14 Ways to Spend Your First Year Out of College, without Taking a Full-Time Job

It’s becoming more common for college grads to take advantage of the few years of freedom post-graduation, opting to consider other paths before diving into a full-time career. If you’re a recent graduate hesitant to jump into the nine-to-five, consider doing something else with your time, such as interning, volunteering, or traveling. However, whatever you choose to do, make sure it would be something of value to add to your résumé.

1. Be an Adventure Guide. Are you an adventurous individual? Whether you enjoy whitewater rafting, rock climbing, kayaking, paragliding, sky diving, bungee jumping- turn that passion into a part-time job. Many adventure companies are looking for young people to hire. There are opportunities both within the United States and internationally, as many companies are becoming increasingly eager to hire. Search the Internet for adventure sites that are hiring. Click here to a link to help you get started if you are seriously thinking about going in this direction

2. Become a Nanny. Becoming a nanny would be an excellent opportunity for those who enjoy working with children. If you decide to be a nanny, you can often get free room and board, which is an excellent way to save money. It also has its perks, such as traveling with the family, a nice weekly paycheck, and the complementary use of a car. Being a long-term nanny, such as working for the same family for a year, can also be a great way to gain strong personal references you can provide other employers as you start your career. Search the Internet for postings, such as on Indeed or Linkedin. My best recommendations would be going to Care.com and GreatAupair.com, which both offer free searches.

3. Become a Research Assistant. If you live close to a college, being a research assistant could be a good option, as many universities invest greatly into research. Not all research is exclusive to the sciences, in fact, research goes into other fields too, such as journalism, international relations, business, economics, and art history. There are many opportunities for recent graduates. Ask your previous professors and other faculty and staff you may have developeda relationship with while at school if there are any potential research projects occurring at the university where they can use your assistance.

4. Participate in a Gap Year Program. If you’re interested in investing your time towards a good career, consider a gap year program, such as the Peace Corps, AmeriCorps, or City Year. Participating in these programs not only provide you with life lessons, but can be added benefit to your résumé and provide you with intereresting material to discuss at a job interview. Additionally, these programs can connect you with other alumni who may be valuable future references during your upcoming job searches.

5. Find an Internship. Although many internships require that interns be enrolled at a credited university, there are some internships that don’t require it. Many of these types of internships are paid, offering monetary compensation instead of college credit. If you’re a recent graduate, there’s a chance you will find an internship that would be a great fit for you, especially if you are fully available. It would be sensible to search for internships in career areas that interest you most and where you can thrive on your strengths and talents. Also, for those who are uncertain or their career path, you can use an internship to discover if it’s the perfect career track for them or not. Not only do internships offer valuable work experience, but they can be added benefit to your résumé and provide you with connections to potential employers.

6. Invest in Your Passion. What is your passion? Do you love yoga or pilates? Do you enjoy theater or the fine arts? Do you thrive on the ski slopes or the rock climbing wall? If you have a passion that you can transform into a part-time job, consider investing your time in a training course to get certified, or even teach it yourself. For example, you can take a yoga instructor training course, become a certified ski instructor, become a certified belay at a rock climbing facility, or become an art teacher at your local community center. This will not only let you have fun at work, but you can gain experience and skills to add to your résumé and it can also turn your hobby into a job you can use as a safety net. Even if you can’t transform your passion into a part-time job, there may be volunteer work. For example, if you love theater, you can volunteer as a stage hand at your local community theater or if you enjoy reading books, volunteer to read to children at your local public library. This brings me to my next point…

7. Volunteer in the U.S. Of course you won’t obtain a paycheck by volunteering, but it’s a great way to gain experiences and skills to add to your résumé. If you don’t know which direction to go when deciding on a career, volunteering can provide you a way to explore various career fields and discover your talents and interests. By volunteering you are making positive changes to society while also building connections with fellow volunteers, co-workers, supervisors, and organizations that might be important for your future work, such as providing a reference. You can find day-to-day opportunities in your hometown, or ask a non-profit organization if they need an extra hand. If you are searching for volunteering opportunities that fit your interests, I would suggest setting up an account at VolunteerMatch.org. This site is completely free and matches your interests with available volunteer opportunities in your area. That was how I found an opportunity to be an adult tutor at Blue Ridge Literacy. 

8. Take a Continuing-Education Class. Whether you’re interested in pursuing a field other than what you majored in, or want to further develop your skills useful in the workforce, consider taking continuing-education courses at a community college or at an adult-learning center in your area. If you don’t have access to such places near you, another option is Coursera.org. The site offers free online courses, taught by professors from 122 accredited universities around the world with varying topics from Intro to Finance to Social Psychology to Modern & Contemporary American Poetry. For example, if you were an English major but want to pursue a different field such as computer programming or graphic design, taking classes would give you a solid foundation to begin looking for entry-level jobs.

9. Teach English Abroad. Many American attain jobs abroad every year. English is increasingly becoming the dominant language in international trade to export countries, especially Asia and Latin America, who are eager to have their citizens learn the language. It would be helpful to have a working knowledge of your host country’s language. Popular options include programs through international embassies, such as the JET program or InterExchange.org. You may also want to check for jobs at international schools and service organizations.

10. Work Seasonal Jobs. If you want to have varied positions to add to your resume, pursuing a few seasonal jobs for a year is fun and you can gain experiences and skills to add to your résumé- all while enjoying yourself. Jobs can include, but are not limited to, positions at ski resorts, cruise ships, beaches, country clubs, water or amusement parks, etc. If you plan wisely, you can find employment for a full year in this year.

11. Volunteer or Work Abroad. Do you love to travel, but want to make a difference simultaneously? Try searching for international volunteer positions through organizations, such as the PeaceCorps, Global Vison International, Cross Cultural Solutions, or the Red Cross.

If you want to travel and still earn a paycheck, consider working abroad by pursuing a “working holiday” visa. Particular countries, including Australia, Canada, Chile, France, Japan, New Zealand, and many more, offer “working holiday” visas in which U.S. citizens are permitted to stay in the country and maintain temporary jobs. Try visiting the desired country’s embassy or immigration website for information on how to obtain a visa and for any policies and regulations. For example, if you wanted to work in New Zealand, I would suggest you go here. For other countries, try Google searching your desired country + “working holiday visa.”

12. Travel Recreationally. The best time to travel is after college, when you are free of obligations to a job. If you have the opportunity to travel, you should do so, as it broadens your perspective of the world and is a valuable life experience. Make the most of your travel time, take lots of pics to post on Tumblr, blog about your experience on Blogger, create a Prezi of your trip, or construct a presentation on SlideShare.

If money is an issue, there are plenty of travel sites that offer cheap fares for young travelers, you’ll have to do some digging to find the best prices that will fit your budget. Consider exploring these sites: EF College Break, Budget Travel, Travel Channel, Rick Steves, and Time. If you are really serious about traveling, I would suggest to give this book a quick read, How to Travel the World on $50 a Day by Matt Kepnes.

13. Work at Your College. If you decide to continue living close to your alma mater, consider pursuing a part-time job. Many job opportunities can be found on college campuses. For example, you could work in the department were you majored or you could work as a teaching assistant. These types of jobs can be particularly convenient if you still live in your college town, and can also lead to further opportunities, such as funding for post-graduate courses or a degree. Many universities even let their employees take classes for free. 

14. Try Organic Farming. The World Wide Opportunities in Organic Farming program- also known as WOOF- is a program that helps individuals find opportunities on organic farms across the planet. For a small fee, participants have an extensive database of opportunities at their disposal in the country of their choice. The duration of your experience depends on where and when you work as the guidelines of the agreement are between the farmer and the volunteer, Most situations are a few months long and include room and board.