Hello, upcoming graduates! For you, this holiday season will consist of more than cutting the turkey at Thanksgiving and picking out a Christmas tree. You are about to wrap up your college career and are preparing to take the next step into adulthood. Graduation is a big step but realistically, it’s a ceremony. A way of saying goodbye to one chapter and hello to the next. Today, we want to discuss a few tips that helped each one of us here at NX Direct tackle life after graduation. Primarily, how we all found a career that is fulfilling, challenging, and exactly what we needed after four years of being in a classroom.
November has arrived and that means you are roughly one month away from walking across the big stage. Does this sound daunting? We completely understand! This next chapter in your life is going to be unlike anything that you have ever experienced. But, take it from us, you’re going to love it! Going to college has prepared you to be able to handle anything intellectually thrown at you, as well as how to multi-task and stand out from the pack. All that’s left is to learn the ins and outs of interviewing and how to juggle a strong career and personal life. That’s where we come in!
Step one: Type up a stunning resume and nail your interview. Easier said than done, we know. Your resume should be short and to the point. Keep it on one page, use basic fonts, and black ink. We know how tempting it can be to go all out, but you need to remember that your resume will be one of thousands. Let your achievements speak for you, not pink cursive text. Now, it’s interview time! Our advice is to research the company ahead of your interview, dress to impress, and practice common interview questions. These three things will allow you to look sharp, appear knowledgeable, and walk into the interview room with confidence! We aren’t going to fuss over this process too much because we believe in you and know that with a little practice, you will land the career of your dreams.
What we really want to focus on today is the circus that is juggling your career and your personal life. College life makes it easy to be a star student while maintaining a full social calendar because there aren’t 40 hours committed to work in a week. Once your career starts, your time becomes a precious commodity. You’ll start asking yourself, “what is more important, my career or my home life?” The answer is, both! After graduation, but before your first day on the job, we recommend that you sit down and plan out your time. At first, schedule more time for your job. You’ll be in the beginning stages and will need to dedicate more time to learning and networking. We also want you to schedule some YOU time. The key is to find balance. It won’t always be 50/50, but by taking the right steps, you’ll find a happy grey area.
Graduation season is such an exciting time and we hope that you take full advantage of it! Enjoy your last few weeks on campus with your friends. Bask in the joy of your accomplishments. You are about to enter “reality” for the first time and sometimes, it’s going to disappoint. But, if you take the right steps, if you find the career best meant for you, and if you keep your self-care front and center, you will be just fine. Take it from our team here at NX Direct, life after graduation is fun, scary, challenging, and exhilarating all at the same time! Good luck and remember to enjoy the ride!