By Bailey Saraceno
It’s My Senior Year.
Senior year is the time to have fun is also one of the most stressful times I have been going through. As a senior there’s the number one stress question that people will ask you: “What are you going to do right out of college?” Don’t worry I have tips on how to answer this question- being a senior I have answered this question countless times.
Hopefully, my experiences will help you respond to this question when it becomes your turn to answer this question.
There are several replies to this question:
1. You can say what you seek to do:
The way I replied was by saying “I would like to be doing marketing for National Parks within the next five years. I have looked into it a little bit and. I would love to travel a bit with what I am doing and doing this will satisfy my need for travel and my passion for marketing and taking photos.”
If you don’t have a job ready for you right out of college this is a good place to start. So, with this tactic you are stating something you are interested in and may be seeking. This doesn’t mean you have a job in place, but you also are not exposing that you do not know what your next step is and saying that may open the gate for even more questions.
2. A realistic mature evaluation:
Another way I have replied is with a more realistic answer. I said “My top goal is to do advertising for companies that do not have that large income. So, I would be doing all the same work and of the same quality for a lower income. However, I realize that there are steps that I need to take in order to get to my goals. So, realistically I won’t have the money I would need to accomplish this goal.”
Responding this way will set the tone of informing them you know what you want to do, but there are steps you have to take to get there. Unfortunately, this question specifically puts a lot of stress on seniors because it makes us feel we have to do something big and make a lot of money right out of college. That goal is unattainable. Most college students do not get offers like that. Having that expectation of us puts it in our mind that we are then unsuccessful if we do not get a high paying job right after walking across the stage.
3. Flat out say you don’t know:
My last way to responding to this was me being straight with the person. I have flat out said “I don’t know.”
I think it is important to remember it is okay to not know what we are doing right out of college. Not everyone does know and it’s okay to not have a full plan set. into stone. Some of us may need a year break before using our diploma. Some may need time to figure out EXACTLY what they want to do. What someone wants to do for the “rest of their life” is. a big deal and could cause stress in itself. Take your time figuring it out. You would rather take the time to. do something you. love than to rush into an opportunity you may hate. Remember this “If you love what you do, you’ll never work a day in your life.”