7 Survival Tips For Your First Year Out Of College

People say many good things about college and that it’s the best time for students to learn and experiment. Just like how scary and exciting the first day of college feels, graduation time can also be bittersweet.

Getting out of college pushes people to face the reality that they have major career decisions to make and numerous bills to pay on their own. It’s hard to survive when you’re so used to having someone to depend on for your needs; then, all of a sudden, you’re expected to make money and support yourself.

Thankfully, there are tips on how you can survive your first year out of college.

Streamline Your Job Search

Finding a job is a daunting task. Your goal is to secure a job that pays well and start a career that puts your knowledge into practice. Having a clear idea of your career stream will make it easier to begin your job search. Create a list of things you want in your workplace and start searching for companies that provide those. Before submitting your application to companies on your list, make sure that your resume is updated and your LinkedIn and social media accounts are filtered for posts that may jeopardize your job application. Having an excellent job application process could help you save time and maximize your chances of getting hired.

Depend On Internships

Internships are a great way to build your qualifications and also get paid. If you are just out of college, it’s a great time to apply for internships and start enhancing your skills. This is also another way to find out if a career choice is right for you, giving you the most valuable work experience before you even start your job search.

Look For Side Hustles

Once you are out of college, you’re either expected to support yourself or no longer given the entitlements you used to enjoy when you were a student.

Many flexible side hustles let you earn money on the side to pay off your student debt while you’re still looking for a stable job or trying to improve your skills. Take up gigs like ridesharing, pet sitting, food delivery, or even writing, whichever fits in your schedule. These side hustles pay well and do not require special skills.

Start Saving

There is no better time to start saving than now. Being frugal and cutting down on your expenses can help you live on the resources while you’re not earning a full-time income yet. No matter how much you make with your side jobs, saving at least 50% of it is the best way to prepare for your future expenses.

Work On Your Skills

You cannot start your job search without equipping yourself with the right skills. Today’s job industry is super competitive, and if you want to land a job just out of college, you need to work on your qualifications. Use online resources like Skillshare, Udemy, or Lynda and learn the necessary skills for your chosen job.

You don’t need to designate the entire day to upskill. Setting aside a few hours every week could really make a difference in your job search.

Try Something New

While this is the time to prepare for the future, you can also try new things at this phase of your life. Find out what you are passionate about and start creating goals you’d like to achieve. Sometimes, you might get an entirely different career than what you originally planned for. Nothing beats passion when it comes to career or business.

Connect with Others

Connecting with others and building relationships with people who have the same goals as yours is the best way to feel motivated to succeed. Get out there and network. Every day is a great day to learn from people who are successful at what they do and those like you who are still trying to find out their life goals.

Your first year out of college will be overwhelming, but if you’re able to map out a sound plan and determined enough, you can surely enjoy this new phase in your life. Put these tips to the test and refer to GradGuard for all your post-graduate needs!

Author bio: Sireesha is a career blogger and founder of Crowdworknews.com. She helps remote job seekers find legitimate online jobs, blogging tips, and side hustles through her blog. She has successfully grown her online business from scratch to a full-time gig in just two years. Sireesha has been featured on websites like Virtual Vocations, Payoneer, Side Hustle School, Moneyish, Skillcrush, and MyCorporation.