It’s February, and by this point, everyone that I meet asks the question “What are you doing next year?” I have to tell them, frankly, I don’t know. It can be frustrating at times, but I know that I’m on the right track. While it seems that the rest of the world knows what they’re doing, when I talk to other people in my class, I find that many of us are clueless.
I explained to a friend the other day that the reason I am having so much difficulty with the job search process is because I’m not ready to leave UChicago. At the same time, I don’t think I’ll be ready to leave until I have a job. Circular logic is confusing. In the mean time, here’s how I’m navigating:
1) Stress management
I cannot stress how key this is to getting through the process. Make sure that you have some kind of outlet, whether it’s friends, the gym, or romance. Keeping the stress under control, so that it doesn’t get to you, or affect your relationships with others, is very important. It also helps keep you from shouting at your parents when they call to ask how the job application process is going.
2) Use your resources
Here at the University, we have some great resources for finding jobs, internships, and post-BA degree programs (no, they didn’t tell me to say this.) I’ve found CAPS to be particularly helpful, as well as the Chicago Careers In programs (caps.uchicago.edu.). While I may not like the CAPS website too much – lets just say I have a hard time saving my job searches – their staff members are fantastic and all have a wealth of experience to share. Network as much as you can; talk to friends, mentors, previous graduates, or anyone that has the time to give you advice. Mull it over, sit down, compile that advice, and in the end, be sure to thank all of the people that helped you get to where you are! Those who know you best can also be a great source in helping you to determine your strengths and weaknesses and in turn, what kind of lifestyle will work best for you for the next summer, year, or years.
3) Figure out what you want to do
This one is definitely a touchy subject. A lot of us don’t know what we’re doing – and for many of you underclassmen, I feel that it’s my duty to explain that the uncertainty of the future is okay; you’re not the only one! You don’t have to have your life planned out, just what you want to do for the next year or two. I can’t say it enough: THAT’S OKAY! Remember that this is just the next step of the rest of your life: find something that makes you happy enough for the time being and that suits your needs. For some, that’s grad school or professional school, for others, that’s an internship or job, and for others still, it’s going back home and making the most out of the degree you graduate with.
4) Know your strengths and weaknesses
This kind of goes along with number 3, but knowing your strengths and weaknesses can really help you to establish what kind of job you might be good at. I, for one, know that I don’t really enjoy a lot of solitary work and that I do enjoy being around people. This can be a huge determining factor in whether or not you will enjoy your future work environment.
5) If all else fails, think about the essentials
For many of us, there are some things we are not willing to compromise on. Whether it’s salary, plumbing, health insurance, or location, we all have something that is a major factor in determining how we live out the next few years of our lives.
6) Be open.
Have a back up plan. Don’t put all of your eggs in one basket (do as I say not as I do!). Think about the worst-case scenario. Could you go back home to live and work?
7) Once you have a job/have been admitted to grad school/etc, celebrate!
Congratulations! You’ve made it through the tumultuous process that is navigating the beginning of life after college. You’ve worked hard, pooled your resources, and now you have something to show for it, so show it off (but don’t let senioritis get the best of you too soon!).
8) Make sure you’re on track to graduate
This seems dumb, but I can’t tell you how many friends I’ve had over the years that forgot to apply for graduation, have outstanding core classes, never got their AP scores sent, etc. Make sure you can graduate, because if you can’t, none of this is really an issue.
The big take-away for me is to think of it all as a learning process. Have I made the transition yet? Heck no! Do I plan to? Heck yes! Just remember that times change, other people change, and that you too will change as you learn and grow.
Finally, remember: don’t ask your senior friends what we’re doing next year. Chances are, we still don’t know. Instead, ask if we have any idea of what we’ll be doing next year – it sounds much more open-ended and less committal. Good luck!
This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at U Chicago chapter.