25 Creative Things To Do After Graduation From University

25 Creative Things To Do After Graduation From University

So, you are done with your degree exams and probably wondering what’s next.

This question and many more can eat into your brains like a bunch of termites feasting away on furniture.

Sometimes, it is after earning a degree that you discover you never really planned for the next stage of your life.

You should never underestimate the importance of planning.

Trust me, it can be overwhelming to plan. The uncertainty can be the perfect anxiety trigger that will send you into a nerve-racking state of mind.

Many may argue that uncertainty is certain in life. However, why allow yourself to be pushed about by the waves of the ocean when you can set yourself on course to where you are headed?

There are actually a bunch of things you can actually do after getting your degree. In fact, I will be giving you 25 of them and you should be able to find something that interests you in the pile of useful information.

1. Acquire skills

Acquire a skill that will be so relevant in your life irrespective of your class and number of degrees.

If your certificate does not give you a job quickly, at least, you have your skill to earn you money in the meantime. Think outside the box.

We always look up to be able to move up. Some entrepreneurship ideas might give you a head start.

2. Be creative

Start thinking about ideas to solve problems and satisfy consumers’ needs. This could be as a result of rebranding or penetrating price (low prices for a short period of time).

To do this, you have to listen, observe, and ask questions. It is often said that it takes money to make money, however, I am of the opinion that it takes creativity to make money. When others see problems, you should see opportunities.

Take positive actions by making use of global knowledge and skills to get involved in projects that could make a difference to the world. You should be curious to learn about what works in different systems and cultures.

Read: 6 simple steps needed to choose a career path

3. Study further

Furthering your education is also a good option after securing your degree.

Taking your education to the next stage can be a good thing if you are ready and willing to put in the work.

You must also be aware of and prepared for the financial commitment it entails. If you won’t be able to afford it, you could check some scholarship sites like studyinternational.com, afterschoolafrica.com and scholars4dev.com.

You will also get a lot of insights from this video below that talks about the role of academic success in maximizing graduate opportunities. Use the tips shared to get yourself a scholarship.

4. Find a New Hobby

I think very highly of this tip because it is almost synonymous with building one’s self-esteem. Finding a new hobby might boost your skill level and improve your IQ.

Treating it like a goal for ‘never fail’ folks can help you to be well known for it. You could also channel the hobby to a service you can offer.

I have a couple of hobbies myself, but I intend to expand that box in the coming years.

5. Change your environment

You always have the option of changing your environment temporarily or permanently.

Personally, I am not a big fan of moving but if I am certain that where I am headed is more promising than where I am, I will pack my bags and head out.

Moreover, you may decide to move to environments where you can get connections and meet people that will offer you opportunities.

6. Attend programs/seminars/conferences

Attending entrepreneurial programs, seminars, business events and conferences will keep you abreast of some technology and developments that may not be known to the public yet.

Depending on the kind of event it is, you will get to know the latest happenings and potential plans.

You will also be able to network with like minds and maybe volunteer for upcoming events. Just keep getting better while you get busy. Maybe your first boss will be one of the speakers. Who knows?

7. Make an impact

Whether you believe it or not, cheerful givers do not lack and if you share this belief with me, you’d understand why giving to people who can never repay you is such a wonderful thing.

If you have always planned to give back to the community in one way or the other but you haven’t because of time, this is your perfect opportunity. Go out there and impact the lives of people positively.

8. Start Your Own Business

If you always look forward to 9-5 job alternatives, you can always start your own business.

You have to be so familiar with the business you decide to invest in. Don’t be a fashion designer because your friend is into it. Even if you wish to do so, make your own research and product uniqueness.

If you believe in yourself and you can persevere, becoming your own boss could be a dream come true. The dream many people, especially natural-born entrepreneurs, long for.

Do not go into business for the competition. Your business in life is not to get above others but to get above yourself every day. Ensure you are creating value for your clients and impacting the lives of your staff.

I have to be honest with you that it is not easy starting out and there are things to consider before starting your business.

This, however, does not mean that people who do 9-5 jobs are wasting their time. In my opinion, people who go from employees to bosses are usually more prepared and strategic.

After all, some entrepreneurs adopted an idea as an employee and soon found themselves becoming a stakeholder in whatever company they were working for.

9. Write a Book

I have always wanted to write a book. I wrote my first as a teenager but couldn’t give it enough push to get it published.

Picture walking to the Cafe every day, buying yourself a pancake and coffee and writing a book by the window. Sampling a book you like could be a good start if you have never written any before.

You have nowhere to be in 10 minutes, no classes, no tests and no quiz. You are actually free to write and write by that window until you get tired.

Writing is a good way of keeping your brain active. We both know it’s easy to forget simple spellings once you have been away from books for a while.

10. Work on your writing skills

You will need unique writing skills to express yourself professionally and get the buy-in of investors for your business. Whatever you have decided to do after school, you need to be able to also express it in words in a way that the receiver doesn’t take you for a joke or an amateur.

You need to be able to write a convincing personal statement or motivational letter for postgraduate studies. Start learning how this is done and practising right away.

Your personal statement is very important and part of the whole marketing yourself game. You can’t afford to joke about your ability to write well. If you want to sharpen that aspect of yourself, you could join a writing team to ace your skills and also earn.

11. Go for a Music/Dance Class

This one is like killing two birds with one stone. Imagine you get to burn fat and also learn how to dance.

Dancing is a good exercise and I don’t joke with dancing whenever I’m in church.

Dance classes are really good. It also helps to keep the body active and the mind productive.

You could also check around for music schools and learn how to play a particular instrument.

12. Spend Time With Family

There is nothing like family. A wise man once said that members of your family are the only people that will be there for you no matter what.

I get this doesn’t apply to all families, but this is usually the case in 90% of homes. If you attended college far from home, you could sometimes get very lonely.

This is why you should spend some time with your family and maintain your relationship with good friends after graduation.

You might have siblings that used to look up to you, but are all grown up and the connection seems to be fading away.

Rekindle it by spending time with them and getting to know the new changes around them.

13. Try Art

Surely, I am not the only one who finds the love of art very attractive in people. It has this flare of sophistication; believe me when I say sophistication is unpopular these days. Predictable is synonymous with boring.

I don’t think art can only be expressed on canvas and I adore great abstract pieces. I love to express my art in terms of fashion and branding. You too can find a particular art that captures your fancy.

Take out the time to visit the museum, art festivals and maybe runway shows to get some inspiration.

14. Go Job Hunting

If you are not financially stable enough, you may not be able to afford the luxury of a chill moment after getting your degree.

I strongly suggest you dive straight into finding a job, or at least a paid internship. Get some job hunting ideas here.

15. Learn how to Swim

Swimming is one of the most essential utility knowledge you should possess as a human being. You have no idea what could happen tomorrow and you might need to swim your way out of it.

The good thing about learning to swim is that you never forget. A friend learnt how to swim in his small village stream and I think he learnt enough to keep him alive in a surprise flooding.

16. Learn How To Cook

Now, this one is dedicated to my fellows who never truly learnt to cook in college. Cooking is a skill and one that is very important in life if you need to eat right and live well.

I think it’s an amazing thing to know how to whip up beautiful delicacies for yourself or others during an occasion.

You could even partner up with an established event planning business once you’ve mastered your culinary skills.

Read: 15 steps to start an event planning business with no money

17. Get some Driving Lessons

This is an essential skill you shouldn’t joke with. A friend didn’t learn how to drive until he was doing his master’s degree in Germany.

I don’t understand why he waited that long to learn how to drive but I guess it wasn’t really a priority for him in high school and college. Moreover, he was too busy in college to take driving lessons.

If you haven’t learnt how to drive up till now, then you should consider taking up classes now that you are free from lectures.

18. Try Sports

Do you know what happens to an idle mind? It begins to overthink unnecessary things. I hate being idle which is why I engage in something all the time.

Once you are done with school it is normal for your mind to go into a state of hibernation. It deserves it but you have to watch it so you don’t start reasoning and questioning things you normally wouldn’t.

If you used to be a football player back in high school and you had to abandon it because of school work, this is the perfect time to pick up your kit and head to the field.

It really doesn’t matter if you are a bit rusty now, you should get better with time.

19. Get involved in extra-curricular activities

If you want to achieve the level of calm and collectedness displayed by a typical US Navy Seal UDT, you should try out Yoga.

Yoga can also help to release all those school pressure and stress from your system.

Don’t be narrow-minded though, learn to diversify, engage in something, politics, outreach to the disadvantaged etc.

20. Law Enforcement

This particular one made its way into this article somehow. Law enforcement can be a great experience and career for some people.

It really doesn’t matter what you studied in college. However, if you studied something related to peacekeeping or law enforcement, then you would stand a good chance for your application to be accepted.

21. Take a Holiday

Trust me, this would be my pick if I were in your shoes. I mean other options are great, but after five to six years in college, you deserve a break, don’t you think?

If you have been saving up for the desired holiday, I think the best time to take it would be now that you finally have that degree. If you can afford an international trip, why not?

There are various low budget holiday ideas. Here is a little tip to add a little flair and experience to the trip – go with friends. Do you know what’s better than a wonderful experience? Sharing and being able to laugh about it with someone else in the future. Nothing beats that, nothing!

22. Try a Relationship

I know how it works! Sometimes you cannot go into romantic relationships in college because you are trying to concentrate on your studies.

This is probably because you’re not the type that can combine love and studies effectively.

However, now that you have your degree and no exams to read for, if you have someone who you truly care for, it’s time to reach out.

Take that leap of faith. It might lead to a beautiful union.

23. Write professional exams

If you have chosen a career path that requires some professional exams, you should start preparing to write them now that you have the time.

Besides, the certificates gotten will set you apart from the crowd of applicants when you start applying for jobs.

If you also need to write IELTS or TOEFL, start practising. Download GRE apps and solve questions on the go!

24. Try Internships

Keep your mind active by applying for an internship program. You can kill two birds if not three with this one stone and I will explain how.

You want to kill time by keeping your mind busy so this should be enough hustle to make sure your mind is kept busy at least 10 hours a day.

You want to start a new career with no experience, you need to start planning how to get one. Most students get their first internship during the course of their studies. Some others get the internship after studies.

Secondly, your work experience in your field is almost as important as your degree. If you don’t have the experience, you need to get started. It’s that simple.

Do you know how much it costs a firm to teach new recruits basics in the field? Good firms will want you to work as soon as you get in so that you can be of better use. You know the drill.

25. Practice Healthy Living

While in college, you usually make do with red bull and junks to fill the space in your bellies while you embark on a long study ride for hours.

Honestly, we are all guilty of unhealthy eating while trying to hit academic goals. Now that you have gotten that degree, it is time to give your body a good treat by eating right.

The gym is a great place to start and also network with people. Visiting the gym three times a week would surely prompt a change in your body after a few months. However, consistency is a bone of contention when it comes to practising healthy living.

The key here is to treat working out like a quiz, be serious with it but make it a hobby. Jobs are jobs, work is work but a hobby is a choice. You can control a choice because you will always have other options.

Bottom Line

A tertiary institution is a large institution of higher learning created to educate you for life and your profession.

Your degree is meant to prepare you as an individual for the work-life ahead of you. Hence, the importance of planning after you have passed that stage cannot be overemphasized.

Please note that an educational degree generally does not define one’s destiny irrespective of the class of honours (1st class, 2nd class and others) but it can shape it to an extent.

Get a good degree, then go for what you want by starting with anything on the list.