Advice for Your Senior Year of College Before Full-time Work

Okay, I’m going to be honest. I’m not the most regimented person in the world. Actually, I’m terrible with routines and establishing routines, and was much worse in my college years, especially senior year. (I promise I’m getting better, though). If you’re anything like me or if you’ve just gotten so used to the freedom that building your own schedule and not having to be in one place for 7+ hours a day, this post is for you. I think three routes will allow you to transition into working full-time from being a full-time student if you’re not already doing both.

The Advice

1. Have classes every day of the week and make plans for the times when you’re not in class. Try filling your schedule until 5 or 6pm.
2. Plan all of your classes to be on Tuesday/Thursday and work Monday/Wednesday/Friday if you have a job.
3. Same as the second point. Except for using Monday/Wednesday/Friday to study for any certification exams or entrance exams. Especially if you’ll need a certification to continue schooling before you start working.
   

The Why

I’m suggesting these three routes because I think they’ll prepare you most for what full-time office work is like. I know you want to coast your senior year of college; I know I did. Resist the urge! Full-time work is much more monotonous than school where you control everything.

You’ll be in one place for hours, work with relatively the same people day after day, and your schedule will be structured. You’ll start to understand that midday naps aren’t going to be commonplace anymore. Even though there will be a lot less spontaneity in your day, these suggestions shouldn’t limit you from having fun or going to parties and being out late. They’re meant to show you that you can still do it all, but you’ll have to learn how to balance. Having a similar school schedule to your expected work schedule can help that transition become a lot smoother. You won’t just wake up one day and feel trapped in 9-5 land. By doing this, you might even have more fun in your first few work years. You’ll have learned how to hang out late, still wake up, and get to work on time without looking like death or a hot mess. Whichever is worst for you ;-).

Good luck and let me know how it goes!