Making Plans Once You're a College Graduate

You have completed an incredible achievement. You have studied hard and successfully completed all the requirements to earn a Bachelors degree. During the last semester of college, the cold-hard reality of the uncertain future sunk deep into your stomach. You do not know what to do next. You ask yourself, "What is the next step after graduating college?"

There are several decisions that you must make; each decision, a piece of the real-world puzzle. If you do not know, exactly what it is that you want to do immediately after school, do not feel alone, many people feel this anxiety toward that leap of independence and responsibility. Several career experts claim that the average adult changes careers at least four or five times during their lifetime. This shows the natural indecisiveness of human nature.

The question of the next career move is in everyone's mind, whether to find a job, go to graduate school, or possibly find a career in the military. These decisions call for reasonable consideration of the positives and negatives. It is inevitably up to you to find which decision is right for you in your life.

If you have decided to draw a paycheck and get a job, then several things need to be done to guarantee successful job hunting. The majority of all college majors are required to take some type of Technical Writing class that teaches you how to write a resume and market you and your skills in the world of employment. Review your notes and books from those classes and update your resume. This is where you can write "yes" under "degree received" on your resume.

After you have submitted your resume to several companies and a representative calls to schedule an interview, you must work on your first impression. A good first impression is important during the interview process and will continue onto the first weeks of your new job. It is important to make good impressions on your new boss and co-workers, if you nailed the interview and got the position that you inquired about. In time, you can start your climb up on the ladder of success, by marketing yourself within your current company or to outside companies with better benefits with experience under your belt.

If you decide to either further your education, along with seeking a job or not, you need to carefully decide on a degree to seek at the most beneficial university. Make sure to turn in all the requirements by the deadlines, such as financial aid applications, graduate school applications and tests, transcripts. It is always a good idea to apply to the schools that are within your financial budget and appropriate for your lifestyle.

If you do not feel that the other two options are for you, then there is still an opportunity that you may not have considered. There is the option to take your hard earned Bachelors degree and join the military as an officer. This option is great for the individual that seeks discipline and respect. When you join the military with a bachelor's degree, you go in with an advantage over those who enlist without a college education. You will enter as a specialist and an officer. As an officer, you are paid more than the enlisted men are and live a more comfortable life, with privileges that the enlisted do not have.

By joining the military after you graduate college, you enter with more maturity and confidence in your ability to achieve, which makes it easier to understand what is required of you. Unfortunately, as an officer you do not have the job security that the enlisted men do. An officer must be able to make rank by a certain time, if he or she does not, then that officer will be "released" from the military. If you are ever "released" from the military, then you will be sent back into the civilian world with a college degree, military experience, marketable job skills, and veteran's preferences in hiring. Veteran's preferences can land you a nice state or federal job.

Veteran's preferences can be a great advantage over others that have the same amount of skills as you do. When an employer looks at a resume that has a record of military service, that information shows him or her that the applicant has successfully been trained and approved by the United States military. When it comes to state and government jobs, the applicants are given points for their achievements and employment history. The veterans preferences adds more points leading to highly beneficial employment.

Once you have decided to either get a job or go to school, the idea of where you are going to live is the next issue to address. If you currently live at home, you are aware of all the advantages of living there. When you live with your parents or other relatives the rent is cheap or free, you get home-cooked meals, laundry service, and free utilities. With all these great advantages comes the major drawback to living at home, you must obey by the rules.

This need of independence can force many students to search for their own living quarters. The price of privacy comes at the expense of being responsible to pay your own bills. Once you have decided on a place to live that is within your financial budget, make sure that you are aware of any deposits, hidden fees, or upfront cost.

Either decision of moving away or staying close to family and friends, calls for you to recall a few things that may not be easily remembered. Make sure to fill out a change of address form at the local post office box. Also, do not forget to notify credit card companies, student loan providers, automobile registration, and the voter registration office of your new contact information.

If you decide to move out onto your own then there is a decision of how far you want to live from your family, friends, and familiar surroundings. If you want to live in a new place that is not familiar to you, then familiarize yourself with banks, the city hall and police station, credit unions, public transportation, post office, grocery stores, malls, movie theatres, restaurants, place of worship, gas stations, and city rules and regulations, so that you don't make bad impressions.

Once you are on your own it is essential to budget your finances and cutout on impulsive buying, if you do not want to end up living with your parents again. Your paycheck will seem smaller than what you thought it would be, and your bills will always be higher than what you think they are.

First, tally your income after taxes, social security, and anything else that may be automatically withdrawn. Second, you will need to subtract your essential bills like rent, electric, gas, phone, water, and transportation. Third, add in the credit card, student loans, and any other loan payments. The amount that is left is what can be used for savings, investments, entertaining, and living expenses until the next paycheck.

It is important to learn how to properly budget for living now, while you have a paycheck and saving for later, when you do not draw a paycheck. Saving for retirement is important as saving and investing for future purchases such as a car or house. A clear understanding of 401ks, stock exchange, Roth IRAs, and many other investment options is essential to prosperous investing. Guides like Investing for Beginners at About.com can help educate you on the several options that are at your disposal.

The next issue at hand is what everyone must have, but no one wants, insurance. There are several types of insurance that needs to be considered and evaluated. Several employers offer health and life insurance, by being in a group package it can be less expensive than individual rates. Under certain flexible payment plans, the premiums can be taken out of your paycheck before taxes are taken out. This saves you money by being taxed on less money, which leads to you saving in the end. Car insurance will need to be continued. It is a good idea to pay by the term, because the total can be lowered by up to 15% by paying in full. If this is not an option then the payment plan can easily be squeezed into your monthly budget. Renters insurance is a small, smart investment in case of emergencies, like floods, hurricanes, tornados, or fires. These natural catastrophes can ruin your life, but with renter's insurance, it will not take the value of your possessions.

So there you have it, several things to do after graduating college. You have achieved a degree in higher learning; now apply what you have learned to your everyday life. The college that you graduated from would not have given you a diploma if they were not positive of your ability to achieve your goals. So, good luck!