Life after College Anxiety

[EB2127]

I will be graduating from college this year at the end of April, with a Bachelor's degree in criminal justice, with a concentration in behavioral crime, and a minor in psychology. However I don't have any plans for what I am doing after I graduate. It seems like everyone else I talk who is graduating with me knows exactly what they are doing, and a couple of my friends have already been offered good jobs after they graduate. At this point I'm really starting to freak out about my future, additionally I am really starting to second guess going into law enforcement. I'm really starting to get the feeling this isn't the right field for me. So now I am about to graduate in a field I don't want to be in, and in all likelihood end up with a terrible job, any advice would be appreciated.

[Skyblade]

You know a lot of people go into fields that don't necessarily match the Bachelors degree they got. Even myself, I majored in Communication and Sociology, and I'm a web developer. Kind of related, but kind of not. Nobody is saying you have to go into law enforcement just because you have a degree in Criminal Justice.

[Schecter_Guy]

I have a degree in finance. A person I work with has a degree in religious studies...

Somebody put it best in that for the most part a degree proves you have been challenged mentally and are not mentally challenged. Not much more than that.

[erika36]

I second Skyblade; you can do something different than your field.

[wordsmith]

Don't sweat it. I wouldn't personally place money on the assumption that everyone else you are graduating with knows with anything resembling certainty what they will be doing even one year from now, let alone five or ten...even if they have a job lined up right now.

You'll see when you get out there just how fluid everything really is. Don't drink the Kool-Aid that tells you you have to have anything set in stone right now.

[realfox]

Ever considering going to law school? Might be somewhat related, but different from the hands-on approach it sounds that you don't want.

[winneythepooh7]

I know lots of people with similar backgrounds to you who ended up going into social work-related careers. My cousin actually went back to school and became a EMT. He really didn't have the "cop" personality at all.

[QuarterLiferAmy]

I am in a similar position as you. I just graduated in June with a Bachelor of Arts degree in sociology and minor in religious studies. I have NO IDEA what sort of jobs I should be applying for. Many of friends went from completing their B.A to social work, criminal justice, law and some of also applied to go into Graduate school. I found that trying a few contract jobs generally helps with figuring what sort of work environment you will like and narrows down the possible job fields which match your personal working style. It's not neccessarily the job which makes work worthwhile it's often the people, the organizational structure etc that makes the job fun. If you haven't explored the career choices that go along with your career, you maybe selling yourself short. Go out there and explore and work as many contract jobs in your field to get a general 'feel' for what you like. Working in the field will help you with developing contacts and building your network. Often people get in jobs by knowing people who know other people etc.

Have you gone to your college or University to speak with a career counsellor?

Are you able to shadow an alumni from your your school that graduated with the same credentials to find out what they are presently doing?


Any short term jobs you can take on?

Are you able to find some volunteer opportunities that may interest you and open up some possible doors to employment? (Why not work a part-time job on the side and volunteer for a while)

I hope that helps you. I completely understand how you feel. In fact, I think I am going to take up some of that advice I just gave you.