Coping After College: Dealing With Your New Life

Leaving college can be a scary experience. Actually, scratch that. Leaving college can be absolutely terrifying. It can leave you quaking in your UGGs and wishing that you had failed that last exam, just so you could stay for another semester.

When you’ve spent the past three or four years of your life wrapped up in the college bubble, the real world can seem daunting. You feel really out of place and there’s all this pressure on you to suddenly transform into a grown-up but what happens when you start your first post-college job? You may feel as if you don’t fit in with the grey-clad commuters as they dash off to work every morning. And you definitely wouldn’t be alone in feeling like that. Or maybe you’re worried about getting a job full-stop. Whatever way you look at it, it’s a stressful time.

So just how do you make the transition from college life to working life?

Here are a few tips that will hopefully ease the blow of the real world and help you to transition from student to employee.

Be realistic: When we leave college, we’re drunk on education. “Look at how great I am!” we want to squeal. “Check out my brand new degree! I’m qualified to do stuff!!”

We think that we can just walk into a company and demand a job, a massive wage packet and a company car. If only.

Unfortunately, the real world is a harsh place. Soon you’ll begin to realise that being a recent graduate isn’t as great as it was a few years ago. Ireland is still in the depths of the recession and all too often employers will overlook graduates for people who have years of experience behind them.  Some employers want quick money and they are not willing to take a chance on someone who is still “wet behind the ears.”

You need to be realistic from the outset. There is no harm in aiming high and having ambition, but recognise that sometimes things may not go to plan and you might have to settle for a lower position than you would like in order to get yourself established.

A sad but true fact: things aren’t as easy as they used to be when it comes to employment in Ireland.

Have a plan: Goals are important. Employers like to see that you’re serious about your career and you know exactly where you’re going.

Sit down and have a think about where you want to be by this time next year. What about in five years’ time? How about ten years? Is there anything that you specifically want to achieve?

Write it all down and refer to your goals on a regular basis. They will help you to keep going in the right direction.

If you find that you’re majorly deviating from your path, reassess your goals. Is this what you really want? Is there any way that you can advance from your current position?

The best thing about goals is that while they provide a strong foundation, they are also flexible and will change with you as you grow into your new life. Remember: nothing is set in stone, you can always change course.

Master the art of organization now: It sounds boring but your future self will thank you for this. Invest in a good quality diary. Write down everything: appointments, birthdays, useful phone numbers – everything.

This diary will become your bible as you go throughout your working life. Carry it with you at all times – you never know when your boss might need a phone number or a reminder about a certain meeting…

Start saving: You’ve probably already heard this one from your parents, but starting a savings account as early as possible into your working life is one of the biggest favours that you can do for yourself. Every time you get paid, put somewhere between 10 and 20 per cent of your wages into your savings account. The earlier you start, the more money you’ll have if a rainy day comes along.

Have fun: Enjoy yourself. Take every day in your stride and have fun with the experience. If you’re enjoying yourself, it will shine through in your attitude and we all know that enthusiasm is the one quality employers actively look for. Who knows? Your enthusiasm could see you in line for a promotion soon enough.