The transition from graduation to your first career can be overwhelming, but it’s also an exciting time to celebrate your achievements and explore new opportunities.
Remember Choosing a Major?!
Choosing a major is a big decision that can have a significant impact on your career path. Whether you knew what you wanted to do from the beginning or took some time to figure it out, it’s important to consider the hard and soft skills gained from your program and how they relate to potential job opportunities.
I bring up choosing your major because it is a major life decision.
There are major differences between the career paths of a psychology undergraduate degree, a degree in business analytics, and a degree in computer science. Why? Because of the hard and soft skills gained through those programs and their direct relation to recruitment.
Why do you do what you do?
I remember walking into my career center, close to graduation, and asking a career advisor for a list of political science jobs I could apply for, as that was my major. Quickly, I was confronted with the stunning realization that I did not even have a working resume.
What was even more concerning was that I realized I had never even thought about what type of career I’d like to pursue, and where I could see myself contributing my purpose.
Employer on Universities
You’ll notice that employers are keen on financing and working closely with business and engineering centers across universities. Those university centers often fund through donations and corporate investments, and thus develop direct pipelines for recruitment.
Students in programs which do not have this type of employer involvement often fall behind when it comes to landing fulfilling careers after graduation.
These programs also often fail to directly relate their academic curriculum to what employers are looking for, so you get many students who fall into the same position as me, scrambling to consider their life career in the few measly months before graduation, while also trying to pass finals.
We Are Keen on Blaming Universities and Employers…
We are keen to blame universities, blame employers, but the reality is that attending college and choosing a major is an important decision that should not be taken lightly.
Psychology programs are fantastic for students who want to pursue becoming a psychologist, which requires attending graduate school, then pursuing your PhD, but there are around 100,000 active working psychologists in the United States.
Contrast that with the nearly 4.5 million software engineers in the United States, and you’ll start to see why employers are intentional about which programs they recruit from, and why choosing a major is so important.
Consider Employer Recruitment Pipelines on Campus
Employers often have direct pipelines for recruitment from certain programs, which is why it’s important to research and choose a major that aligns with your career goals.
Hopefully, you’ve accomplished this part already and are ready to move into the world of work!
If you graduated recently, make sure you check out your campus programs with employer involvement, such as business and engineering career centers, which can provide valuable networking opportunities and hands-on experience that can help you stand out in the job market.
Explore Your Career Options
However, if you’re still unsure about your career path, take the time to explore different options.
Choosing your career path is important for you to consider. If you don’t know what to do, travel if you can, explore passive income opportunities and project-based work, volunteer at a non-profit. Develop new hard and soft skills, explore trending industry data, and read, read, and then read some more.
On the other hand, if you are ready to work, apply for lots of jobs so you can understand the world of corporate interviews, networking, and negotiations.
Tailor Your Application Materials!
If you’re ready to jump into the workforce, apply for a variety of jobs to gain experience with corporate interviews, networking, and negotiations.
When you come across a job opportunity that truly interests you, take the time to tailor your application materials, research the company and position, and follow up with recruiters. These small steps can make a big difference in landing your dream job.
Congratulate Yourself!
Ultimately, graduating from college is a major accomplishment that deserves recognition. Take the time to celebrate and reflect on your achievements, but also remember to focus on your future goals and how you want to positively impact the world.
Plan Your Future Career Path
Graduating from college is an exciting time and you deserve recognition for a job well done. It’s a time to celebrate, contemplate, and move forward with purpose.
That being said, don’t let these year pass you by without thinking deeply about your purpose and how you want to positively affect change in the world.