So you’re graduating college, now what?

First let me congratulate the class of 2013, Congrats!!!! As a recent graduate myself, the hard work has finally paid off; the late hours of studying, the projects, the tests. But you’re finished; you have earned your college degree. Now what? What’s next?

You have graduated; you completed four years of higher education. If you are like most graduates, you probably have been attending some kind of school for the past 17 years and are eager to begin “living”.  Your path up until this point has been pretty well…..well, planned; school, school and more school. But what’s next? Well, what’s next can be several things; a long awaited sabbatical, graduate school or job hunting, that is unless you already have a job.

A sabbatical or a break sounds very appealing, at least to me. But unless you won the recent Power Ball drawing, a sabbatical might be out of the question. The days of college graduates back packing across America or Europe is a rare thing. A short break from school is not a bad idea/ But it’s an idea that cost moneys, and if you are like many, have student loan payments starting in a few short months. So if you are planning a trip, plan wisely.

Ok, so no trip, well how about graduate school? Graduate school is a great idea. But do your research. Not all advanced degrees are worth the cost. According to Forbes, in 2010, some Master’s degrees are worth more, way more. According to the article, Physicians Assistant is #1; job prospects are great and expected to grow. Other Master’s degree such as one in education or social work might cost as much as the new expected salary of less than $60,000. Of course, the satisfaction you gain from your new career may well be worth the cost. But if graduate school is not for you at this time, there is always a job.

If you are going to pursue employment, beware. The unemployment rate nationally is 7.5% and not much better here in Florida at 7.2%.  However, for college graduates, the unemployment rate is a little better for college graduates hovering at 3.9%. Even though the unemployment rate is more optimistic for graduates, it still might be difficult to find employment, especially in your field of study. According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers businesses plan to hire only 2.1 percent more college graduates for this graduating class than they did from the class of 2012. More difficult, yes to land a great job, but not impossible. Do your homework and prepare yourself.

Where to start?  Here are some tips:

• Know what it takes to get a job in your chosen field: Research the skills and qualifications that are necessary.
• Create or update your resume: Make sure that it is professional and list any experience you have. What no experience, list any internships or volunteer work you might have done. It is a great idea to have several others read your resume and tweak it. Above all, make sure that everything is spelled correctly. Spelling errors on resumes often automatically are disqualified. So use spell check.
• Check with your schools Career Services office.  Employers looking for qualified graduates, usually start recruiting at local campuses. So sign up, create a profile and upload your resume. The Career Management Services at Florida International University has many services available to students and alumnae; resume tips, interview workshops, career fairs and more, I am sure other schools do as well.
• Join a professional networking site such as LinkedIn or set up a separate Facebook account that you can use for your professional side (and keep it professional). While you are at it, clean up your personal Facebook page. Make professional connections especially in the field, industry or in the company you are targeting.
• Create a list of companies you think you might like to work for. Research the company; identify and develop a list of anyone you know who may work there; scan their company’s job postings; touch base and develop a friendly relationship with the receptionist as they are usually the first ones to know when jobs are available. Or, seek an interview with the person who holds the targeted job to further research the job and what it takes. Often they can provide great insight and direction.

Check out these websites: www.job-hunt.org, www.wetfeet.com, and www.jobs.com they provide job tips, research, company profile information and more.

If you still can’t find work in your chosen field, internships are great for getting your foot in the door. Same goes for taking a lower level position. If those don’t work, offer to volunteer your services. All of these lets the employer get to know you, your work ethic and skills without risk. If they like you, they will find a position for you.

No matter what you decide to do following graduation; a sabbatical, graduate school or off to start a great career, it’s an exciting time to finally be finished and ready to start the next chapter, of life that is. To all in the classes of 2013, I wish you good luck and best wishes for a wonderful future.

Eva Prada
Class of 2013
Florida International University
Landon Undergraduate School