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Your life will change dramatically after you graduate and enter the real world. Although this can come as a shock, there are several things you can do to feel prepared.

1. Build a Professional Network

Many of the people you meet while you’re at university could be valuable connections once you graduate. This includes other students, professors, faculty members, your employer at your part-time job or internship, and your coworkers. Make sure you’ll stay in contact with all of them after you graduate, as they could help you find opportunities for work, further study, and even housing. Add them to LinkedIn, make a note of their emails, or join the alumni association to keep in touch.

2. Ask Someone to Be Your Mentor

A mentor can give you advice about how to land your dream job, progress in your career, and overcome hurdles. A professor who has been particularly supportive in the past, a family friend you often turn to for guidance, or a previous employer can all be good choices for a mentor.

3. Attend Job Fairs

Depending on the field you want to enter, you may want to start applying for jobs as soon as you graduate or you could need to start interviewing several months before you finish university. Job fairs on campus are a great way to meet potential employers who are looking for students who are about to graduate to fill upcoming positions. Since you’ll encounter a vast number of opportunities at job fairs, you should limit yourself to talking to just companies you are genuinely interested in working for.

4. Receive Support from Your Careers Centre

The career centre at your university can provide you with a wide range of resources that will be helpful for preparing you for the world of work. The staff will be able to show you how to improve your resume, give you interview tips (such as through a mock interview based on questions you’re likely to be asked), and give you more information about possible career paths if you’re still unsure about what you want to do.

5. Clean Up Your Online Presence

Whenever you apply for jobs, employers will check what they can find out about you online. In addition to updating your LinkedIn profile with all your relevant experience, see what else employers are likely to find when they search for your name. If anything comes up that may make you look unprofessional or could give a bad impression, change the settings on your other social media profiles to set them to private or delete posts entirely.

6. Improve Your Credit Score

Potential employers and landlords may both check your credit score as part of a background check. There’s still time to improve your credit score by controlling how much you spend to keep your balance at less than 30 percent of your limit and paying your bill on time each month.

7. Figure Out How Much You Need to Earn

You should have been keeping to a budget throughout university. Whereas your budget will be quite different once you start working, the concept is still the same. Figure out how much you’ll need to pay in rent, to cover your basic needs, to pay off your student loans, and to have enough left over to begin saving for an emergency fund and your longer-term goals. This will help you decide what jobs to apply for.

To finish strong, you need to take your studies seriously during your last few semesters at university. This means having a home where you can focus on your schoolwork without distractions. Foundry First offers London, Ontario, apartments for students. You’ll receive a private bedroom in a fully-furnished, modern suite. Apply now while there are still limited spots available.