The ultimate festive season to-do list for graduates

You can enjoy your summer days while carefully thinking about your career and future.

Congratulations on passing your final year, graduates! Next year is full of amazing possibilities, but first there's a December holiday to look forward to before starting your job hunt... or is there?

It’s officially time to say goodbye to your tertiary institution, at least until your graduation ceremony. You’ve completed your final exams, received your final results, and never have to attend another lecture again. Four or so years post-matric, with new friends and a new outlook on life, you have to prepare yourself for a whole new world. For most, it’s the first time in four years you don’t have a plan.

Even though your brain may tempted to only relax and enjoy the festive season and summer weather with your mates, you should also use this time for inner reflection. Sooner rather than later, you’ll have to be able to answer all these questions:

Where do I want to work, for whom, doing what?

Feeling a little overwhelmed? That’s a good sign. It’s the first sign that proves you’re going to be okay. (It’s the ones that aren’t worried that never seem to escape the funk.) For those ambitious few that are worried about how to best capitalise on the time offered by the post-uni holidays, here are a few options that’ll ensure you’re still moving forward:

If you choose not to work

This is a great option for those that have been interning, in-service training, job shadowing, and that held part time jobs while studying.

1. Take it easy

Use this time to breathe and tackle any activities that you never had time for while studying. Do some surfing, visit the aquarium, visit distant relatives, go to the theatre, live a little.

It’s also a great opportunity to exercise your creative side by getting back into your old hobbies. Or if you have none, read up on subjects you’re interested in, e.g. conspiracy theories, the newest tech developments, the richest people and companies in the world. Start a blog, be your friend group’s official photographer, cook strange recipes… the list is endless.

2. Update your online profiles

If you don’t already know that your online reputation is the biggest barrier to hearing ‘You’re hired’ then you better get out from under that rock. While you’re at it, go over all your application documents too. Update your CV and cover letter with your new qualifications, along with any skills you picked up along the way.

Read: How social media can make or break your career

And you don’t have to spend the entire day updating, you can do it in small bursts once a day for 5 days.

3. Act like the job hunter you now are

For most, job hunting doesn’t happen overnight. Finding and applying for the right positions, preparing for the interviews, having the patience to wait for replies from companies, and dealing with the rejection are all things you now have to get used to.

There is no better time than right now to start preparing. The best way is to set goals for yourself, e.g. plan to apply to at least 3 suitable vacancies every day; read up about the corporate culture of a top South African company at least once a week; and create a calendar of industry related events for networking opportunities.

Read: 7 ways to pick the right company

If you choose to work during the festive season

Do absolutely everything stated above, and that includes taking a breather and having some fun. Although at the same time, working presents an opportunity to discover yourself; your likes, dislikes, needs, and wants that your free time/no rules counterparts are missing out on. There are crucial skills that your university experience did not teach you.

You’ll have the opportunity to:

• Learn to handle a boss and co-workers whether they're evil, annoying or wonderful.

• Get in the swing of a 9-5 routine and the responsibilities that accompanies it.

• Get used to doing things that you don’t enjoy but persevering nonetheless.

• Establish an appreciation for money, e.g. how it works, and how you manage it.

• Gather an extra content for your CV in the form of references, skills, and experience.

Read: 4 other crucial skills only work experience will teach you

And remember…

Your first job post-graduation won’t necessarily be where your career begins and ends. In fact, many successful people fell into their careers quite accidentally after discovering that option 1 wasn’t their calling. You will probably have 4-5 different job titles, companies or even industries under your belt by the time you’re in your 30s. Allow yourself the room to learn through trial and error and confidently accept the reality that you your dream career might not be as dreamy as you hoped.

Simply devise a new plan and pursue a career trajectory that incorporates all the aspects you’ve come to enjoy. All that’s left is to muster the courage, motivation and eagerness to succeed in any path you do eventually choose to succeed.

Come on, take the first step by creating a Job Alert, and all industry related vacancies in your region will be sent straight to your email inbox.