Advice For Graduates: 7 Tips You Won’t Hear At Graduation

Congratulations graduates! You’ve come a long way and have spent many days and nights studying for tests, writing essays, and working hard to make it to this point. However, graduation is more than a cap and gown or a piece of paper; and it’s a moment to celebrate this monumental achievement in your life.

This is a moment that says, “Yes, I did it!” You put in the work, and now it’s time to start the most exciting phase of your life. Some of you may know exactly what career or action you will take next, but for many of us, including myself, I had no idea what I would do after college and wish I had advice for my next steps.

In this blog post “Advice For Graduates: 7 Tips You Won’t Hear At Graduation”, I’ll share my best advice for recent graduates.

Don’t Know What To Do After Graduation, You’re Not Alone

For some reason, there is an unrealistic expectation that every aspect of your life should be well defined and mapped out. Your career should be picked out and any deviation from that plan means you’re a failure. That couldn’t be further from the truth. 

It’s okay to be unsure what path to take. You may make some mistakes on your way, but that’s all part of life’s journey. It’s okay to have goals and a vision for your life but be open to twists and turns that happen along the way. Some of our greatest lessons come from the unexpected path that we take.

Take Time Off To Celebrate

If you’re able, take some time off to go on vacation and explore the world. The one regret that I have is not taking time off to rest and travel to another country to learn about a different culture and open up my view of the world outside of the United States.

Taking time away also gives you time to do nothing and celebrate your achievement. We are always looking toward the next goal or next best thing and don’t appreciate the moment we are in. So go ahead and explore the world for a few weeks and have an adventure of a lifetime!

Life-Long Learning Is Essential 

Another misconception is that you know everything you need to get a high-paying job once you receive your degree. You will need to continue to expand your knowledge and skills in your career, and the best way to do that is to read and go to seminars to grow personally and professionally.

Make it your mission to continue evolving and learning from people who are where you want to be. Find people in your life who inspire you and ask them to be your mentor. Learn from other successful business people by reading their books, watching their interviews, and using their life stories as a roadmap to design your life’s vision.

Don’t Expect To Get A Six-Figure Job Right Away.

When you get out of college, you may have the impression that you are entitled to a six-figure job when you graduate. Unfortunately, when you get out into the real world, the demand for jobs is fierce. The economy has a major role in job availability, and thousands of other applicants have more experience than you currently have to land the perfect job.

You might have to take an entry-level job or a job in a completely different field than you wanted. The point is that you have to work hard and prove that you have the work ethic and skills to increase your earnings and to get your foot in the door at a company you want to work for.

Another important skill is networking. Just applying for jobs online isn’t enough. You have to know someone at the company who can recommend you. This can be done through a friend, family member, or if you’re an intern. A network of individuals who can vouch for your character can get you in for an interview. It’s important to develop meaningful relationships with people in your network and return the favor if needed. 

Pay Off Your Student Loans ASAP

If you haven’t started paying back your student loans before you graduated from college make it a priority to pay off all your loans as quickly as possible. The long-term effects of having student loans can affect your credit and be the dark cloud of debt that hangs over your head as interest increases your loan balance over time.

See if your job offers a student loan reimbursement program or if you qualify for student loan forgiveness. Make additional payments and make your payments on time to stay out of debt. Not doing so can come back to haunt you when you need to apply for a home mortgage or car loan. Don’t keep putting off paying your loans until you get your dream job. Start making payments now!

Save Your Money & Learn All You Can About Finances.

One piece of advice that I can give new graduates is to learn how to live below your means and learn all you can about personal finances. Let’s face it most of us didn’t take classes on how to create a budget or save money but this is part of growing up. Seeking information for skills that you didn’t develop in school will help you in all aspects of your life,career, and retirement.

The earlier you start to save for your future the more flexibility you have with your life. There are great resources at your local bank or credit union or you learn from financial experts like Dave Ramsey. Even if you’re not good with money there are programs out there that can help you make better decisions with your money. 

I like Dave Ramsey “FinancialPeace University “ because he gives you all the tools that you need to pay off credit card debt, student loan debt, house mortgage, and planning for retirement. You can also download the Dave Ramsey app that will have a step by step plan to help you save $1,000 for your emergency fund, debt snowball, and so much more. Go to www.DaveRamsey.com for more information.

Dream Big

Lastly, I want to encourage recent graduates to dream big. There will be a lot of people who will try to discourage you, even those closest to you. If you have a dream you have to pursue it. I like to say that God wouldn’t put something in my heart if it wasn’t meant for me. You will have to be your own cheerleader and coach at times, but your dreams can come true and deserve to come into the light! 

If you found this article helpful check out my latest blog 6 Things I Wish I Knew About College.