Best Ways for College Students to Prepare for a Career After Graduation

If you're recently graduated form college, you know how tough things are in the economy. Unemployment rates are on the rise and there are roughly seven people interviewing for every one available job out there. Some recent college graduates have accepted any job they can get just to get by and start paying back those student loans. Chances are, you'll probably go through quite a few jobs, and possibly even career changes in the first few years after college. While you're still in school, before you launch out into the big, bad world, take some time to plan how you're going to do what you love in life and work.

Discover What You Love Now, and Pursue it

It may surprise some folks to know that director Quentin Tarantino was a clerk in a small video store in Redondo Beach, CA. Mr. Tarantino is obviously passionate about movies, he probably knew that since he was young. If he were passionate about being a clerk in a video store, he never would have left. Those fans of his movies are sure glad he followed his passion for making great movies.

I'll bet Mr. Tarantino did a lot of research and analysis of movies while he was working at that video store because he already knew what he was passionate about. Now, he's a successful director and producer of major motion pictures.What is your passion? Perhaps it might be best to find a lesser job that's somehow related to that passion and start reading and planning for your future. Many a career path began in the mailroom of a huge corporation.

Take Advantage of Your Current Situation as a Student Now

There is a sort of safety zone if you're still in college. You don't yet have to deal with the troubles of the work-a-day world, you have free access to some great mentors and professors, and free use of the research library. These things will all likely cost you some money when you get out into the real world, you might as well use them now while you still can.

While you're still in school, find a few blogs that are about the things in which you're interested. Set up an RSS feed so you get all the daily updates and latest information. Acree Graham of The Next Great Generation website suggests reading The 99 Percent and Seth's Blog to start. Anthony Robbins Blog, Someday Syndrome, and All Paths to Victory are also very well respected life and career coaching blogs. Spending time reading these blogs will help to create a clear path, and ultimately lead you toward areas in which you have a passion.

If you pursue a career path related to something about which you are passionate, you're going to be happier in the long term. Do you think Mr. Tarantino ever dreams of going back to the video store. I think probably not. Yes, take any job for the time being, but never be satisfied until you are in a career that makes you want to jump out of bed in the morning and get out there. Don't fall for the logic that argues for finding a job in a safe career. You will likely regret that decision. While you're working some of those jobs on your way to the top, you'll likely learn a great deal about people, general business, and any number of other things. Be productive and use this time to learn.