Post Grad Life: The Truth

We wait years to finally walk across that stage.

You hear your name called, you gracefully strut across the platform towards your degree, smile, wave, and walk off into the next phase of your life. Once your cap hits the ground and the congratulations fade, you'll soon see that college doesn't prepare you for what comes next. In the slightest

Through school, I've always been a straight A student involved in many extra curricular activities, graduating with many accolades and honors. I believed that because I was a stellar student, my path from academics to career would be seamless and effortless. I would land a great paying job in the city, hit happy hours weekly with my professional friends, move out of my parents, and start my adult life.

As of right now, the only thing I checked off that list is weekly happy hours with my jobless girlfriends, all in the same boat.

All throughout college, I heard all the time, "Well, what exactly can you do with a communications degree?"

I was passionate about mass communications and living in a digital age where online platforms are taking up more space than ever. I've written for many publications, enjoyed blogging, creating content, and executing social media strategy, and believed my experience would land me a big girl job doing what I love right out of college. But when I went edit my resume, I saw that I really didn't have "corporate communications" experience at all.

I had a few freelance gigs, a few published articles, and a strong portfolio, but no real "agency" experience or connections that would facilitate the process.

This major realization put the pieces together for this thing called life in a way no one does. So before you throw your cap in the air, book your graduation photo shoot, and pop the champagne, — allow me to share some things about post grad life that isn't taught in the textbooks.

Experience is Essential

Before you let this scare you, let me explain.

Experience is essential to land a job, even if it is entry level. An empty resume won't get you far, but being creative will.

As I approached graduation and realized I didn't have an industry related job lined up, I started applying for jobs I knew I could get. I worked in customer service for years throughout college and had a strong enough resume to land a decent paying job for a bank. I told myself it was only temporary but weeks eventually turned months and my applications were being overlooked and rejected.

While I was discouraged, I used a lot of my spare time doing some freelance work and building up my personal and business platforms. This helped me boost my portfolio and create some strong samples that I didn't have originally. I've never been a fan of freelancing but the experience is something I credit today as one of the reasons I landed the job I have now!

Also, that banking job I worked for way longer than I would have liked?

It's part of the reason my communication and interpersonal skills are as strong as they are today. I sat down with clients all day which consisted of many different people, with different personalities, with varying levels of assets. I talked, and I listened, and somehow someway, landed myself to becoming a top performer is sales and survey, despite ZERO interest in banking.

Learning to talk to people is essential for ALL aspects of life. And you see, what I've also come to realize is that with varying levels of experience in different areas, you can find opportunities anywhere.

So that job your working right now that isn't in your desired career field? Make the best of it because the skills you are learning there can be applied anywhere!

Kill the Comparing

Your friend that finally got her dream job? Congratulate her.

It's perfectly normal to get caught up in the comparing game in these gruesome 20 somethings. You scroll online and instantly see the best versions of people parading on the 'gram. But that's just it. People only post the best versions of themselves, highlighting the accomplishments and the wins.

The comparing game is something I've always struggled with because frankly, my whole life has consisted of me striving to be the best. So when I graduated with NO career, NO real professional connections, and feeling VERY discouraged, life humbled me really quick.

You can still be the best, but the best sometimes takes times.

Cut the comparison and just focus on yourself. Pour into your passions, boost your professional skills, put yourself out there and spend this time fully developing into your best self.

Your opportunities are on no one's else's time but your own.

After graduation, there will be someone who seems to have it all together right after you walk across that stage. You will hate them deep down inside because watching their "success" story through the crafted filter of social media will make you feel as if it will never happen for you. Don't get caught in the web of this comparison.

Your Path May Not be Linear

I've talked to someone who secured an industry job before their final semester of college ended.

I've talked to someone who graduated and traveled the world for a year.

I've talked to someone who took years before they were hired for an industry related job.

What does this mean?

Your path after college will not be linear to someone else's. We are all on different paths with various obstacles, re-routes, wrong turns, and detours that vary tremendously from the road of someone else.

The path you go down also may not be linear to your original plan. As humans, we naturally set deadlines and do everything we can to meet these restrictions. The problem with this is that boxing yourself into strict time frames leave you feeling desperate, discouraged and depressed when things don't go initially as planned.

There's nothing wrong with setting goals. Realistic goals are a helpful incentive to guide you in the direction that you want to go. But deadlines? Allow a little flexibility when it comes to them because sometimes truth be told, life really doesn't go as planned. I had set for years that I would move out of my parents home by 23. I would be fully financially independent and living on my own. I'd be married by 25 and have kids by 30. Living happily ever after.

Obviously, I'm no where on track to where I thought I would be right now. And that's okay.

I'm still living at home, swimming in student loans, unsuccessfully trying to master dating in this generation, and that's okay.

My life right now doesn't look like the picture I painted for myself during college and the filters I post on Instagram. And that's okay.

As I continue to coach myself through the post graduation stage, I've realized many things that slightly make my experience a little more tolerable.

You are going to start at the bottom. That’s okay.. Put your pride and ego aside and recognize this as a starting point. This is not your final destination, it’s just your first stop of many. You’ve graduated and got one foot on the ladder of life and now you get to climb it. Give yourself time and be patient. Find your footing and get ready to soar.

The world is waiting for you to do big things.