3 Steps for Life after Graduation

Are you or someone you know graduating in May? Congratulations! Are you excited and nervous at the same time? Graduation leads to incredible opportunities, but life after graduation is less structured than what you are used to in a school setting. How do you navigate the transition from student to employee? Determine your next steps using the Producktivity® Principles: Identify. Connect. Organize.

Step 1: Identify – Have you planned a graduation celebration with your family and friends? It is important to celebrate your successes, big and small throughout your life to keep you motivated. Graduation is an incredible achievement, so make sure you take time to celebrate. Now you are ready to plan your first step, which is to identify the parts of your life that will change once you graduate. What areas will need your focus and preparation? Have you started looking for a job? Are you taking advantage of networking opportunities? Have you created a budget? What do you need to adjust in your budget? Have you accepted a job? Is it in a new city, state, or country?

Step 2: Connect – Review your identify list and connect what you will need to do to prepare for these changes If you are currently conducting a job search, is your resume ready? Have 3-5 people, including at least two people in your industry reviewed your resume? What is your virtual brand when recruiters and companies search your name on the internet? Are you staying current in your industry through networking, social media, and reading books by experts in your field? If you are moving after graduation, have you researched the new city, state, or country where you will be living? What is the cost of living? Where will you live? Is it close to mass transit or will you need a car? Now, narrow it down to 3 changes that are your highest priority to prepare for as you approach graduation.

Step 3: Organize – Focus on the 3 changes you selected and create a list of all of the ways you could plan for them. If you are creating a budget for the first time, one step is to research budget tools and select the one that will work best for you. Pen and paper, Excel, Quicken, budgeting apps. Also, you need to determine how much you will be earning and how often you will be paid, for cash flow purposes. Another step is to review your expenses from the last 6 months, and then make adjustments to reflect any changes that will occur after graduation. Commit to one way you will move to action this week. Will you ask your mentor to review your resume this week? Research your new city?

Using the Producktivity® Principles allows you to plan for and achieve a smooth transition from graduation to the next step on your personal and professional growth journey. The principles also reduce the stress that comes with a major change in your life by determining your highest priorities so you can move forward with purpose and intention.

Producktivity® is a unique, interactive personal and professional organizational tool that assists individuals and organizations with improving their decision making and time management skills.

For more information about Producktivity® and our Strengths-Based Coaching services, reach out to us at Info@bscorbettconsulting.com, follow us on Twitter, and read our Move to Action blogs.