By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

 

If you’re in the class of 2026, you need to gear up for life post-graduation. Follow these steps to get ready to go:

Tap into school resources

“Meet with faculty and your career services offices to ensure that you have the connections you’ll need when you head on your next adventure,” said Justin Dickerson, director of Student Orientation and Family Services at Oswego.

Your college offers help to graduates in finding work, so tap into these resources to see what they can do to help you in your job hunt.

Keep studying

“Even if you have a job lined up or a graduate school admission settled, finish strong,” Dickerson said. “The last semester is often the one students focus on the least academically due to future priorities. Focus on those final grades and finishing strong may be the difference between graduating with honors or not.”

Network

Of course, you’ve likely dabbled in networking through your LinkedIn page and Instagram, but this is the time to seriously network by doing more than just making online connections. Have some business cards printed with your name, contact information and link or QR code to your portfolio and resume. (www.vistaprint.com is a good resource for inexpensive yet professional printed items.) Attend chamber of commerce meetings, industry conferences or general business meetups to talk with people face-to-face who can help you get where you want to go. Prepare by arming yourself with a few go-to questions and an elevator pitch about what you want to do. Discuss the industry’s future and segue into your desired role in that future.

Begin applying

Naturally, your resume will indicate your graduation date to come and highlight how you’ve prepared, including your education and any relevant volunteering, work experience and interning. You need to apply to companies that aren’t even hiring now. Get your name in the hands of hiring agents at places you want to work in the role for which you prepared. Few people realize that human resources people would rather not have to headhunt and would prefer having a few resumes in hand to make a selection. Applying in advance saves the company time and money, while placing you at the head of the line.

Save your money

You’re headed toward some big changes in your life, like possibly moving to a different city for work, getting an apartment and shifting from college student to employee. You may need a new wardrobe and more to start out in your new job. So, hold off on any major purchases and curb frivolous spending for now.

Plan where you want to live

Will you move back home with your folks for a while to help pay down school loan debt? Or you may want to get an apartment with friends or solo. Consider whether you’ll have a job by graduation. Perhaps you could work at a job that’s not your long-term goal so you can become independent sooner. Keep your parents in the loop and don’t feel inhibited about asking for advice from them or other trusted adults. They’ve already made mistakes, so you don’t have to if you listen to their input.

Develop self-discipline

“Build routines and habits,” Dickerson said. “Once you leave the era of 11 a.m. class start times you’ll likely not return. Start getting up earlier and deciding how you want to build a morning routine. One of the hardest transitions to make in your life will be going from the flexibility of an undergraduate schedule to a regular 9-5.”

Invest in your college friendships and campus

“It’s hard to imagine not seeing your social connections every day but in just a few months you’ll likely live all across the state and beyond,” Dickerson said. “You don’t have a lot of time left in your undergraduate career. Give things a try. Have a building on campus you haven’t explored yet? A dining hall you have never eaten in? Enjoy the experience, once you leave it won’t be the same again!”

As your time as a student draws to a close, these experiences will form lasting memories.