.:Post Partum College Woes:.

The time leading up to college graduation and the start of a first job is chaotic. Making a successful transition from college to career is vital. Overcoming senioritis paired with dealing with the demands of job-hunting, interviewing, and planning a future are jobs in and of themselves.

There are important transitional tools that seniors should be aware of. In order to segue from being a full time student to a full time employee, students should be prepared to handle any issue that may arise.

• Time- After college there are no more late afternoon or evening classes that allow you to roll out of bed at noon just in time to get there. Full time jobs require your attendance five days a week, as early as 7 a.m. or 8 a.m., until about 6 p.m. or 7 p.m. If you are late or just neglect to show up you'll eventually be fired.

The luxury of free time, summer/winter breaks will become a thing of the past. Employers require their staff year round with the exception of one, two-week vacation per year. Time management is extremely important once you get your first job. Working 40 hours a week is extremely different from managing time to work on college projects and studying for tests.

• Be Professional- Professionalism in the workplace is a key ingredient to a successful transition. Unlike your college days, you can't just put on flip-flops, board shorts, and a t-shirt and show up to work. Also, you must be dependable and reliable. You must motivate yourself to complete the tasks set before you. In the workforce, you must show yourself to be a valuable member of the team.

• Remember: Your first job doesn't have to be your dream job- After college you have to decide who you are and what job would best suite that person. A lot of recent college graduates switch jobs after the first year out. It sometimes takes a while to decide what you want to do with your life.

Also, your major does not decide the type of job you can work. Although there are some specialized fields like engineering, where you need to have a degree in that field, most jobs in business simply require a college degree. So your focus should be on the type of job you desire, not the types of jobs you think you have to apply for.

• Changing Careers- College graduates today will change careers (not just jobs) many, many times. Keep track of the skills you acquire from each job so that you can apply for better jobs in the future.

• Challenges after College- College does not prepare you for everything. After college, graduates must learn the importance of teamwork on the job, dealing with all types of people and personalities, budgeting and personal finances, living on your own or staying with family, balancing work, family and a personal life, networking, interviewing, and negotiating salary.

• Shocking but True- College graduates get entry-level jobs too. Unfortunately, even with a degree, if the job market is not doing well many jobs available for college graduates are entry-level. Entry-level positions usually require long hours, low wages and a lot of hard work.
  
  Sometimes these entry-level positions have the potential to advance your career. Employers want you to start on a certain level in order for you to learn the business. With a degree under your belt, usually, you can advance quickly.