To build a future for yourself, you should place the utmost importance on your college studies. But you shouldn’t forget about the other aspects you need to pay attention to when trying to reach your career goals. Read on to find out what else you should be striving to achieve after school.

 

1. >Make sure you know what you want to do

It’s surprising how many people go into their studies without a clear idea of what career they want to follow. By going into your studies blind, you risk dropping out of your course because you don’t enjoy it, or not achieving good results because you aren’t feeling motivated to study. Before you make a big commitment to studying a qualification that may take several years, you should make sure that you are as comfortable with your choice as you can possibly be.

 

2. Become independent

Now that you’re out in the “big wide world”, you should be placing emphasis on building a life for yourself, independent of your parents or teachers. You may need to focus on finding a flat to rent, getting a student loan, taking out your own insurance and medical aid, learning to cook your own food, or saving up to buy a car. If your parents are still covering your study costs and living expenses, then you should still be focusing on achieving these life goals, as you can’t be dependent on them forever.

 

3. Network

The old saying of “It’s not what you know, it’s who you know” rings true here. After school, you should be making every effort you can to meet people connected to the career or careers you are interested in. Attend workshops, connect with like-minded people on social media, and chat to friends and family who may have relevant experience. You can learn more from their first-hand perspectives than what any book can teach you, and you may even have the opportunity to make a good impression on influential people who can help you land a job.

 

4. Work on your interpersonal skills

You should place the same value on developing interpersonal skills as you do on acquiring academic knowledge. After school, seek out opportunities to develop these skills. In the modern workplace, being able to communicate properly and interact well with people can open career doors, and plays a huge role in helping you to achieve your career goals. To read more about why these skills are important, and how to develop them, click here.

 

5. Take care of yourself and your relationships

It’s good to be focused on your studies, but you can’t be so focused that you forget to take care of your physical and mental wellbeing. Make sure that you understand the importance of eating healthily, sleeping well, getting enough exercise, and maintaining relationships with the people you care about. Taking care of yourself will help you to perform to the best of your ability, and will keep you feeling happy and healthy.

 
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