No Idea What to Do After You Graduate College? Check Out These Options

Having a gap in your resume might seem like a bad idea, but millennials and career experts say it could make you a more interesting candidate.

By Jennifer Verta, Monster Contributor

Your graduation is fast approaching, or maybe it’s just behind you, but you don’t have any idea what to do after you graduate college. Sound familiar? Don’t worry, it’s more common than you think. Maybe your next step will be going straight into the world of work and launching your career. But perhaps a gap year or some time to try out a few different industries is what’s right for you. Whichever path you choose, to figure out what you should do with your life, take a step back, think about what you really want, and don’t be afraid to take a less conventional road if necessary. In this article, we show you some of the top options to consider when you haven’t made up your mind about what to do after graduating college.

1. Going to Graduate School

If you’ve always had your heart set on certain occupations, a master’s degree or Ph.D. might be mandatory. For example, if you want to be a post-secondary teacher, economist, psychologist, social worker, or nurse anesthetist you’ll need to go to grad school. However, in other cases, the choice may be far less obvious.

On the one hand, the average master’s degree holder earns 20% more than those with only a bachelor’s degree. In general, a higher education path corresponds to higher earnings. On the other hand, however, such differences are usually only apparent within the first few years of employment.

This means that if you work hard to move up the career ladder you can end up earning as much as someone who took higher studies. Plus, your salary will always depend on factors such as your industry as well, and some are simply less lucrative than others. Therefore, before going to grad school, you should carefully evaluate if the return on investment is worth it in your specific situation.

2. Applying for Fellowship

A fellowship can be the perfect combination of continuing with your studies and gaining work experience. Similar to a scholarship, a fellowship is often awarded for academic excellence to help you take advanced studies whereby you make a contribution to your field. Most fellowships pay you a salary to work on things like research projects.

In some contexts, a fellowship can also refer to an entry-level private sector role. You’ll receive extensive on-the-job training and build the necessary skills to obtain a permanent role in the industry.

3. Finding a Job

This is perhaps the most obvious choice when the “what to do after college” topic comes up. Your first job after school could be related to what you studied, but it doesn’t need to be.

While you decide what to do after you graduate college, you can explore other sectors, make a job out of your passion, or simply do something you have the skills for to earn some money in the interim. These experiences can be eye-opening and teach you a lot about what you want, as well as extremely useful transferrable skills for whatever career you end up choosing.

4. Pursuing an Internship

If you didn’t have the chance to do an internship as part of your college studies, don’t despair, you can still secure post-grad internships. Plenty of companies look for graduate interns, and in many cases, they like to retain the talent they trained and may end up hiring you.

An internship can vary in length, but most last between three to six months. During this time, you build up your resume, gain valuable experience and set yourself up for the competitive entry-level job market.

5. Getting into a Graduate Scheme

A graduate hiring scheme is another excellent option if you already know more or less what to do after you graduate college. Graduate schemes are programs lasting up to two years and are specifically created to ease the entry of grad students into the workforce. They are mainly offered by large employers and are essentially entry-level jobs with all or most of the company’s benefits and also provide training in multiple areas of their business.

Once the program is over, you’ll receive a job offer in a specific department, that of course you’re free to turn down. According to Forbes and Statista, the top companies for new grads include Fidelity Investments, Trader Joe's, Adobe, NASA, Microsoft, and Mayo Clinic.

6. Taking a Gap Year

First of all, what is a gap year? College graduates might choose to take a year off after finishing their studies to assess their next step or gain life experiences through travel or volunteer opportunities. If the question “should I take a gap year?” is on your mind, know that, far from being a hindrance to your future career, the skills and perspective you can gain on a gap year can significantly benefit your resume

With good planning, some of the gap year benefits include meeting new people, exploring new cultures, learning new skills, and recharging after school. There are gap year programs for every interest and budget, so whether or not you have a clear idea of what to do after you graduate college, there are options for you on a gap year, including:

Traveling

This is perhaps the most adventurous and unstructured option. It also requires some serious planning to make sure it’s affordable. You could subsidize your costs by doing it alongside being an au-pair, a house or pet sitter, or having a working holiday visa.

Teaching English Abroad

Would you like to experience a foreign country, while being an ambassador of your language and getting paid? Sounds like teaching English abroad could be right for you. And no, you don’t need to have a degree in English.

Based on the country and the program you choose, you might need a TEFL Certificate (Teaching English as a Foreign Language), but often any bachelor’s degree and a U.S. passport are enough. So, this is a great option when it comes to what to do after you graduate college.

Not sure you want to leave your country but are intrigued by the idea of teaching English? Check out our listings for online teaching jobs. There are various companies dedicated to teaching English online to foreign kids and adults all over the world.

Volunteering

Volunteering can provide incredible life experiences while you choose what to do after graduating college. Giving back helps you find purpose, understand others and yourself better, and gain perspective.

Plus, it teaches you all sorts of skills that can boost your college student resume and secure a job later on. Some volunteer programs even cover your basic living expenses and pay you a small wage, so if money is tight but you don’t want to miss this opportunity, don’t be afraid to take the plunge.

7. Securing a Seasonal Job

If you’d like to earn some money but don’t want to be tied to a long-term job just yet, start with seasonal jobs. They generally last around three months, which can give you ample time to get a better idea about what to do after you graduate college. There are opportunities in all sectors and for every skill set.

For example, you could work in childcare, pet care, retail, tourism, or logistics. A seasonal job can also be a smart way to fund your travel, gap year programs, grad school and even simply diversify your job experience before choosing one direction or another.

8. Starting a Business

If what to do after college is not clear for you, but you have a business idea on your mind, why not be bold and go for it? You could start a blog, develop an app, sell art online and so much more. If you want to play it safe, get a part-time job to sustain yourself at least at the beginning and work on your idea as a side hustle. If the business booms you might find yourself not wanting or needing a nine-to-five job ever again.

Discover What to Do After You Graduate College with Help from Monster

Whether you’re considering a gap year teaching in Italy, a graduate scheme, or a job in the field you’ve studied for, Monster is the best resource to help you find it. Start today and set up a candidate profile, upload your resume, and select the kind of job postings you’re after. We’ll send you all the latest opportunities matching your preferences. Plus, companies and recruiters will be able to contact you with exclusive roles.