Meet Cori, a New Grad Facing Life after College

Meet Cori, a New Grad Facing Life after CollegeMeet Cori, a New Grad Facing Life after CollegeMeet Cori, a New Grad Facing Life after CollegeA year ago I wrote a post about the first anniversary of my college graduation. This year, my younger sister Cori graduated from college and is entering the real world. So I thought, what better way to get a new, updated perspective on post-college life than to interview her? Did she have the same lofty ideals that Id had?My sister Cori is almost 22. She just graduated from the University of Massachusetts-Amherst with a Bachelors degree in menschenwrdig Science and Nutrition. Despite being siblings, we couldnt be more different shes active and always on the go, living in the moment. Me? Not so much. But after speaking with her, I realized she and I share many of the same thoughts on life after college. Maybe she doesnt feel the same about what type of life shell end up living, but she has many of the same fears and anxieties I felt upon entering the real world.Me Do you feel prepared for the real world?Cori Yeah, I would think so. As much as anyone I guess.Me How do your friends feel about life after college? Optimistic? Scared? Cori I know theyre really optimistic about getting jobs, but theyre kind of scared about the whole 9-5 structured thing. Its not the same environment that theyve been in the last four years. The lifestyle change is what theyre scared about.Me And how do they compare to you?Cori I feel the same way, but the difference is that I have really high anxiety about finding a job. Ive had a job since I welches 14, whether the paycheck was good or not. Now Im not sure if Ill even get a job, let alone a paycheck. Its nerve-wracking.Me Are you scared about the transition?Cori Yes Of course A lot of people want to graduate because they dont have to do homework and take exams. Not me. I think thats less stressful than working 9-5 and having people rely on you. My whole life is going to change I wont be able to s leep in late and I wont be able to go out at night. Its going to be a big wake-up call.Me What are your post-college plans?Cori Right away, I plan on getting a job. But I hope in the future I can go back to school to get my masters or get an internship so I can become an RD Registered Dietitian.Me Did college prepare you for your post-college life? Cori College as a whole did, but not really the classes. They helped academically and helped me learn responsibilities and time management. Living independently, and my job and intern experiences, have helped me a whole lot more, though.Me How are you searching for jobs and what types of jobs are you looking for?Cori Since Im in the health field, Ive been looking on hospital career pages to see whats open. Ive used Craigslist a little bit, but the jobs arent that great. Ive also been going through places where Ive interned. Im looking for things related to my degree, but if Im in the position where I dont have a job and its been a few mon ths, then Ill take any full- or part-time job.Me What do you hope to make right out of college?Cori Around $20,000 to $30,000 a year. Starting salary for an RD is $40,000 or $50,000 a year, but I cant go for those jobs until I become an RD, which I need to intern for. Its hard to decide whether to get a job that doesnt use my degree, or to intern for my RD. Some internships pay, but very few. Those internships are very competitive and you need to have a great GPA to get them. Almost every other internship you actually have to pay for, positiv you work so much that you cant get a part-time paying job. Thats extremely difficult when youre trying to pay back student loans.Me Have you written your resume?Cori I first wrote it in my junior year everyone has to write it junior year at Amherst. But Ive since updated mine.Me What do you hope life after college will be like?Cori I hope life after college wont be as depressing as I think it will. This, of course, is all stemming from the fact that I just graduated and am facing one of the worst job markets ever. It also comes from the fact that every adult Ive talked to about graduating tells me the same thing Dont worry that the job market is bad right now, many people are in your shoes. Of course this makes me even more worried. So Im hoping I can find a job where I love what I do and I dont have to change who I am. I also hope I can continue to experience new things and appreciate life while getting serious about the real world.