Create your very own Auto Publish News/Blog Site and Earn Passive Income in Just 4 Easy Steps
I don't know what to do after college!?! This is one of the most frequently asked questions – from high school graduates to college students to some who are about to graduate from college.
If you say, “I don’t know what to do after college,” You are not alone.
The truth is that most college graduates experience a “what now?” moment. You have essentially spent your entire life up to this point in some type of educational institution.
Even if graduate school or other advanced training isn't immediately an option for you, and a job isn't necessarily what you're looking for, there are ways to have a life after college that will still make you a productive member of society.
I'm going to share my thoughts on what you can do after college. You might think that's easy – fine. But maybe they'll give you food for thought.
Get a job
Ok, thanks for the article… Maybe this is common sense. Get your degree and get a job. But I want to tailor this to you, especially in light of the next items on this list.
Most people go to college because they want to earn more money over their lifetime than people who haven't gone to college. You know the statistics. Maybe you've even calculated your potential ROI from college.
But the only way to make that investment worthwhile is to actually get a job. Any job. Seriously. Working gives you experience that allows you to put the tools you learned in college into practice.
Those who do not work run the risk of being overqualified and underemployed. This is actually a big problem for people who study without a job.
So if you don't know what you want to be when you grow up, that's OK! Start by looking into jobs and careers. It's OK to experiment a little. In fact, it's normal… you need to try a few things first to gain experience and find out what you're good at (and what you're not so good at).
Go to graduate school
There isn't a lot of good data on how many students graduate immediately and then go on to graduate school. However, there is some data that shows that 34% of bachelor's degree graduates go on to graduate school within 4 years of graduation.
This makes a lot of sense for some career paths – such as medicine, law school, and even research-oriented career paths for those who want to stay in academia.
For others, however, like education, arts or even business, it's probably not a good idea to pursue graduate study straight after graduation. First, the returns in these fields are mixed – for MBAs, they could be negative.
Second, these graduate programs are usually best combined with solid work experience. Again, you don't want to be overqualified and underemployed. If you're pursuing a master's degree or a doctorate, get work experience first.
And even better: many “good” employers will pay for these advanced qualifications if they are really in demand.
“Professional” volunteer work
If you are looking for another activity, consider volunteering.
Join the Peace Corps
The United States Peace Corps was created in 1961 to give Americans the opportunity to learn about other cultures while serving in different parts of the world.
If you don't have the money to travel and you really enjoy helping other people, the Peace Corps allows you to travel to places you never knew existed and fulfill your inner need to help the world.
As a Peace Corps volunteer, you can work in one of several areas: education, health, agriculture, economic development, youth development or environmental protection.
Applications and job offers for 60 countries where Peace Corps volunteers are stationed are open year-round.
Join AmeriCorps
When it comes to volunteering, AmeriCorps is like the Peace Corps. However, unlike the Peace Corps, you get involved in local American communities.
Click here to learn how to join Americorps.
Volunteer with Your City
You don't have to leave your city to volunteer and make a difference. There are plenty of opportunities to volunteer in your city itself, too.
Organizations in your city where you can volunteer include:
- Meals on wheels
- American Red Cross
- Boys and Girls Clubs of America
- Local city administration
- Hospitals
- Food banks
- Homeless shelters
- Habitat for humanity
You can also use sites like LinkedIn, Taproot+ and Idealist to find more volunteer opportunities in your area.
Of course, these are volunteer activities that pay little or nothing, so you will still need some financial support while you do these volunteer activities.
Consider moving
After college, it's not always easy to know where you'll end up. But you should consider moving — at least in two ways.
Relocation
Moving back home may not sound that exciting, but it can be a huge financial stepping stone for your future. If you can live with your parents for a few years after graduation while working full-time, you can save a lot of money and be successful by your mid-20s.
Not everyone has this opportunity, but if it suits you, take advantage of it!
Yes, you may be judged a little in the beginning, but others will also judge you when you buy your first home at age 28 because you were able to save so much money!
Moving due to job opportunities
Maybe you don't have a specific job lined up after you graduate, but you know what you want to do and where you need to go. It can be scary, but now is the time to take those steps – not in 2-3 years when you may have settled for something else.
You want to work in banking? Then move to New York. TV or film? Los Angeles. Country music or radio? Nashville. You know.
If you have a dream, pursue it as soon as you graduate. You have the least to lose if it doesn't work out.
Moving abroad
If you're still looking for ways to give your life a new perspective, consider living (and working a little) abroad. There are plenty of places to live, explore, and even work if you're a recent college graduate.
For example, you could teach English abroad or do volunteer work (see above). These are ways to explore the world and gain experience and knowledge at the same time.
Join the military
If you join the military as a college graduate, you will typically receive a higher rank (better pay and benefits) than if you join straight out of high school.
The great thing about the military is that there are several branches of service you can join: Air Force, Navy/Marine Corps, Army, and Coast Guard.
Each of these branches of the military has physical and age requirements that most college graduates meet, giving you a better chance of joining.
Joining the military also comes with some educational benefits. For example, if you decide to study medicine later, you could receive support for that.
Start your own business
A source of income does not always have to be connected to a job. There are several posts in this blog on the topic of “starting a side job or a full-fledged business”.
Most people view starting a business as a herculean task that requires a groundbreaking idea and raising funds from angel investors.
This is one way to start a business.
There is another way to start a business where you provide a service that people need and get paid for it. Freelance work as a writer, web designer, or graphic designer are legitimate ways to make a living.
Part-time job!
Your day job doesn't have to be all you do to make money. In fact, starting a side hustle can be rewarding – both in terms of income and life satisfaction.
Making money is a great hobby and there are many ways to do it on your own terms!
You can rent out your sofa via Airbnb.
Uber and Lyft allow you to give people a ride and pay for it.
If you enjoy pet watching, Rover will become your favorite app.
These money-making apps are just the tip of the gig economy iceberg and will help you pay your bills while you plan your next move.
Check out these 20 well-paying side jobs >>
Travel
If you have a stable source of income that allows you to work from anywhere, such as as a freelancer, you can travel to the places you want to visit.
As I mentioned above, traveling allows you to learn about other cultures, gain new perspectives, and maybe even give you an idea of what your next step should be after college.
Even if you work full time, planning future travel can be fulfilling! Start planning your first big trip as a graduate now so you can start looking forward to it.
Learn a profession
If you don't know what to do after graduating from college, could it be that you're discouraged because it's so difficult to find a job in your field?
If you cannot find a job in your field or cannot imagine putting the knowledge you learned at school into practice on a permanent basis, learning another profession might be the right thing for you.
Community colleges and vocational schools offer courses in areas such as nursing, medical assisting, medical transcription, mechanic training and plumbing.
These skills will usually give you a quicker entry into the workforce, and you may find that you enjoy them more than a college degree.
Final thoughts
If you don't know what to do after college, you're not alone. Millions of college graduates before you have felt the same way.
Take a deep breath.
Now, take another look at the eight different paths we've listed in this post and find which one best fits your particular situation. Follow it.
Your thoughts and comments are welcome below.
Create your very own Auto Publish News/Blog Site and Earn Passive Income in Just 4 Easy Steps
