5 Things to Know When You Graduate College

 

By Dominique Preston

 

 This past May I graduated college with my B.A. in Broadcasting and with any transition comes new insight. Although I learned many things with the accomplishment of graduating, there were five main things that graduating SistaGirlz of the future should keep in mind when that big day approaches.

1) Network, Network, Network- No matter what your major — it isn’t what you know, but who you know. Almost all of my jobs and interviews were through referrals. So never burn bridges and always be friendly.

2) Where did my insurance go? – Myself and many other college students get their health benefits through their parents. If you’re in the same boat, once you graduate those benefits will no longer apply to you. If you have a job that offers health benefits you should look into that or pay monthly for insurance. Not being covered is not a good idea and if something happens it can be very expensive.

3) Always be on the look- Whether you have a job or not always keep your options open. The current economy is not at its best so lay offs are random and have become common. Always have control. Search online for job openings and ask around for leads.

4) Don’t get discouraged- When you graduate, a lot of people don’t find a job in their field right away. Many successful graduates say they were unemployed for months before they found a suitable job. So stay focused and hopeful. This is why budgeting and saving is very important to do while in school so when you graduate you have money to support yourself during this period.

5) Celebrate- With my budgeting I was able to afford a graduation party and a trip to Jamaica. Both cost a lot of money but were more than worth it. It is a hard four years and is something to celebrate. This is a major milestone in your life and you should reward yourself. SistaGirlz, I definitely recommend traveling!