</div> </div> <p>I was the first to attend and graduate from college in my family. Though this was a huge feat, I was absolutely clueless. I was a broke college graduate with absolutely no idea what to do next. With a few internships under my belt, I worked on my resume and sent it out to hundreds of employers. I ended up taking a job that didn’t pertain to the field I studied for because I needed a “real job.”</p> <p>I worked there for several years before moving on. My job paid the bills, and I was grateful for it, but I never had a plan after college. I assumed everything would just fall into place.</p> <p>Life may take its own course, but having a blueprint helps eliminate anxiety. I encourage you to sit down and create a strategic plan.</p> <p><strong>The Real World Is Tough</strong></p> <p>Were you caught off-guard like I was post-college? I knew that life was going to be different, but I wasn’t ready!</p> <p> </p> <p>In the real world, you’ll have real bills, real responsibility, and real bill collectors who couldn’t care less about your stories of hardship and fear of &quot;adulting.&quot; Ready or not, the real world is waiting for you, so prepare as much as possible to transition.</p> <p><strong>Get Connected</strong></p> <p>Networking is key.&nbsp;Join organizations that reflect your interests, whether they’re business-related or recreational. For instance, you can attend meetups to connect with like-minded individuals or even religious organizations to meet others who share your faith. You should also be open to meeting others who are different from you or who might know more than you do.</p>

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I was the first to attend and graduate from college in my family. Though this was a huge feat, I was absolutely clueless. I was a broke college graduate with absolutely no idea what to do next. With a few internships under my belt, I worked on my resume and sent it out to hundreds of employers. I ended up taking a job that didn’t pertain to the field I studied for because I needed a “real job.”

I worked there for several years before moving on. My job paid the bills, and I was grateful for it, but I never had a plan after college. I assumed everything would just fall into place.

Life may take its own course, but having a blueprint helps eliminate anxiety. I encourage you to sit down and create a strategic plan.

The Real World Is Tough

Were you caught off-guard like I was post-college? I knew that life was going to be different, but I wasn’t ready!

In the real world, you’ll have real bills, real responsibility, and real bill collectors who couldn’t care less about your stories of hardship and fear of “adulting.” Ready or not, the real world is waiting for you, so prepare as much as possible to transition.

Get Connected

Networking is key. Join organizations that reflect your interests, whether they’re business-related or recreational. For instance, you can attend meetups to connect with like-minded individuals or even religious organizations to meet others who share your faith. You should also be open to meeting others who are different from you or who might know more than you do.

Source: Forbes Coaches

Seven Things Every College Graduate Should Know