Kayla May, Staff Writer
Graduating high school and going to college is a big transition for young adults. Even bigger is the transition from college to entering the workforce. In this article we will discuss the difficulties in navigating this unfamiliar territory and talk about ways to make it smoother.
For most kids, the path to adulthood is laid out. Elementary school, high school, college. By your first day in kindergarten, you know exactly what you will be doing for the next twenty years of your life. But no one talks about after college.
Sure, getting a job is assumed, but what kind of job? With endless opportunities, how can I know which one is right for me? What if I get a job that I like but after ten years I hate it? And what if I cannot get a job? What if all the opportunities I seek turn me down? These are questions anyone about to graduate is asking themselves.
It can be nerve-racking to go from having your whole life laid out for you to having all the opportunities in the world and what to choose is completely up to you. Along with choosing what to do with your life, you also must learn how to do basic tasks such as finding a place to live and paying rent, paying other bills, getting insurance, cooking for yourself, setting up a retirement account; these things are not always learned in college meaning this transition time is also a time of discovery.
Indeed Career Guide1 explains that it is important to acknowledge the transition and try to embrace the inevitable change. Understanding that you are going to be put in unfamiliar situations will help you relax and give yourself grace when you make a mistake or feel uncertain.
At times it can feel like you are meant to get through all of this on your own, but this is not the case. You must be willing to ask for help. Friends, family, professors, and coworkers that care about you, want you to succeed and will support you through this transition. Remember that everyone was where you are at some point in their life and can understand how you are feeling.
Indeed, it also talks about the many ways you can set yourself up for success in the workplace. Being prepared to enter a new job can ease anxiety you may have about entering a new environment. They state that developing your hard skills (job-related abilities) and soft skills (personality characteristics/qualities) will help you obtain a job and be successful in that position.
Practicing your professionalism is another tip. This refers to how to act in the workplace and includes how you dress and how you speak. It can also be helpful to research any specific policies or rules at your potential workplace.
Growing up, many kids want independence and to be treated like adults. Yet, it is only in this part of your life, the transition to full-blown adulthood, that you realize how quickly it went by.
This transition can be tough and a little scary. But it can also be exciting. You are finally getting the freedom you wished for as a kid. Your hard work for eighteen years in school is finally going to pay off. New and exciting experiences are ahead. Do not let any fear or anxiousness get in the way of you enjoying them.
References:
The Belltower 