The job search is stressful
Life after college has been a journey and one hell of a learning process. A very humbling one at that. No one wants to deal with rejection, but you will. I did. I still am. It is quite stressful trying to land a good job and depending on your field of study, it is even more stressful to find one in your field.
If you have to work a minimum wage job doing something you don’t want to do in order to get a decent check every two weeks and pay bills then do that. The important thing is to never lose focus of your goals. It’s a minor setback for a major comeback, remember that.
Relationships are going to dwindle
In college, you have your set group of friends that you spend a lot of time with. You see these people daily, but once you graduate and try to figure your life out, communication begins to lack.
I’ve learned that reaching out to friends can be a hassle, especially when you are the only one making an effort to stay in contact and check up. A few of my close friends are still in college, some have grown up jobs and some are just horrible ass communicators. I later understood that the lack of communication is typically because we are all trying to get our shit together, which doesn’t necessarily mean that your friendship/bond has ended. But, don’t be too surprised if some of those friendships do end.
Go at your own pace
Ever scroll down your Facebook feed and see that one of your peers landed a job in a cool city and it made you cringe a little inside? You’re not jealous of them, but you wonder why your time hasn’t come. That feeling you feel is normal!
Be happy for your peers, but realize that you have to go at your own pace. Recent graduates and even those who have been out in the real world for a few years tend to compare where they are with someone else’s progress.
Like the post, leave a “congrats” and keep it moving. Your time will come.
Focus on things that make you happy
This has been a big deal for me. I graduated college, interned, got a big girl job, life hit me and I was back at square one. Due to the not so fun job searching and constant “Thanks for applying but unfortunately we will not be moving forward with your application” emails, I questioned why I even spent four years in college. So, I had to stop, take a step back and focus on my damn self and the things that I enjoy. What makes Terrionna happy?
At this point in my life, my blog and freelance work has been a huge help in maintaining my happiness and sense of being. I’ve met new people, pushed myself to do new things, participated in 23-year-old shit and have tapped into my creativity.
Surround yourself with like-minded individuals
It is so easy to get into a funk post graduation and beat yourself up about why you’re not where you want to be. Sometimes you have to take a leap of faith and put yourself out there. Stop sulking and meet some like-minded individuals.
This is basically networking, but even more than networking. By meeting new people who share similar interests you are more likely to be motivated to reach your goals. Those cool people you met and shared ideas with are now your accountability partners. You level one another out and make sure that you are putting in the necessary work and creativity that will push you forward.
Social Media is a great tool for meeting new people in your area. It may sound fishy, but trust me. All it takes is a simple reaching out. There are so many recent graduates that are on the same page as you. Get out and meet them!