What’s better than college life? Nothing. I don’t have a single friend who doesn’t miss college. Back then, our life was so easy that we ended up getting stressed about every assignment. Our biggest worry was if our English professor didn’t like us. And now? Rent, bills, taxes, a job that pays for the aforementioned. Our list of worries is virtually endless.
If you’re a recent college grad, congratulations! That’s a huge accomplishment! However, there’s going to be some changes coming up. Most of it is exciting, but some of it might seem stressful and too much to handle at first. Let this article be your guide while navigating this new, post-college life.
The Job Search
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If you’re lucky, you’ve already got a job lined up. Congrats! If not, keep calm. While the job search can be frustrating and demoralizing, you will get there at some point.
Here are some tips to keep sane:
- Treat the job search like a full-time job. Set aside a certain time each day to solely focus on browsing job platforms, writing killer cover letters, and tweaking your resume.
- Don’t be afraid to get in touch with recruiters. LinkedIn is your best friend. After submitting an application online, find the company’s recruiter on LinkedIn and send them a short, but professional message following up on your application and why you’d love to work for the company. This makes a lasting impression, trust me.
- Network. Network. Network. It’s been said over and over again, but for good reason. Networking is an easy way to get in touch with the right people, putting a face to your resume and eventually finding a job in your dream industry. Sign up for networking events, print your resume a few times, and collect as many business cards as you can.
- Don’t give up! The job search is hard. Don’t let that bring you down, find a way to rewind and recharge your batteries every single day and stay motivated. You’re not the first one looking for a job, and you won’t be the last one.
Getting Up at 8 AM…
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…and working all day. Once you’ve found a job, the real struggle is about to start. Back in college, attending an 8 AM class seemed impossible, and when your alarm went off at 7 AM, you regularly contemplated dropping out of college just to avoid going to this particular class.
Now, with a full-time job on your plate, you won’t be able to turn over in bed and ask a friend for the assignment later. You’ll actually have to get up, go to work, and perform at your best, instead of falling asleep in class and hoping you won’t snore too loud.
Luckily, New York City is just the right city to get up early, its energy and vitality are contagious.
Where Are My Friends?
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If you’re moving to NYC, you’ll probably arrive by yourself. You might feel lonely when you first arrive, but this will change quickly. Some great ways to meet new people is to attend events, join group workouts, or sign up for a class. Check out meetup.com for cool groups and meet ups in your area. Join a free yoga class at Bryant Park or go to a happy hour and start a conversation. You might not be used to going to places by yourself as you were probably surrounded by a close group of friends at college, but don’t be afraid to get outside your comfort zone.
Being alone is very common in New York City. Do a Kevin in Home Alone 2 and make New York City your playground, minus being chased by two crazy criminals, of course. You’ll see people having dinner by themselves in restaurants, catching a movie, or taking their laptop to a coffee shop to get some work done. It’s completely natural, and you might find you enjoy it.
Finding an Apartment
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If you think about it, graduating college is pretty scary, even more so if you’re planning on moving to New York City. On top of having to find your first full-time job in one of the toughest markets in the world, you’ll also be apartment hunting.
Don’t complicate your life after college by trying to do it all by yourself. Just like contacting a recruiter to help you find a job, get expert help from a real estate agent to make the apartment search that much easier. Triplemint’s agents know NYC’s neighborhoods like the back of their hand, and they’re responsive, reliable, and happy to answer all your questions.
Plus, if you’re planning to work for a big company here in the city, ask if they’re enrolled with Triplemint’s Smart Move program. This is a collaboration between Triplemint and the top employers in the city, who want to ensure that their new hires can find a place in the city easily with a stress-free and cost-effective search.
Feeling Old and Too Young at the Same Time
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In the first few months after college, you might feel overwhelmed with everything that’s going to be thrown at you. Feeling like you’re not ready for all this responsibility is completely normal and part of adult life, unfortunately.
However, sometimes you might feel like you’ve rapidly aged by decades. Your sleep schedule will completely change, you’ll be nodding off at 9 PM while trying to watch a Netflix show, or feel drunk after two drinks. Don’t worry, this is all part of #adulting!
Follow these simple rules (which I had to learn the hard way):
- No coffee after 4 PM. You won’t be able to sleep at night otherwise.
- No more than two drinks during the week. You’ll regret it the next day at work.
- Go to sleep at the same time every night and wake up at the same time. Build a rhythm.
Most importantly, embrace your new life and celebrate yourself for all your accomplishments. And enjoy New York City! It’s truly the best city in the world.
