Now that your studies have come to an end, it’s natural to feel anxious about what the future holds. What’s more, leaving behind your friends and potentially, what you called home for the past 3 or 4 years can be an upsetting time. Your first thought may be – ‘now what’? – but rest assured this is a natural reaction that all graduates face when they’re handed their hard-earned degree certificate on set on their way.

Remember, you’re not alone in this. There are thousands of other graduates that are in exactly the same boat as you.

Here are some of the most common post-graduate anxieties and how to tackle them:

No luck in the job hunt

Your friends have accepted their first job offer and now, you feel more alone and confused than over.

Cut yourself some slack.

Finding an entry-level graduate job can be extremely difficult, especially in the months following graduation when competition is tough and everyone is on the job search. You’ll experience rejection a couple or even many times, but this should make you stronger and more resilient to obstacles that come your way.

If you have no luck finding a job yourself, we’d advise you to sign up to a graduate recruitment agency such as Inspiring Interns where you’ll discover a vast range of graduate jobs and internships in all sectors.

Dealing with adult responsibilities

University is a comfort blanket to some extent. Yes, you may have a pile of assignments to complete and exams to revise for but stepping out into the real world from an educational environment can be a bit of a shock.

It’s natural to feel stressed or even depressed at this new life change. If this resonates with you, reach out to friends and family to express your worries or you may even wish to speak to a professional therapist.

Finding your identity

Up until now, your life has been consumed by education. It is perhaps all you have ever known, and your success has made you feel great about yourself. However, your 20s can be a little unsettled as you find out who you truly are and what you want to achieve.

Not everyone wants to find employment after graduation. Some may wish to go travelling for a year, others may want to start a family, while some may wish to apply for an internship to try out their desired career. The bottom line is that there is no right or wrong answer about what to do after graduation – everyone creates their own path based on their personal goals.

Comparing yourself to others

One of the biggest life lessons you will learn after graduating is that everyone achieves success at their own pace. While it’s natural to compare yourself to friends and acquaintances, it’s time to kick the habit once and for all and focus on the pace that works for you.

Everyone will have their moment to shine – and it doesn’t always happen immediately, so hang in there. You’re doing great!