Only a few realize this early.
What you think will happen: take classes, get good grades, apply for jobs, start working.
What usually happens: take classes, get good grades, apply for jobs, silence.
Then the overwhelming frustration starts.
One of the saddest truth about college is that many graduate and struggle to get a job.
This reality hits lots of graduates like a truck.
So what now?
If you’re thinking “what’s the point? I should just drop out”.
You’re not wrong for thinking that.
In a previous post on “Is college is a waste of time?”, I walked you through how dropping out is a VERY expensive option to take.
Here’s a quick recap:
- You have to find a way to cover your bills
- The world hardly respects anyone without at least a college degree
- Most of the jobs you can get without a college degree pay ridiculously low
In short, life is crazy hard.
Unless you’re from a rich family or you already have a business idea that’s showing strong promise, dropping out is something you gotta think twice about.
Okay, for real what da hell do I do?
Be proactive.
Start backward and fill in the gap.
Let’s say you graduate today with a degree in computer science. And you want a job in software engineering.
- You need to identify companies you’ll apply to
- You need to pass their interviews
- That means your resume has to be on point to get an interview
- You may need to ask someone to help submit your name (maybe a recruiter you met at a networking event, a professor that can recommend you, a student that graduated before you, etc)
- What makes a resume on point? Ahh showing you can do the job
- How can you show you can do the job? By including example projects, internships, classes you took.
I know coding has been the hot thing in the last few years so it’s okay to roll your eyes 🙈.
But here’s the thing: it doesn’t have to be a degree in computer science.
It can be something in Biology.
Or Finance.
Or Psychology.
The point stands: point at a potential ending and work backwards. Then fill in the gaps.
So, this gon’ 100% get me a job, right?
Nope.
Nothing is guaranteed.
But it’ll significantly boost your chances by a lot!
Think of it like this: the chance of getting a job without being proactive is like 20% and being proactive bumps it to about 70%.
100% can happen though.
A colleague back in college did so well during his internship they told him he could come back the following year for another internship. And that after he graduates, he’ll have a spot.
My dude had a job 2 years before he graduated.
Badass!
Doesn’t always happen but it’s common for an internship to land you a job at the same company right after graduation.
So will you work your way backward?
Because you should.
The job market will only become tougher by the year. To make it, you’ll need to be prepared.
You got this!
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