Graduation, the word redefines being so close and yet so far away… and then there’s life beyond graduation. Why stress about what lies ahead? Particularly when you have that paper due this week and that midterm you should have started studying for two days ago that still needs to be done, well, after a warm cup of tea, a nap, and a Netflix binge that is. There are many uncertainties while living the university life, but one thing is certain: it can get really overwhelming and that dream job we are all striving for can seem out of reach. Unfortunately in order to get from point A to point B, where point B is your dream job, there is no avoiding the fact that you have to put in work and the sooner the better, which is bad news for the procrastinator in us all. However, putting in work now means less stress further down the road and who says actively working towards one’s dream job can’t be fun? Here are some tips that will redefine what it means to put in work.
Volunteer! Volunteer! Volunteer!
Many employers want to see candidates being involved in their community and the volunteer experience you earn now could just get you into your desired career. There are many fun volunteer opportunities out there for many great organizations. It is all about finding a volunteer position that fits in your schedule. There are even volunteer positions that can be done in the comfort of your own home such as online writing (Be a volunteer writer for CSI & ENGAGE blogs!). Don’t be scared to explore and volunteer for positions that do not line up with your “dream job”. You might just surprise yourself and discover something you love. Volunteering can also be done with friends for extra fun, or an opportunity to make new and lasting relationships!
Go Explore
Exploring your options can also be beneficial for future success. Grab a friend and attend info sessions, workshops, and go to guest lectures! Having too much knowledge about your dream job is never a bad thing! The ‘real world’ is constantly changing and the more you educate yourself the better prepared you will be after graduation. More importantly, they might just be offering free snacks and beverages at these events, but you’ll never know until you go!
Be Active Online
For most of us, this is already a big part of our daily lives and employers know this. Good online presence can go a very long way and is big factor that will help you land your dream job. Another great thing about being active online is that you can let your creativity loose. Write a blog about your passions, set up a YouTube channel and vlog about your journey. Working towards your career does not have to be boring, it can be creative a process.
Balance is Key
Last but not least try to find a healthy balance between work and play. Putting in work and ensuring future success does not mean you have to completely ditch Netflix. It just means taking extra time out of your day; or rather not watching that episode or two (or three) of your favourite TV show tonight, instead, and putting that time towards making the process of obtaining that dream job much easier. Remember, doing too much is as harmful as doing too little.
It is scary to think about the future sometimes and that overwhelming feeling is what drives most of us to procrastination. It gets the best of all of us, even a fourth year student like me. However, there are no short cuts when it comes to working towards a career, but that work does not have to feel like work. It can almost be fun if you make it so and the tips above are just a few examples of how this can be done. Putting in some work now means less work later on and who does not want that? It might mean extra time away from movie marathons, but that can be easily made up for during a Friday night in.
