Where Do I Begin After College?
Graduating college is an exciting milestone in the lives of those hoping to apply their newfound knowledge in the work force. However, for many people graduation marks the beginning of a difficult and frustrating transition period. Faced with companies that tend to seek applicants for two broad categories of employment – entry-level and experienced – many college graduates find that job prospects are limited. New graduates quickly learn that the competition for existing jobs is intimidating and fierce.
Though the data concerning job prospects for new graduates is discouraging, there are signs that the job market is slowly and continuously improving. A person’s ability to network and overall persistence in pursuing jobs are factors that enable many new graduates to differentiate themselves from the competition. A barrier to achieving success for others is that many in this situation struggle to overcome feelings of low self-esteem. Another factor influencing a person’s ability to find employment is a lack of a strong personal identity as it pertains to the work environment.
Today’s postgraduate must learn the skills necessary to balance myriad responsibilities. Many must contend with meeting personal and professional obligations, while continuously earning an income. Additionally, people face a wider range of stressors than ever before. Learning effective methods for coping with these hindrances makes a world of difference. Time management skills and productive thinking habits are also techniques that enable job seekers to find long-term employment. Moreover, these advantages help to place a person on the path to a rewarding career in the field of his or her choice.
Some of the stressors college graduates face relate to the hardships many experience while searching for employment. Those with a limited or lacking history of employment are the most vulnerable to experiencing some form of emotional distress associated with job hunting. Various degrees of anxiety and depression are common manifestations in those embarking on this journey. New graduates are leaving behind the safe and community-oriented college environment to enter the foreign and unpredictable job market. This is a major life change that requires enhanced coping skills and a willingness to adapt to an uncertain environment.
Navigating the transitional period between graduation and gainful employment is challenging; however, there are solutions that help to ease this transition and also promote success in the workplace. The skills needed to find and seize job opportunities in the market are acquired through interventions focusing on altering ingrained thought patterns that prompt counterproductive behavior.
As a life management coach I assist people in changing their patterns of thinking and behavior in a way that empowers them to achieve their goals. I am solution focused and use a number of approaches to align behavior with aspirations, such as resource building, cognitive behavioral therapy, resource building, and many others. Finding postgraduate work is not a chance occurrence. People with a desire to overcome negative or self-defeating thinking and behavior have the capacity to determine their own future. Allow me to help you take the first step in your journey to making your dreams a reality.
