Many college students wonder about the difference between college life and work life. Many students may fear what life after college holds, as it is unknown to them. In the article “College Life vs Work Life ” Cody Stephens outlines some major differences and similarities of college life vs work life. Here are some highlights:
Changes in your social environment. This is one of the first and most noticeable differences in life after college. When you are in college you have more time to hang out with friends. Some of this has to do with the fact that you are living with and taking classes with your friends. However, when you have a full-time job after graduating, socializing will look different. You may find that you need to be more intentional about your social life. You will also be exposed and make friends with people of all different backgrounds, ages, cultures, and stages which is different from school-life.
Responsibility. After graduating, you will have new responsibilities that you must prioritize. In college, you can get away with pushing back deadlines and responsibilities somewhat. If you sleep through a class or turn in an assignment late, you will still get by. However, work culture is different. Your employer will expect you to show up and put in 100% effort every day.
Work clothes. In college, students can wear whatever and no one cares. However, in most jobs, there is some form of a dress-code. In almost every work culture, pajama pants or a ratty t-shirt is not acceptable. For some, dressing professionally might be a newfound joy, however, for others, it may feel like torture. No matter your attitude, you will need to adhere to the dress code rules or culture if you want to keep your job.
Food matters. Most college students live on meal plans. They don’t have to worry about grocery shopping, meal planning, cooking, and cleaning after meals. So when students graduate, this can be a big adjustment. It’s important during this transition to implement healthy eating habits. Trust me, you will feel better for it.
Money. A big concern on most recent graduates’ minds is money. Not only will you have student loans you may need to start paying, but for the first time you may be met with more bills than ever and probably more earned income than ever. Financial decisions and planning is a learning curve that everyone faces after college. You may make some financial mistakes, but learning from them and changing is key.
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