There are many exciting benefits that come with graduating, such as not having to stay up until two in the morning studying for tests, attending classes every day, or all of the tedious homework piling up. However, the flip side is that there are a lot of bittersweet ‘lasts’ that will be missed. It could be the last time you stayed up studying at the library with a group of classmates whose company you enjoyed, where sometimes barely any homework or studying got done. It’s the last time you may get to live in a house with three of your best friends before they all move away and take different paths. It’s the last time you get to go to your sorority or fraternity formal or fun events on campus. It's that feeling of attending your last college sports event as a student.
There’s just something about college that makes you still feel free, Maybe it's the last time you're able to have your head in the clouds, where self-discovery and finding your passion is the journey.
For me, it was everything I could have asked for and more, but where do we go from here? The next questions on many seniors' minds are where they are going to work, where they are going to live, and much more. It is the hardest part of ending the college journey. Deciding exactly what your next steps are and what the next phase of life will look like isn’t easy. It can feel like there’s endless questions, nerves, and change, but preparation is key.
You have dreams of the life you want. Maybe it’s the job that makes you happy, a nice place to live with family or friends, but how do we get there? Getting the dream job you’ve always wanted may not be exactly what happens directly out of college, but it can be. Hard work and dedication over the past four years gets you the degree, but that doesn’t always guarantee a great job will just fall into your lap.
Internships are a great opportunity to truly experience the workplace from the safety of college. You get exposure to different workplaces, different types of work, and find the opportunities that offer the most personal fulfillment. Internships also give you an idea of the type of work culture that suits you best while building valuable experience for your resume. You want to be able to show future employers that yes, you are young, but you are capable to take on this next phase of life by having past job experiences that offered both personal and professional growth.
If you don’t already have a LinkedIn account that you are actively using to your benefit, it is a wonderful tool to use to make those connections with people and get your name out there. Our Ask an Intern blog series discusses how to cultivate your professional presence and how it can help with networking. Talking to your college advisors is another way to get your name into the hands of the right people. There have been numerous times professors or faculty at universities have helped students land their jobs. The sky is the limit with opportunities, so continue to build your network as you look for the right job to apply.
So, what’s your next move? Is it to move back home near or with family? Is it moving to a new state or even a different country? Everyone has a different path, and all can lead to personal fulfillment. I measure success against my own happiness without comparison to others and their goals. What does success look like for you? Chase that, but don’t forget you’ve got time to figure it out. We are all on different adventures, so don’t feel like it all has to be mapped out to perfection. Start today with a plan, but don’t forget to enjoy these memories you are making in the last semester of your college career.
At Bank Independent, we pride ourselves on staying true to our values and maintaining a great work culture. We post career positions and answer community questions about career opportunities. Ask us about internship opportunities or visit www.bibank.com/careers.