6 Things to Accomplish in Your First Year After College

Now that your college years are behind you, it’s time to begin another chapter in your life. While you may have been juggling school work, a part time job and a social life all at once, post-graduation brings a whole new meaning to “adulting.” In the next few years you may be looking to purchase a home or start a family, but for now, let’s look at a few things you should try to accomplish your first year after college.

1. Travel

You may soon realize that it can be difficult to find free time to travel when you start working a 9-to-5 job. Therefore, consider traveling the summer after graduation. It’s a great chance to see places you may not be able to see when you begin working full-time. Traveling can help clear your mind and relieve the stress of those last few college finals. It’s understandable to find it hard to even think of traveling with your student loan payments looming large, but you may regret not doing so when you begin working. Consider making an allowance in your budget for travel and remember not to add on any more debt! (Pro tip: A travel rewards credit card is a great way to help pay for your travel, and if properly managed, can also help you build your credit.)

2. Land a Job

Of course, the reason why you went to college to begin with was to establish a career. Chances are your first job won’t be your last. Now is a good time to start a job where you can learn new skills that can be used later in your career. Don’t be afraid to take a job that doesn’t directly align with your college major. You can learn something new in every job, and remember you are building skills and your career is a path.

3. Learn to Network

While networking may not sound so thrilling, learning to engage with other professionals and sell yourself is an important life skill. Learning to network is a stepping-stone to enhancing your career. It helps to improve your communication, build relationships, generate ideas and lets you stay current on trends related to your major.

4. Get Your Finances in Order

Graduation is a great time to revisit your finances and make necessary adjustments. Now that you’re out of college, your expenses and income will be different. This means making changes to your budget, taking into account any new expenses such as rent, travel costs for work and, unfortunately, those pesky student loans. Knowing exactly where your money is going can help free up some cash flow, which you can use to help pay down student loan debt.

Make sure you gather all your information regarding your student loans. You will soon be responsible for the repayment of these loans, so the more you know and understand about them, the better off you will be.

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5. Open a Savings Account

For those who don’t have a savings account, now is the time to open one. If you’re working, consider opening an employee-sponsored retirement plan such as a 401K or an individual retirement account (IRA). While you may find it difficult to contribute when you have student loans, the earlier you begin savings in these accounts the better. Starting early will give your money more time to grow. Even saving a bit in your first year out of college will make a difference in the long run.

6. Accept Change

After college, you may be faced with a few changes you’re not quite used too. Whether it be starting a new career or moving to a new city, expect some challenging transitions in your first year out of college. This is not to scare you: Change can be a good thing, and when you embrace it, you can make the best of these changes.

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