Blog

The pressure to perfect your post-college plans is very, very real. Even as a first-year student, knowing what your post-grad plans are can seem overwhelming. Majors such as “pre-med” and “pre-dental” may ease the stress, as after college a master’s or a doctorate is in store. However, it may not be as simple for other majors or areas of study. Thankfully, the University of Michigan has loads of options to help students prepare for life after graduation.

University resources, such as the Opportunity Hub, University Career Center (UCC), and Ross’ Career Development Office (CDO), are a great place to begin if you feel confused. Do you need an internship? How can you make yourself as competitive as possible before entering the job market? What classes should you take to help build your resume and skill set? All of these questions, and more, will be thoughtfully answered by such resources! Truthfully, it is not as dire as it sounds. No, you do not always need an internship. Being yourself and knowing your goals will always set you apart when job-hunting. Remember to take classes that you enjoy, along with those that build your resume. Peers, professors, and general pressure may cause you to think that you need to have it all figured out immediately, but you don’t. While it may be helpful to have set post-grad plans immediately, it is also important to focus on maximizing your college experience by doing what you love and connecting with peers!

Bolstering your connections with peers is important, but so is connecting with people beyond the University of Michigan. A great way to do this is through job fairs! Multiple times per semester, job fairs are held at the Union, the League, Ross, and other places on campus. To stay up to date on what organizations are visiting and when, speak with resources such as the UCC and CDO, and keep an eye on your email! Professional social media such as Handshake and LinkedIn are also helpful, as you can find people who are looking for students just like you. In addition, these platforms can help you stay in the know about upcoming events and opportunities.

The positives of professional social media do not stop there. Something that you may hear often on campus is the importance of making connections. “It’s not about what you know; it’s about who you know,” was a phrase that I heard too many times during my undergraduate career. For a while, I did not understand what the phrase meant, but I have a much better understanding now. Once you figure out what you want to do — maybe it’s a job, an internship, a fellowship, or anything of the sort — it can be helpful to reach out to someone who holds a position within the organization(s) you’re interested in. They cannot guarantee that you will be accepted, but forming a connection can prove to be vital. Finding them on LinkedIn, connecting, and adding a note about yourself, your passions, and why you are fit for the position can make all of the difference. Setting up calls and coffee chats to show your passion and skill set will help you meet some great people and open yourself up to some amazing opportunities. Building genuine connections is helpful in many ways, and people, especially Michigan alums, are usually very open to help!

Overall, college can be stressful. Part of this stress comes from figuring out what’s in store for after college. The best way to approach this is with an open mind, and not too much pressure. Keep your options open, as you may find a career path that you enjoy more than your initial route. Don’t stress! Work hard, and everything will fall into place.