GRADUATES: Your First Big Pivot
A sea of mortar boards at college graduation
Congratulations on completing your degree! This is a tremendous accomplishment and an important foundation on which to build your career. No matter where life takes you, you'll always have a connection to your college and the experiences that helped shape you.
So, where do most graduates find themselves today?
Path One: You Have a Plan
You have already been accepted into a master's program or secured an internship that has turned into a full-time opportunity. You put in the work during your junior and senior years, and now you're walking into the next chapter.
If you're fortunate enough to have a break before that next step begins—perhaps your graduate program doesn't start until the fall—use this time wisely.
Quite honestly, this may be the last true "summer" you'll have for a while. Take advantage of it. Nurture a hobby, travel if you can, explore new interests, or begin thinking about what it might take to one day own your own business. The future will come quickly.
Path Two: School Is Over...Now What?
You just graduated, and you're officially done with school.
"No more pencils, no more books. No more teacher's dirty looks."
You're thrilled to be finished—but you may not have given much thought to what comes next.
The author was once in this exact position.
Your path is very different from those who already have jobs or graduate school lined up. In some ways, that's intimidating. In others, it's incredibly freeing.
This is also your last real summer. There are no assigned readings, no move-in dates, and no class schedules waiting for you. Right now, the only deadlines are the ones you create for yourself—or perhaps the ones your parents create for you.
Let's look at a few options.
Consider a Gap Year
I'm not even sure the term gap year existed when I graduated, but today it has become much more common.
A gap year doesn't mean sitting on the couch eating Cheetos.
It's about traveling, researching, networking, volunteering, or discovering what genuinely excites you.
Not everyone can afford an extended trip around the world, but you'd be surprised how far a backpack, a reliable car, a tent, and a modest food budget can take a 22-year-old. You may have to skip Taylor Swift's next tour—but this season is about investing in yourself.
Ready to Start Working?
If your goal is immediate employment, then it's time to get to work.
Clean Up Your Digital Footprint
Your social media accounts are now part of your résumé.
Take the time to remove anything that could create a negative first impression. Employers are paying attention.
Build Your Network
Yes, you've already made contacts during college.
Now ask yourself:
Who do you trust?
Which classmates have similar career goals?
Who do you genuinely enjoy staying connected with?
Start building a small circle of trusted peers. You're not asking them for a job—most of them don't have one yet either.
Instead, invest in those relationships now so that reaching out in the future feels natural, not transactional. Stay in touch, support one another, and celebrate each other's successes. Over time, this network will grow into one of your greatest professional assets.
Research. Then Research Some More.
Think carefully about where you want to live and where your industry is concentrated.
Once you identify companies that interest you, take them seriously.
Research their leadership, mission, values, and culture before you ever submit an application.
By the time you walk into an interview, you should already understand who they are and why you want to be part of their team.
Passion Matters
Passion has become one of the qualities employers value most in new hires.
The good news? You shouldn't have to fake it.
If you've done your research and found a company whose mission, products, or services genuinely excite you, that enthusiasm will naturally come across during the interview process.
If it doesn't, there's a good chance another candidate's passion will.
Avoid the Trap
This isn't a sand trap on a golf course.
It's the trap of accepting the first job that comes along simply because it's available—even if you have no real interest in the role or the industry.
More often than not, you'll be underpaid, underinspired, and wondering what's next just a few years later.
The author knows this firsthand.
As an Economics major, what did I know about manufacturing commercial aircraft?
Five or six years later, I found myself at 28 years old, feeling lost and needing a fresh start.
If possible, resist the urge to grab the very first opportunity unless it truly helps move your career forward.
Be patient.
Be intentional.
Choose opportunities that build toward the future you actually want.
Your First Big Pivot
Congratulations once again on reaching this milestone.
Whether you already have a plan or are still figuring it out, remember that your career won't be defined by a single decision.
This is simply your first big pivot.
There will be many more.