There are two spectrums of people in college: the ones who want it to last forever and those who cannot wait for it to be over. I find myself somewhere in the middle. On one end of the spectrum, having little obligation and getting to live with your best friends feels like a dream. On the other end of the spectrum, the excitement of a career and starting real life is something I have always dreamed of.

Endings can be really scary, and change is hard, so I am trying to do everything I can to ease into the transition of ending college so the senior scaries don’t hit me out of nowhere once I graduate.

One of the things I am focusing on is LinkedIn. It can be easy to forget about it for months, but this is the perfect opportunity to grow your network before school ends and you find yourself on the job search. Connecting with past alumni in your field is a great way to initiate conversations with people who could be helpful to you in the future. Starting your job search in a timely manner will also set you up for success. It is difficult when it feels like everything is out of your hands, but these are a few ways you can take initiative during the waiting period.

If there are certain companies you are interested in, LinkedIn is also a great place to engage with people who work there and build connections that can lead to a future job. By following the company on LinkedIn, you can see job-related content and other specific brand-related posts. This way, you can learn more about the company and really figure out if it is the right place for you to work. The idea of the job search can be daunting, especially in a field that is so competitive like fashion. It is important to stay optimistic and trust the fact you will end up right where you are supposed to be.

Industry Liaison and Internship Manager Millie Ott has advice to share for seniors who are currently embarking on their career search.

“Making connections with people and companies you are interested in is a huge thing,” she said. “It is all about timing when you are applying, but you can always meet people, make connections and network. That way, when it comes time to apply for jobs, you have those relationships to rely on.”

Trusting the process can be the hardest part of this process. As you enter this phase of your life it can be easy to panic. Ott’s advice to avoid self-doubt is to, “Trust that you are prepared, and that it just sometimes is all about timing.”

It can be hard to create manageable expectations for your post-grad life while still being ambitious. It is important to create realistic goals for yourself, while still honoring and working towards whatever it is you wish to achieve. Graduating college and entering the real world is arguably one of the biggest transitional phases in life. So, It is crucial to take care and be kind to yourself through this transitional phase.

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Hi! I’m Annie Gleydura, A Magazine’s editor-in-chief. My staff and I are committed to bringing you the most important and entertaining news from the realms of fashion, beauty and culture. We are full-time students and hard-working journalists. While we get support from the student media fee and earned revenue such as advertising, both of those continue to decline. Your generous gift of any amount will help enhance our student experience as we grow into working professionals. Please go here to donate to A Magazine.