10 Tips for Recent Post Graduates Feeling “What Now?”

The first summer after college graduation can be overwhelming. Long gone are the days of lounging around the pool, lazily scrolling Instagram because you know it’s all over once school starts up again. After graduation, however, priorities shift. The real world hits and you’re suddenly overwhelmed by how much there is to do. Out of seemingly nowhere, you’re scrambling to find a real adult job, frantically updating your resume, and wondering how you’re supposed to know what you want to do for the rest of your life. It’s a lot, TBH. But we’ve all been there and fortunately, adulthood gets easier to navigate once you realize that you’re not alone. 

Here are some tips for recent college graduates looking to kick start their career, because if we can make it through, so can you.

LEARNING HOW TO NETWORK:

• Desiree Martinez (Jr. Influencer Manager): Network as much as possible and don’t be afraid to figure out what you do and don’t like career wise. You don’t have to have it all figured out right away.

• Jess Yoo (Publicity and Influencer Coordinator): Whether you’re at an internship, a full-time job, or anything in between, always be a positive, energetic addition to your environment. Skills and experience can be acquired through time, but people will always remember how you made them feel.

• Nicole Paradise (Influencer Manager): Follow the companies on social media that you want to work at! Engage with their content and stay up to date with what they are doing as a brand. When you reach out to apply for a job, express interest in their current projects. This will help you come off like you are really invested in what the company has been doing and offer specific examples on how your skillset can contribute to their success and new ways to grow their business.

BE EXPERIMENTAL:

• Maddy Gorin (Sr Talent Manager): Follow your heart and stick to trying things you’re really passionate about. The more excited you are about something, the better chance you’ll have to follow through. Take as many meetings as possible; make reach out to your network of people. Ask people around you to help and you’ll be that person for someone else in the future. Always pass it on.

• Denna Ritter (Talent Director): Don’t say no or hold back on opportunities that might not fall under your “expectation” of what you want your career to be. Take risks, try new things, and say yes. You never know who you might meet and where it may take you. 

• Belinda Sztrom (Publicity Manager): Don’t be afraid to accept a position that isn’t your “dream job.” Use your first job post-college to gain experience and build your network. Seize the opportunity and make the most of it. You never know where it could lead!

DON’T GIVE UP:

• Haley Hennig (Talent Manager): Don’t feel discouraged by the work world, pursue your dream job, and make it happen! You may find some difficulty, you may be told no, but all of this is leading you toward your end goal and those are great stepping stones and life lessons along the way.

• AnnMarie McClelland (Talent Coordinator): Apply to as many jobs as possible, and take as many interviews as possible. It is good practice and it will make you so much more comfortable with them! The whole journey of finding a job is about you growing as a human. Discover what you like, what you don’t, what you are good at, etc. Don’t get discouraged along the way and be open to change! You will learn so much about yourself in this process and know that you may not end up where you think you’re going too, or had your mind set on, but that is okay. It could end up being the best thing to happen to you.

BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, BET ON YOURSELF:

• Chrissy Ruocco (Talent Manager): My advice would be to never settle for less than you deserve, don’t be afraid to negotiate, and don’t be discouraged if you don’t have your life plan mapped out (especially when it feels like everyone around you does — trust me they don’t). Take advantage of as many experiences and opportunities as you can. Life has a funny way of working itself out, and everyone has their own journey to their career/true calling/dream job. Bonus Tip: don’t blow your whole paycheck at once – make sure you save up! And wear SPF.

• Sara Li (Managing Editor): Accept that you will make mistakes in your career, especially in the beginning, but don’t let the weight of your past crush you. Learn from your failures and let them humble you. You only get good at what you do by trying, and failing comes with that. Just remember that it’s totally fine to screw up once or twice, it just means that you’re getting better with every try. 

Photo credit: @matildadjerf on Instagram