The Post-Degree Blues

In a previous post, the idea of a "mid-degree" crisis was explored. But now, I'd like to take this opportunity to discuss a whole new crisis you might face once you make it through the first one (and don't worry, you will).

Post-degree depression: it's not uncommon. You've worked hard for four years, maybe even more, and now you're ready to enjoy the fruits of your labour. That being, hopefully, a fulfilling post-graduate position. You want a position you're passionate and interested in. Oh, and it wouldn't hurt if the pay was great. And maybe a couple weeks paid vacation. A health spendings account maybe? Oh, and benefits. Yeah, benefits would be great.

You start to make a list of all the things you'd like out of a job. You take a step back and see how massive the list has become. So you start the job search and begin striking things off the list as it becomes more and more apparent that you're probably not going to find a position that fills all your requirements. Then the rationalizing inner-dialogue kicks in.

"Well,  it could be interesting to write newsletters for a company who makes paper... I like paper."
"On second thought, who really loves what they do everyday anyway?"
"Okay, maybe I don't really need GREAT benefits."
"Maybe I'll just never get sick or injured ever again, and then who cares about health insurance?"
"I could just do unpaid internships and live off the land."

Now, before you start making your, "will write copy for food" sign, you must first understand that these circumstances are normal. In fact, research from the Institute for Employment Studies shows that many graduates take two or more years to settle into "stable" employment, and one in three graduates enter temporary or fixed-term contracts. This means that the majority of recent grads may not find a full-time position in their field until two years after they've completed their programs.

These facts aren't meant to discourage; they are meant to show you that post-degree life isn't always easy, and that it's common to become a bit adrift. Sometimes it just takes time to settle into the professional world after studying for four or more years.

Saying goodbye to the familiar haven of education and the flexible structure of a post-secondary life can be a huge shock for new grads, especially for ones who don't have a definite career plan. That's why it's so important to routinely check in with yourself to evaluate what exactly you want out of your career. This isn't to say that you should know exactly what kind of job you want or what route you want to take to get there, but by having a solid career plan, you can avoid that feeling of complete uncertainty. Laying out what you want and having those words in front of you can help you evaluate different directions you might take. Periodic self-evaluation might make you realize that what you want out of your career has changed over the past few years, and that could lead you to applying for completely different jobs than you might have a year ago. Career plans can be a crutch in times of post-degree uncertainty. It may take some time to get where you want, but having a plan is only beneficial to you. Being self-aware could lead you into the next great thing in your career; you just have to be open to it.

So when you don that cap and gown, walk across the stage, and proceed to drink copiously to celebrate your recent graduation; remember, there is more to come. You could get exactly the position you wanted right out of school, or you could be a mere mortal like the majority of new grads and have a little more trouble and times of uncertainty. Don't worry, you'll power your way through it. Just like you did all those hours of group assignments and all-nighters hunched over a desk studying for a philosophy final... or was it psychology? Doesn't matter. You're almost there. And you're going to be living proof that if one can earn their degree, they can handle whatever comes next. 

Good luck. And knock em' dead.