If you’ve followed my blog or any of my social media for a while you will probably know that I have just finished university. After three years my time as an English student has come to an end. Graduating amidst a pandemic meant that end of university celebrations were rather lacklustre, to say the least. It’s bizarre to think that I have finished my degree when I feel as though I’ve barely even started university. Life after university has been different to how I imagined. Here are some things I’m slowly learning about life after university.
APPLYING FOR GRADUATE JOBS IS PAINFUL
Thankfully I still have my job at a cafe as a form of income but job hunting is hard. It’s so mentally draining spending hours filling in endless forms and applications to hear nothing back or yet another rejection. Often companies don’t provide any feedback so it can be hard to pinpoint where you’re going wrong too. I didn’t even think about applying for graduate schemes during my final year as I had no idea what I was going to do. However now I wish I had done as I missed every single deadline for schemes that I was interested in. It’s so frustrating putting in so much effort for little to no return. Applying for jobs is relentless, boring, but annoyingly essential when you graduate. I’m hoping that the right job or opportunity will come along eventually but until then I shall be passing the time at my cafe.
IT’S LONELY AND BORING
While two-thirds of my university experience was tarnished by COVID, the ending of my university years has left me feeling bored and a little lonely. It’s very easy to think that everyone else has their life sorted post-graduating but this isn’t the case for everyone. LinkedIn is both a blessing and a curse. While it can be useful for networking and finding jobs, it also contains post after post of people’s successes. People should absolutely be sharing their success and sharing their wins. However, at the same time, it’s disheartening to see so many people progressing while I feel stuck.
I live pretty out in the sticks so adjusting to life back at home without the ease of being able to walk to a town or to see friends is pretty isolating. COVID has put a halt to a lot of plans and an end to some relationships and friendships so I’ve found my life revolving solely around working, eating, applying for jobs, and sleeping. I miss spontaneity, excitement, and adventure with people. Facebook groups like the Bamby Collective, Gals who Graduate, and Truly Twenties have been great for trying to make new connections or to talk to other people feeling the same way.
LIFE AFTER UNIVERSITY IS UNCERTAIN
The number of times I’ve been asked “what are you going to do now you’ve graduated?” is too many to count. Life after university is uncertain. There is no perfect next step once you graduate and it’s hard to know what to do next. Social media has instilled in us the idea that everyone else is succeeding while you may feel like you’re falling behind. This is definitely something I’ve felt much more since graduating. There is a huge level of uncertainty and anxiety following finishing your degree. Stepping into the real world and trying to discover what to do for the rest of your life is daunting.
There’s a big upheaval when you leave university. Everything that you’ve adapted to and learnt about changes once again. Moving back home, not being as independent, navigating long-distance friendships, re-establishing yourself back at home, and job hunting are just a handful of changes that are thrown your way once you graduate. I’m hoping that one day things will click into place and slowly become a bit more certain. However, for now, I’m living with the uncertainty that coincides with life after university.
I FEEL OLD
It doesn’t feel like that long ago that I had my 21st birthday and now I have a month till my 22nd! It is crazy to think that I finished school 3 years ago and am very much on my way to being a fully functioning adult. I don’t feel ready to step into the real world at all. I’ve always been a lover of my birthday (as most people know) and while it’s exciting, it’s also scary! It really doesn’t feel like nearly 4 years since I turned 18 and that 3 years have passed since I started my degree. There is really no putting off of the big wide world and now I’m nearly 22 it’s time to dive head-on into it.
LIFE AFTER UNIVERSITY IS…
A bit of a whirlwind of emotions. It’s so nice to finally graduate and have my degree after working so hard for it. But it’s not without its challenges and anxieties. Graduating during a pandemic is unique and comes with its own distinctive obstacles. While I am excited to see what the future will bring, it’s daunting, nerve-wracking, and uncertain. I’m trying not to compare my journey to others and take everything at my own pace. Having faith that it will all work out okay in the end is something I’m holding onto as life after university can be a bit of mess!
This was a great post to read and I’m sure many graduates can relate to your thoughts!
Interesting thoughts after university. I felt a bit lost when I left but soon life moves on and you have nothing but fond memories.
I can definitely relate to this post! It can feel a bit flat to graduate without being surrounded by friends or the University experience, and I can’t wait to have an actual graduation ceremony (many months later haha). I really relate to your experiences, but as someone who graduated back in 2020 I promise it does get easier as you start a new chapter in your professional and personal life x
Thank you, I hope so!
I completely relate to this, leaving uni is so daunting! You’ve been doing things routine over however many years and then all of a sudden your left to your own devices it can be so tough! Thank you for this post, I really enjoyed it!
Thank you!
It’s been a long time since I graduated but I remember all the feelings you’ve described here — it’s definitely a whirlwind! I remember thinking … what now? Am I ready for all this? I felt like university was such a focused time that I hadn’t really thought beyond it finishing, but thankfully it does all sort of fall into place — you find your way.
Yes I agree, hopefully I’ll find my way soon!
I feel this all so much – I’m a year post-grad now and still feel so much of this! I’m so fortunate that I got the very first job I applied for even though it wasn’t in my field of study because I don’t think I could handle the pressure of trying to find a grad job! I work remotely though so after a year I still haven’t met my coworkers so the loneliness point is real. I hope everything falls into place for you soon
Thank you!
Girl, I feel this post. I also graduated this year and it’s so stressful trying to find a job, especially when I have no idea what I want to do. It doesn’t help either with people (particularly those of older generations) keeping on asking me if I’ve got a job yet and when I’m going to get a job and I don’t have the answer. I, too, am just trusting the process. Best of luck for the future! X
Yes, I completely agree – glad it’s not just me! Best of luck too! x
Bless you! I hope it gets better for you soon Tash xx
Thank you! xx
Hello! Wow I love how honest this post is. I hope you feel better soon! Alicia
Thank you!
I find your post so honest, Tash, and cannot imagine how tough it is to suddenly be without the people and relationships and way of life you grew used to! I love that there are Facebook groups where the recently graduated can get together and forge new relationships and I think writing this post is a wonderful way to sort out and release emotion.
I feel you on the roughness of job hunting and feeling the pressure of needing to succeed too. I hope you find the perfect calling/job soon!
May the words flow. <3
Thank you so much!
First off, congratulations on your degree. You stuck with it through some tough and weird times – that shows your resilience and determination. I’m afraid I went right from my degree to a PhD so the transition was straightforward. But after my PhD it took a while to find a job, I applied for loads and a real variety. But the right one came along – one I was offered and one that absolutely suits me, I’m still in it nearly 15 yrs later! The right one for you will come too. In the meantime, remember you are resilient and determined and you can do this. Others finding their jobs might be painful, but it proves it can be done. If they can, so can you!
This brings back memories from after college days! You just need to adjust. It will get much better.
Thank you!
I’m sorry the pandemic meant that your degree ended on a bit of a down note, and that post-Uni life is a challenge. I remember all too well how depressing it is sending out endless job applications, or struggling to find jobs that look like they might consider you. Having worked fixed term contracts for a number of years, and having interviewed others, I’d be happy to share my tips and insights from being on both sides of the process if you think it would be helpful. Feel free to DM me on Twitter.
Congratulations on finsihing uni. It is very difficult afterwards… after I finished college I left to be an au pair then I went to uni years later but only for a year,, because I did not like it really… and I’m just 100% lost with my future. It’s so difficult !
Great post, thanks for sharing x
I agree! Life after uni is scary, especially when you have no idea where you’re going! Keep trying, and maybe send an email through to some of the places you don’t hear from to ask why…. most of the time it’s because there are just too many applicants. The worst thing is that it feels like 99% of the jobs already needs at least “insert amount of years” experience, ugh. Don’t give up hope though!
This is an interest post to read. I remember when I graduated university. There was so much stress to get the perfect job and find out what I wanted to do. It could a few months to figured out everything. Congratulation on your degree. Thank you for sharing.
Wish I found this post sooner! It’s getting real tough day by day for us graduates and am getting anxious over what sort of the future awaits. If there is one thing I would like to keep to myself for this lonely journey that believing in yourself ni matter how hard it gets and that there’ll be the best and deserving outcomes sooner or later just as the way you gracefully put it. Thank you for sharing this beautiful post!