What Is A Grad To Do? | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Student Life

What Is A Grad To Do?

It doesn't matter, really, so long as you are fed, housed, and watered.

23
What Is A Grad To Do?
firedupjimhammons.com

One of the primary issues that college graduates face upon leaving school is working. Some will already have a job in their field lined up before they're out, some will be on their way to grad school and won't need to worry about jobs outside of academia, and then there's always that one person who will ride on an allowance from their parents to avoid doing anything substantial with their life. The rest, though, still need a way to keep a roof over their head, food on the table, and water in the pipes, but feel at a loss about what they should do.

The first thing to remember is: don't sweat it. Worrying never made anything better. Minimizing the anxieties in your life will help you during your search for work by allowing you to relax and think more about your goal. If you have too much stuff for where you live, get rid of some of it. If you have too many monthly service payments, cancel them. If there are people in your life who frustrate you, try to spend less time around them. Make sure you spend some time every day doing the things you enjoy, but not so much that you aren't making progress towards employment. On top of all this, remember that you're not the only one to have ever found yourself without work. There are jobs out there, you just need to know where to look and keep your mind open.

Wherever you live will almost always have some variety of job assistance, be it a work office, a website like OhioMeansJobs, or even a local chapter of Americorps. Never forget to ask your family and friends if they know of any openings, either, and if one of them offers you a job, consider taking it. No human is an island, taking help from others is not a sign of weakness. I got my job by knowing a couple of people who worked at the facility. They let me know when job openings came up and helped me find them online, and in about a week (after 5 months of job-searching), I went from unemployed and mooching off of my parents, to making $13/hour for moving packages.

When I started college, I didn't expect to find myself here. I figured I would graduate and then get hired on by some publishing house or write for games or movies. That sort of thing can happen, but it's very rare for it to happen immediately. That's not to say you shouldn't try for the things you dream of doing, but remain realistic and prepared in case you don't get it at first. Be ready to swallow your pride and take work wherever you can find it. An attitude of not being too good for any sort for labor is a good one to have. Work the farm, flip some burgers, throw some boxes, call some strangers. Go to a temp agency, even. They get a bad rep, but are actually very trustworthy sources for work, and can occasionally be good windows into permanent positions. Do whatever it takes to make sure you can eat and stay wherever you're living, and always keep a vigilant eye out for the next step in your life. Whatever path you choose, you're not bound to it forever.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
female tv characters
We Heart It

Over the past decade, television has undergone a very crucial transition: the incorporation of female lead characters. Since it's a known fact that girls actually do run the world (Beyonce said so herself), it's time for the leading ladies of the small screen to get some credit. Without these characters, women would still be sitting in the background of our favorite shows. These women are not only trailblazers for female empowerment, but role models for women worldwide. With that, here are 15 of the smartest, sassiest ladies gracing our screens that remind us that women do, indeed, rule:

Keep Reading...Show less
New Now Next
New Now Next

If you are like me, you have an interesting personality. Basically, you love to be sassy and snarky, gossip, and act like a total bitch (not really), but deep down, you are actually a very genuinely nice person. The idea of actually hurting someone truly makes you feel bad, and you probably have never actually hurt someone’s feelings because your kindness always shines through, even if you do not want it to. Not sure exactly what I would call this type of personality, but if you identify with it, here are some feelings you can undoubtedly relate to.

Keep Reading...Show less
Blair Waldorf
Cub Magazine

We all have a little bit of Blair Waldorf inside of us. You may not realize it, but you're probably guilty of at least nine out of ten of these listed points. So why don't we reminisce on the famous Blair Waldorf moments where we realized we were actually her at certain times through the series?

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

11 Confessions Of A Sleep-A-Holic

If your plans get cancelled, there is a 99.9% percent chance you are sleeping.

1789
woman lying on bed
Photo by Kinga Howard on Unsplash

1. What are some of your hobbies? Does sleep count?

I'm so good at sleeping I can do it with my eyes closed

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

7 Reasons To Watch One Tree Hill

"There is only one tree hill, Jaime Scott."

1870
one tree hill
Wikipedia Commons

If you need a new series to watch, I recommend One Tree Hill. I watched this series three times now and it only keeps getting better. If you need any more reasons beside the fact that all of the seasons are on Netflix for your binge-watching pleasure, here are seven more reasons to watch it.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments