors for letters of recommendation. Again, promptness is key. You don’t want to ask when they’re being bombarded with grading finals and dealing with 34 other teacher’s pets who are also in dire need of a recommendation.

If you haven’t really spoken with your designated recommender in a while, giving them a copy of your resume, samples of your work, or past assignments you’ve completed in their class will give them something to write about.

Once you’ve completed the GRE test and feel comfortable with your scores, you should head over to University Center A for copies of your official transcript — the cheapest option — or place an order online or by phone. Gather the rest of your supplemental materials and finish your applications to the schools of your choice.

If you want the chance to interact with representatives of possible grad schools, be sure to attend the Graduate Professional School Fair  on October 23 in Oglesby Union.

Where to Go From Here

The thought of adulting can be really scary — especially if you’re not sure what you want to do with your life — but take comfort in the fact that you don’t have to figure it all out right now. The whole, “finding yourself” aspect of college life doesn’t have to end once you get your diploma.

If you need any guidance, aid, or reassurance you that you won’t end up a homeless vagabond, be sure to visit FSU’s career center for helpful interviewing tips, career advising, and resume/cover letter resources.

And if none of the above options really appeal to you, Cirque du Soleil is always hiring.